Hi.

Yup i *could* replace the reader with a burner. Then i had two burners. For what? So that, should there be a problem, everyone could tell me "the problem is because you have two burners"?

I have read that, to PLAY a DVD, a burner drive should not be used because it wears them out quickly. And that is exactly what i wish to prevent - for one i hate to take my computer apart (as that indeed increases the risk of "cable" related failures) and also these things, as i mentioned, cost money. That reader drive is with me since an eternity and still functions perfectly while in that same time i have gone thru 3 burners.....

1) A Samsung CD burner. I was advised a problem was "hardware related" and changed it. Problem was still present, the burner still works today, 4 years later, in another computer (the 5th computer that drive is in). The problem was a dodgy update in Roxio-software.

2) A LiteOn DVD burner. Started generating coasters after upgrading to Vista. Again i was advised it is "a hardware problem" and i got a new one (the current one). Again the old burner still works happily under XP in my boss' computer because AGAIN the hardware was NOT at fault - but Nero (respectively it's incompatibility with Vista - it's been blamed on my media (Princo), my cables, my HDD and of course the burner but not on Nero which actually WAS the problem).

3) My current LiteOn DVD burner which, yet again, is being blamed for problems that suddenly appeared after a software upgrade.

Maybe someone here is willing to understand WHY i don't believe in this "it's your drive" stuff anymore?

Best regards.....

Thanh