DVD-RW question

OK, I've been chain-smoking all morning in frustration trying to figure this one out. Probably a simple answer to this Dell PC question but I don't feel like calling Dell Support in India. So here's my problem:

I've got a new Dell PC with a DVD-RW drive. The computer recognizes the hardware correctly when I right-click and check the drive's properties...but damned if I can get the computer to recognize the DVD-RW as anything more than a DVD-R when I look at it in the "My Computer" window. I'm trying to burn discs and can't do it without a burner being properly recognized. The unrecognized DVD-RW plays movies and music right now but won't burn. It just looks like a DVD-R to my new PC at the moment.

Is this just a simple matter of updating the driver or should I call Dell? It will be two more days before I have the wireless card to connect the new PC to the internet so I can't hit the "update driver" button just yet. And what I want to know is why the hell the computer doesn't recognize the DVD-RW as anything more than a DVD-R in the first place! Am I going to have to ship my new PC back to Dell? Yikes.

I'm pissed! Anyone with a suggestion, advice or input of any kind please respond. Help, por favor!:thinking: :newpccrash:

Wait a minute - it's worse than I thought. The PC only recognizes it as a CD-R drive! Help, please!

You bought a Dell dude... says it all. :(

While I dont have a specific answer for your problem, one thing you should run on a Dell machine is The PC De-Crapifier (http://www.yorkspace.com/pc-de-crapifier/)

ouch... i take that the drive itself has a label that says its a DVD-RW, that is a start... and well, sucks you are not online at the moment, because then you could simply download the latest drivers... but you know that already. Sorry I can't help

Go to the Device Manager and uninstall the CD or DVD player then boot your PC, then if it dosen't try to install itself make sure the jumper is set properly like Slave or Master. If that dosen't work shut down your pc and unplug the DVD drive and start the pc then shut it down and plug the DVD drive back in and see if it sets up.

Fl_Gulfer you have the right answer! It worked! I did as you said and it worked like a charm!

Now I have to get a new version of Roxio, apparently this one doesn't recognize my new DVD burner but at least the computer now recognizes it as one. That's a huge plus. Thanks a lot!

I was gonna say what Fl_Gulfer said next ...

get Nero instead of roxio.....and way to go Fl_gulfer!...good job

why don't you give linux a try. i'll almost bet it will recognize it and probably even be able to write to it. Get K3B

also sometimes you need to right click on the drive icon in my computer. then select properties. then select the drive under the harware tab. then click on the recording tab and click "enable cd recording on this drive. this is needed sometimes if you have more than one burner installed. ;)