On 28 May 2001, at 10:15, Peggy Bockler wrote:

> I am new to the list and have a question about adding a CD burner
> to my computer.  I have a Plus Data system that is about 5 years
> old and runs off of Windows 95.  I would like to add a CD burner
> to my system, but I am not very knowledge when it comes to this
> and have several questions.
>
> 1.  Can I add an internal CD burner to this system?  It looks like
> there is an empty bay where I might be able to add something.  If
> not, what is involved in adding an external CD burner?

  CD burners tend to use the same kinds of interfaces as CD drives --
IDE/EIDE, SCSI, and possibly USB.  If you have an empty bay, your
system can probably handle another IDE/EIDE device.

> 2.  Would I need to upgrade to a newer version of Windows to run a
> CD burner?

  Burner support is not yet part of the OS.  I believe most popular
third-party burner software for Windows should run under 95 just
fine.  (The drive will probably come with software, although it may
not offer all the features of the latest programs -- it will be
enough to get you started.)

> 3.  If I add a CD burner to my system and make no other changes,
> will it make my system slow down to a snail's pace?

  Probably not.  The one phenomenon that *might* produce a symptom
like this can almost certainly be avoided by putting your burner as
slave to your CD-ROM drive on the secondary IDE/EIDE channel.

David Gillett
A+, MCSE, CCNA

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