Nothing But Issues With Plug And Play Cd/dvd Writer

If anyone can help me or share some insight on what to do or how to overcome this annoyance I've been dealing with on my the portable cd/dvd writer I bought today, I'd greatly appreciate it.

I bought a Memorex slim external CD/DVD writer today, it was only $40 at walmart. I figure it wouldn't be any hassle to use since it was plug and play. The problem I'm having is even though windows recognizes the drive, everytime I put a blank disk in the drive, windows in it's ever so helpful ways asks me "what would you like to do with this disc?". So of course, I select the "use with cd/dvd player option and the prompt disappears as it should. However, if I open disc/drive under "this computer", windows always puts a "desktop" for some reason. Anyway, that's not the issue I'm having. The problem is everytime I start to burn a disc windows pops up and asks me what I'd like to do with the disc, causing whatever burning program im using to fail, which of course wastes a perfectly good blank DVD. I've tried going to memorex support as well as windows support, looked from drivers, everything I can think of and at this point im starting to yank my hair out. I don't understand what the issue is here or why it keeps doing this. Can anyone weigh in here and give me some advice?

I'm using a Toshiba Satellite running Windows 8.1 (32bit) and attempting to use a Memorex MRX-650LE v7 optical drive.

 

Actually, this might help more


Operating System
Windows 8.1 (x64) (build 9600)
Install Language: English (United States)
System Locale: English (United States)
Installed: 7/11/2014 4:03:22 PM
Boot Mode: UEFI with Secure Boot disabled
System Model
TOSHIBA Satellite C55-B PSCMLU-02T01N
System Serial Number: 5E315011P
Enclosure Type: Notebook
Processor a
2.15 gigahertz Intel Celeron N2830
112 kilobyte primary memory cache
1024 kilobyte secondary memory cache
64-bit ready
Multi-core (2 total)
Not hyper-threaded
Main Circuit Board b
Board: TOSHIBA ZBWAA 1.00
Bus Clock: 83 megahertz
UEFI: TOSHIBA 1.20 05/02/2014
Drives
489.53 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
415.68 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

Memorex MRX-650LE v7 USB Device [Optical drive]

HGST HTS545050A7E380 [Hard drive] (500.11 GB) -- drive 0, s/n 140320TM85133J36EB4L, rev GG2OAH20, SMART Status: Healthy
Kingston DataTraveler SE9 USB Device [Hard drive] (7.80 GB) -- drive 1, s/n 000FEAFAAB49EC9167A3000E
Memory Modules c,d
3984 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory

Slot 'A1_DIMM0' has 4096 MB (serial number 38138392)
Slot 'A1_DIMM1' is Empty
Local Drive Volumes
c: (NTFS on drive 0) 489.53 GB 415.68 GB free
Network Drives
None detected
Users (mouse over user name for details)
local user accounts last logon
jackimoe 12/4/2015 6:25:05 PM (admin)
local system accounts
Administrator 5/30/2014 7:33:25 PM (admin)
Guest never
Marks a disabled account; Marks a locked account
Printers
EPSON PC-FAX driver on LPT1:
EPSON PC-FAX driver on WSD-2ee19b1e-c250-45eb-ae56-074930c49ca2.0063
EPSON WF-2650 Series on WSD-2ee19b1e-c250-45eb-ae56-074930c49ca2.0063
Microsoft Shared Fax Driver on SHRFAX:
Microsoft XPS Document Writer v4 on PORTPROMPT:
Controllers
Intel(R) Pentium(R) processor N- and J-series / Intel(R) Celeron(R) processor N- and J-series AHCI - 0F23 [Controller]
Display
Intel(R) HD Graphics [Display adapter]
Generic PnP Monitor (15.3"vis)
Bus Adapters
Microsoft Storage Spaces Controller
Intel(R) USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller - 0100 (Microsoft)
Multimedia
Intel(R) Display Audio
Realtek High Definition Audio
Virus Protection [Back to Top]
AVG Internet Security
Group Policies
None detected
Communications
Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
Microsoft Kernel Debug Network Adapter
↓ Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter
Status: Not connected to a network
Dhcp Server: none responded
Physical Address: 1A:EE:65F:4A:6A
↑ Qualcomm Atheros AR956x Wireless Network Adapter
primary Auto IP Address: 192.168.1.7 / 24
Gateway: 192.168.1.1
Dhcp Server: 192.168.1.1
Physical Address: B8:EE:65F:4A:6A
Connection Speed: 72 Mbps
↓ Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller
Status: Cable unplugged
Dhcp Server: none responded
Physical Address: F8:A9:63:83:0B:C2
Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface

Networking Dns Server: 192.168.1.1
Other Devices
Microphone (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Microsoft AC Adapter
Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery
Qualcomm Atheros AR3012 Bluetooth 4.0
HID-compliant consumer control device (2x)
HID-compliant device
HID-compliant wireless radio controls
Toshiba Hotkey Driver
USB Input Device
EPSON6D15ED (WF-2650 Series)
TOSHIBA Web Camera - HD
PC/AT Enhanced PS/2 Keyboard (101/102-Key)
HID-compliant mouse
Synaptics PS/2 Port TouchPad [Mouse]
Realtek PCIE CardReader
WNR2000v4 (Gateway)
EPSON WF-2650 Series (FAX)
EPSON WF-2650 Series (FAX) (Copy 1)
EPSON6D15ED (WF-2650 Series)
Fax
Microsoft XPS Document Writer
Root Print Queue
EPSON6D15ED (WF-2650 Series)
Microsoft Device Association Root Enumerator
Microsoft IPv4 IPv6 Transition Adapter Bus
WAN Connection Device
WAN Device
Generic USB Hub
USB Composite Device
USB Mass Storage Device (2x)
USB Root Hub (xHCI)
Generic volume shadow copy
KINGSTON
EPSON6D15ED (WF-2650 Series)
USB Storage Use in past 30 Days (mouse over last used for details) [Back to Top]
Last Used
Kingston DataTraveler SE9, s/n 000FEAFAAB49EC9167A3000E, rev PMAP 12/4/2015 7:13:52 PM
Kingston DataTraveler SE9, s/n 000FEAFB797DEC9167230020, rev PMAP 11/12/2015 6:06:36 PM
TOSHIBA External USB 3.0, s/n 20131128008880F, rev 0 11/10/2015 5:34:45 PM
Hosted Virtual Machines (mouse over name for details) [Back to Top]
None detected

 

Windows 8 lacks software and codecs.
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-play-dvds-in-windows-8.html

My suggestion, install VLC. It is free and includes all the codecs needed to play anything but Blu-Ray.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/vlc_media_player.html

You failed to mention what programs you have tried.

I'd say get the player working first then we'll tackle the burning issue.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I just looked up a picture of the MRX-650LE v7
I think using only 1USB port might be a problem if you want to burn.
My external burner came with a USB Y-connector.
like this
it supplies power because sometimes 1 USB port isn't enough power.

 

I actually am already using the K lite mega codec pack. Playing DVDs isn't the issue. I've used several different programs, first and foremost being the Nero software included with the drive. Other than that, ive used WinX dvd author, Dvd Flick, etc. No dice.

I thought that might be an issue, so I did try burning with both USB plugs, still had no effect :/

 

I'm seeing that drive is older. What version of Nero was included? Perhaps that version isn't supported in Win 8.

I do not run Win 8 so I'll hand over the thread to others to suggest burning software that works with Win 8. Good luck burning.

 

Well, that's the problem. Its Nero 2014 which memorex claims is why they started including it with the product, it's supposedly compatible with windows 8