OK Folks
Here's the latest. I brought the work laptop in this morning to try a different drive out with it. I hooked up a Plextor PX-740A (v1.02 firmware) in place of the PX-W2410A on the USB port. The PX-740A is not listed here:
http://www.mtu.com/support/cdr-ide-drives.htm as a recognized drive. I inserted a cd+g in the unit to import and used the "Check FreeDB"radio button. The drive worked fine although it did not seem as quick to react as the Lite-On DVDRW (but the Lite-On was operating internally).
So here is the latest scoreboard:
Plextor PX-W2410A ---- 2 separate units that
do not work on either computer either internally (Compaq Model 8QSXE1) or externally on (Acer Aspire 1800). (See initial post for each computer info.)
Plextor Premium -------
does not work on Compaq internally.
Plextor PX-740A --------
works externally on Acer Laptop
Lite-On DVDRW Model SHW-160P6S ---
works internally on Compaq
Lite-On CDRW Model LTR-16102B ----
works internally on Compaq
I also have a Plextor PX-716A and a Plextor PX-W5224 that I have not tried with Hoster v3.310. They are both being used internally in another home unit @ present.
I appreciate everyone's input on my plight....thank you