Hi. I've noticed that a couple of people have mentioned this problem already, but I can't seem to find a solution.

I've just bought a GSA-E10L. It's alive - the light comes on when I plug it in, and it spins up when I put a disc in - but Windows (XP, SP1) doesn't detect it when I attach it to my laptop. There's no error - absolutely nothing happens.

Device manager can't find the drive and doesn't report any problems anywhere. Both of my USB ports work fine with other devices. I've reinstalled the USB controllers, and that didn't help.

As you know, LG don't supply any drivers - they only offer firmware upgrades, which are about as much use as a chocolate teapot if the computer thinks the drive isn't there to begin with.

Has anybody solved this problem, or does anyone have any suggestions? I'm running out of hair.

Thanks in advance.


PS I haven't got another machine to plug it into, so that won't help!

Welcome to the forum

I suggest to install Service Pack 2 for WinXP because the USB ports needs it to work correctly.

Hmm. That's good, but it doesn't explain why everything else I plug in works just fine. I'm ever-so-slightly reluctant to install SP2 because the last time I did it (with a different machine) it caused more problems than it fixed.

Any other ideas?

(Thanks, by the way - I don't mean to sound ungrateful!)

You're welcome

Indeed I don't know why other devices works and the burner is not recognized.

Which problems you got exactly with SP2? I have it installed on my computer, and it works.

Try it on a friends and see what happens. Welcome to CDF's by the way.

yeah i understand. I was just giving you advice to see which one has the problem is all. Good luck..........

Testing the drive on a different machine is useful to exclude a damaged drive

If the drive is not working also on a different machine, it could be damaged.

If on another machine the drive works, then there is definitely something wrong in your computer.

Activation issues, mainly. Legit Windows, but used laptop = no activation key and I can't be bothered with the hassle. Plus the box says the drive should work with SP1 anyway.

I do understand the logic behind testing it on a different machine, but I work twelve-hour nightshifts and I don't have a whole host of people within reasonable equipment-lugging distance that I can call on during the two hours a day I have to do stuff. In other words, it ain't an option. Like I said, judging by other people's reports (and my eyes and ears), I'm confident the drive isn't faulty - so I want to just cut to the chase and concentrate on working the bug out of my own system, if you see what I mean.

OK see yeah.........