I recently acquired a HP External CD Writer 8200 Series. Off of eBay. I installed it all, but I found that every time I try to begin a burning process, I'm immediately stopped by a message that states "no compatible CD-R or CD-RW disc detected". I updated the burning software via the HP site, and it now says there's no writer detected at all. A quick look in my Windows Explorer shows that it's not showing up. I went to the HP site and got a USB driver update. Downloaded, installed, restarted. Still the same problem. I've checked the disc, put it in both ways (one of those that look the same on both sides), I've wiggled the plugs.....the unit IS getting power............. ....I'm lost. Any ideas on what to do next? Help!

Have you tried getting it to work on another computer, just to see if the darn thing will work. Does the computer you are now using with meet the min requirements? Does this thing show up in Device Manager? How about under USB devices?

Hi, I think upal 2 is on the right track. If it works in another machine, you know it ain't dead. Next try ASPIchk to see if ASPI is installed. If not use forceASPI. A couple years ago I helped a guy with an HP ext and had similar probs. After flailing it for days, we found another button on the CD write SW, clicked it and it worked. We're a couple of old geezers and the interface, either HP or Adaptec, was so hard to see, we overlooked the "way out" for days. I guess the guys who designed the GUI are a lot younger than I am. [crappy blue-grey on a background of crappy grey-blue] Also, I have a USB card reader. Sometimes when I plug it in, it shows right away; sometimes it takes several minutes and sometimes it won't show at all. And sometimes if it's connected at boot, it goes BSOD. Beats me. Let us know. M2

Thanks for the advice, but unfortunately, well, I tried those, and no change. I have two USB ports. The first one used to be for my scanner. The second one for my digital camera. I replaced the USB scanner for one that shares a printer port to free up the first port. Now the writer has the first port. In an experiment, I switched the two (camera on the first, writer on the second), and the camera worked fine, but the same problem occured with the writer. Under device manager, I have the following for Universal serial bus controller; - SiS 7001 PCI to USB Open Host Controller - USB Root Hub Does that tell you anything?

Ah! I just noticed something. If this makes any difference. Under DEVICE MANAGER, under OTHER DEVICES, the burner is listed with an exclamation mark. If I click on PROPERTIES, it says the driver needs to be reinstalled. But I went to HP's site and installed the driver yesterday. *sigh*

Hi, If I understand you, the writer is "downstream" of the scanner. I would unplug the scanner and camera until I got the writer sorted out. If no joy, unplug the writer, uninstall the drivers, reboot and re-install the drivers with the writer UNPLUGGED. Otherwise the stupid new hardware wizard gets involved. Reboot and make sure the drivers stayed stuck. Then plug in the writer ONLY. Let us know. M2