External CD Writer not Recognised

Topspy · 5 Mar 2020 at 11:17

I have just tried to put some office software onto my wifes Windows 10 Dell Laptop.I had to use my external CD writer as her laptop does not have a CD drive.But when I plugged the Device into her laptop it did not appear when I went into this PC.When I insert the disc into the drive and close it the green LED flashes for a few seconds and then stops.Have tried now three times no change.I then plugged the drive into my Windows 7 laptop and got the same problem.This CD writer has always worked and I used it last weekend.The CD Drive is a LG GE20nu11 it is a few years old now so just wondered if anyone could give me some advice.

Topspy · 5 Mar 2020 at 13:20

I have five USB ports on my Laptop and there are three on my wifes Laptop and I have tried using them all.I have a large box of various cables in my shed at the bottom of the garden and will take a look when all this rain has stopped as the back garden is starting to look like a lake.In device manager I have looked in DVD/CD-ROM Drives and all it shows is the built in CD Writer.Is that where I should have looked.

Topspy · 5 Mar 2020 at 14:33

I have just rebooted the laptop with the drive plugged in and it is still not showing there is no sound when I plug it in or unplug it

Topspy · 5 Mar 2020 at 14:35

I have tried it with two laptops

Topspy · 5 Mar 2020 at 14:49

I will swap the cable when I can get down to my garden shed s have a big box of various cables but at the moment the back garden is like a lake.I have just found the following on Google take a look at where it says operating systems
https://www.lg.com/us/burners-drives/lg-GE20LU11

Topspy · 5 Mar 2020 at 14:51

Though I have used it on both our laptops which are windows 7 and 10

Topspy · 6 Mar 2020 at 08:00

This drive is mains powered and how would I check if it is USB 3 compatible.All The USB ports on my laptop are USB 2 will have to check what USB ports are on my wifes Laptop.

Topspy · 6 Mar 2020 at 10:27

It is white and I have just been up to my local PC shop and the owner plugged it into one of his laptops and it worked perfectly.And why would it go faulty now as have used it often on both laptops with no problem

Topspy · 6 Mar 2020 at 11:53

I have now managed to install office 2003 on my wifes laptop but it is completely different to what she had previously and different to mine although mine is the same software.On mine I have a desktop shortcut for all the programs and Office 2003 is listed in all programs and if I open it all the sub programs Word etc are listed.I am presuming this because it is Windows 10.How would I go into word or exel etc what do I click on to get them

Topspy · 6 Mar 2020 at 11:56

Hi joey1211 What you said seems a good way would a memory stick do.So how do I go about making a copy of the CDs contents

Topspy · 6 Mar 2020 at 12:54

If I click on the start button and then type in either Word,Powerpoint or Publisher those three programs come up but if Ienter exel into the search box all I get are various exel websites and some want me to buy exel.Can you tell me why when I selected install all the programs I did not get exel.If I had exel everything would be fine.

Topspy · 6 Mar 2020 at 13:10

I have got Office 2003 Professional on this laptop and I get all the office programs including exel and that is the same software I installed on my wifes windows 10 laptop so what could have happened to the exel program.Is it possible to get exel seperately as my wife uses that a lot.

Topspy · 6 Mar 2020 at 14:55

Thanks joey1211 Yes that worked and excel came up

Topspy · 8 Mar 2020 at 11:12

Everything fine now and working so thanks for all the advice