My DVD writer of Compaq presario notebook & WindowXP OS having driver TSSTcorp CDW/DVDTS-L462D is able to play/read CD's/DVD's but I'm not able to burn CD's/DVD's. I started facing this problem recently, before I was able to burn CD's & DVD's very easily. So I would like to update my drivers. Please let me know where I can download the drivers.

You can't... optical drives never require a driver other than what Microsoft included with the OS. Microsoft includes support with the os that allows the drive to burn cd-r disks but nothing else. If you are burning cd-rw or dvd disks, compatible 3rd. party software must be installed on your system.

What application and version are you using to attempt a burn? At what step does it fail?

I am trying to burn the CD-RW/DVD with Nero version 7.11. even though its not working.........

But Initially I never had to use this software, I used to copy all the pictures I need to the CD-RW/DVD -> the shortcuts of all the pictures were copied-> then use the option -> "Write these filed to CD"-> and I could copy all the pictures to CD-RW/DVD. Now that I try to do this it is not able to identify the empty CD-RW/DVD at the end.

Please suggest.

Please open Device Manager and tell me what you see.... Are there all PLUS marks in each box to the left of the Window?

Are there any devices flagged as having a problem? If so, list all of them.

Do you remember what you were doing when this problem developed? Have you made any changes in the hardware or software at the same time this problem started? Have you tried using system restore and choose a date prior to the day this problem started?

In Device Manager, all PLUS marks are shown in each box to the left of the Window.

No devices are flagged as having a problem.

The primary IDE channel is in "DMA if available mode" but in the secondary IDE channel, Transfer mode: "DMA if available mode" but the current tranfer mode is shown PIOOnly and I'm unable to change it....is that O.K.

I dont remember I have done any changes in the hardware or software at the time this problem started.

Please suggest.

Do you have the optical drive connected to the secondary IDE port?

I'm not sure.....how to check it?

By default I think its connected to primary.......I did not make any changes.....so it must be connected to primary.

You check by looking in Device Manager.... check the Properties of each IDE listing. This is not important if you have not made any changes to the hardware. However, the optical drive should still be connected to the secondary IDE port.

If Device Manager reports no problems then the problem has to be with the drive or with the recording software. Did you install Nero before the problem started or after? Are you able to burn a standard cd-r disk using Windows Media Player? When you attempt a burn (with either WMP or Nero) do you get a notice that there is no disk in the drive (even tho there is)?

I checked the Device Manager.... the Properties of each IDE listing. I have'nt made any changes to the hardware. The optical drive seems connected to the primary IDE port.

The Device Manager reports no problems. I was able to write the CD's & DVD's before without the help of WMP or Nero. I installed Nero after the problem started. When I attempt a burn With either Nero I get a notice that there is no disk in the drive even tho the CD is there. Shud I update the driver? Please suggest.

No to updating the driver.... you can't. Windows XP supplies the driver automatically and they (ie: Microsoft) has not released any cd driver updates. Really, none are needed.

The thing that worries me is the optical drive being on the same ide port as the hard drive. That may be normal with Laptops but it's not for Desktops. The reason being is the optical drive being on the same ide port will cause problems with the hard drive. ie: it will slow down the hard drive considerably in this situation. Both drives need to be on separate ide ports... but like I say, laptops may be the exception to this rule.

When you don't have any 3rd. party recording software installed then Windows Media Player become the default burner. However, WMP is limited to burning cd-r disks only.

The only thing I can suggest is to uninstall Nero completely then do a drive burning test with WMP to see if it will burn a cd-r disk properly. If it doesn't then it won't when you install burning software like Nero.
It's looks like the problem is narrowed down to 2 things:

1: Drive is defective
or
2: The media you're using isn't adequate quality. Try a better quality disk like Verbatim or Tayo Yuden.

So you may need to take the laptop to a shop and have them test the drive.

Thank you very much for the time. I'll better go to HP service centre for testing the drivers.