Help with windows 7 not recognizing burner

[mcackerson]

OK, I'm almost postal and I'm googled out. I have a Fujitsu Lifebook U810 (no internal CD/DVD drive), which originally came with Vista Home Premium. I dumped the over weight Vista for Windows 7. I had purchased a Slim External Super Multi DVD Rewriter which worked beautifully on Vista. Unfortunately, 7 won't recognize it. I plugged it into the USB port, it appeared as a drive under My Computer and promptly disappeared before my very eyes. The drive works on my other laptop with Vista. I only have the one USB port on my Fujitsu. If anyone can be of assistance, I would greatly appreciate it. This HAS to be a Windows 7 issue...

 

[profdlp]

Under Folder Options, do you have a checkmark in the spot underlined in red?

PS: You have two threads going.

 

[mcackerson]

The box WAS checked and is now unchecked. And the drive is now showing. But I still have issues - The Slim burner has two USB ports, one for the CD/DVD itself and the other to use with the first in another USB slot in case there's not enough power. Unfortunately, I only have one USB slot and with Windows 7, it appears I suddenly need the extra power from a second USB. Never needed it with Vista. Again, any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[profdlp]

Something like this should do it:

Amazon.com: Medialink - High Speed 4-Port Powered USB 2.0 Hub with External Power Supply: Electronics

Make sure you get one with enough juice to run your drive.

 

[mcackerson]

I plugged the other USB into another pc for additional power and I can't run anything from the external drive...

 

[mcackerson]

Thanks Profdip, at that price it's worth a try - it might possibly solve it all. Bought and should be skipping to me tomorrow... I'll let you know when it arrives.

 

[profdlp]

With more and more power-hungry USB devices around these days I'm sure it will come in handy. I hope it works for you.

My guess on why it didn't work using the port on the other computer was that it didn't have enough juice either. My main system has a bunch of front USB ports that don't have near the power of the ones on the back that are built right onto the motherboard. Even my dinky little SansaClip player is picky about where I plug it in. (And I haven't found much of anything that will work on the ports on my Razer Reclusa keyboard...)

 

[mcackerson]

Thanks again, Prof. The new power hub does the trick and my CD/DVD burner is humming. Perhaps you can enlighten me as to why (on the same lifebook), the burner had enough power to run with Vista, but not with Windows 7.

 

[profdlp]

Only thing I can figure is that Win 7 doles out the power resources differently. That's just a guess, though. :huh:

I know that most modern Operating Systems are working on extending battery life in smaller notebooks/netbooks. I'm not a Microsoft basher by any means, but their style often seems to be "if it causes trouble, turn it off".

 

[mcackerson]

Heck with the external DVD, USB hub, speakers and mouse, I might as well put the LifeBook away and get out my ThinkPad! (Which still has Vista). I'd say your guess is pretty much on the mark. Thanks again.