as both my current drives refuse to eject, had this from the go and now just won't open, probably will get some new ones, in the interim I beleive there are even external writers, USB. Any recommends, just want a nice simple easy one to use.

Do you have USB2 or USB3 on your PC?

Something like this would do fine

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-SE-208AB...0750&sr=8-1

have bought a HP 8X DVD550SR

okay got my writer plugged in and have copied a music CD to my PC into WMP. At this stage I haven't uploaded the software from supplied disc. It won't burn from PC to the external drive now, so do I need to upload the software which I assume controls the burning. I got it to recognise the external writer for ripping (drive L in my case) but doesn't seem to recognise it for burning.

ta