[QUOTE=Adams' Apple]
Then, he says, "Well, we may have to send it back to HP to get it repaired, and they'll erase everything, anyway".  [/QUOTE]

Okay, the first problem is highlighted in red above...

As far as the burner, the problem may just be with that particular burner.  Try installing a new DVD/CD-RW and see if that cures the problem.  Also, reinstall the burner software, but my money is on the burner being bad.

Contrail

So............whadda ya tryin ta say?!!
I agree, the prob. is most likely the burner, but the turd is still under warranty, so I gotta let them fix it!
They called Sunday, and said they had to do a complete restore, to determine if the prob. was software related, or not.

Joel,

Just stick to this....

ZIP DRIVE from IOMEGA......

Zip® 750 Drives

Will work out good for you.  Then you can upgrade when you want to. 

They've finally found the problem wid my 'puter. It is apparently the operating system........

Adams' Apple38660.8535069444

I just spent all day on mine trying to get it to run a little better and start on the first try. I kept getting the set up screen and the hard drives were listed as unknown. It took several reboots to get XP to come up. It doesn't help that I have a wife and two kids on it all the time. Who knows what they do to the system. Heck I don't even know what I do to it from time to time. I am BC (born before computers). I cleaned out all the temp files and internet files I could find, used norton utilites to fix XP and the defragged the hard drive. It seems to be working fine now. I don't have a Zip drive either, but what I did was take a old hard drive I had (1 GB) and installed it in my computer as a second drive. I use this as my back-up. I don't know if it is the best way but it didn't cost me anything. I can develope off-highway equipment with the best of them, but when it comes to the computer I have a lot to learn. Maybe some day

They replaced the DVD/RW drive, and it only took them 2 1/2 months!!
They should be SO proud of themselves!

I bet it was a chip that went bad in the DVD/RW drive.   Those take time to fix but come on....  it should of taken 3 weeks tops...     Sounded like a high school worker that worked on this problem and called Microsoft for a chip.   

At least you have your computer back now... 

Iron8238718.7892708333

Joel,

You seem slightly perplexed. Although I have to tell you reading these threads have made me laugh out loud several times.
I have to side with Marc I think the HP thing is the root cause of your fun. My 1st HP (and last) was a good starter kit. Had it not been for it I would probally never gotten to see inside one. Lucky for me we have a Good Will Store in town that carries a full line of donated HP's for < $10.00. It was like have your own parts store.
I finally got upgraded to a Dell and now only on occasion work on the HP. (Igave it to my dad, "Ain't love grand")

Well, gee, folks...where were all you geniuses when I wanted info BEFORE I bought this turd?
Yep.....had to take it BACK again today. Same problem with the DVD/CD burner. Once again, I went to backup all my data files, and guess whut? Burner don't work again! The geeks @ Fryes apparently know of a problem with the "Light Scribe" drives, but obviously don't know how to FIX it. I give up.....

On top of the troubles with MY 'puter, this "loaner" they gave me must have been "refurbished" by a color-blind !! I cannot get ANY red color!! Only blue-green-black & white! It's drivin me nuts, and it's only a short drive, at this point. It also hurts me eyeballs. s.o.b Adams' Apple38739.8286458333

Joel,
I think you may need to reboot it back to the geeksquad. I don't believe I would deal with those guys too much. Unlees like hummin the tune "money for nothin" alot.