Help With CD-RW Problems

[PPK]

I'm running a Gateway with a Celeron and Windows ME. The system worked fine for a long time until my CD-RW stopped responding. Occasionally it will read a CD, but it will no longer work as a burner. The computer refuses to recognize it as such. Also, when the CD-RW isn't being recognized at all it sometimes spins even though there is no disk in the drive. Almost 100% of the time the computer crashes after this and I have to re-boot.

Any ideas? Is it a driver problem? I'm really ticked that I can't burn CDs as it's one of the main reasons I bought the comp. If it is a driver issue I need to know how to find out what brand the drive is, since it doesn't say as far as I can see. What brand CD-RWs did Gateway install into their comps circa-1999/2000?

Any help is MUCH appreciated,
Tom

[Bruce]

Look in the device manager and see what it's identified as. I know with Dell's it'll list the brand.

I've never used ME, but the device manager should be located somewhere similar to this:

Right click My Computer > Properties > Hardware > Device Manager >

Then go down to where it says DVD/CD-ROM (or similar) and see what it lists for drives.

[PPK]

I'm seeing IDE, is that right?

Man, it was working 5 minutes ago, but it's gone again. Any idea as to why it works sometimes and doesn't work after I turn the computer on again?

Peace,
Tom