>I'm just guessing that the DVD RW double layer is supported by
>Windows XP and will be plug and play

Any windows operating system will support this. I have a NEC Dual layer and
it works just fine in Win 2000, and I would be surprised if it didn't work
in 98. It is the BIOS of the burner, combined with the Media, that
determines support.... not the operating system.

>if I can solve the hardware issues.
>Seems to me the problem is what form factor or other description is applied
>to the new notebook DVD burners and what were the factors and specs or
>descriptions of the old CD/DVD reader that I have in my system now? Where
>can I get a new internal burner? Thanks for your time.   John Smith

The only place you are going to get a answer to this is from IBM. If one
can be bought, then they will be the only place that will have it. This is
a very proprietary item, and a old legacy part at that. Even if they have
one, I would guess that the price would exceed the value of the laptop.

  I bought my used T23 = M-PIII 1.13GHz with 30GB hard drive, and 256megs
of RAM, 16meg Video card, 14 inch display,  10/100 Nic, and 56K modem,
briefcase, in perfect condition, for 400 bucks on Ebay, last November. So I
would think long and hard before I would buy a proprietary burner for this
laptop that, if it exists, would cost several hundred dollars, You would be
better off just getting a new HP or Compaq during the Xmas sales.

Rode
The NOSPIN Group
http://www.freepctech.com/rode/

        The NOSPIN Group has added a new feature on our website,
           web based bulletinboard for questions and answers:
              Visit our sister website at http://nospin.com