CDs are used for storage but executable files can be ran from them - all you programs are loaded via the CD/DVD. Yes, all files burned to CD become read only and if you copy any back to your hard drive you will need to change the name if you intend to modify the file. I know nothing about re-writable CDs but I would suggest you erase everything when wiping it. Do not apologise for asking seemingly basic questions, asking is learning.

Owbist Thanks for the reply, I installed the DVD drive to read DVD's and I already had a CD Burner installed first, I believe the Drive I installed is a Combo drive, CD and DVD, and I have Tried all of the Following in this drive. Music CD, DVD Movie, DVD software and even a Software CD all with the same result, it just spins slow for a couple of second and stops, and if I click on the Drive in My Computer, it will say install Disc and it tries to find the disc with no luck I will also try the Deep Burner

I just replaced the dead cd-burner drive on one of my computers, I got a lite-on DVD burner drive that does pretty much everything from newegg for like $39. There are good prices out there. I also have an external usb cd-burner that I can connect to any of my computers by usb to have an added cd-burner, I found it on a clearance rack at an electronics store for around $15. If you do not want to dig into the machine to take the old one out and install the new one you may want to get one of the external usb ones. Replacing the internal one is not difficult but does take a bit of knowledge, it is more difficult than say adding memory. Some times the doors can get off the tracks and on occasion they can be taken out and worked on and fixed but that is a big maybe! It is a good idea to never force things! Also if you use the paperclip in the little hole in the front of the drive it is usually advised to have the pc turned off and unplugged to do that, I know not everyone does that but on the directions that come with them it does say that. Guess the risk of something electrical happening is the reason.

Yes it reads. I installed this version of ubuntu on it,and I can view a photo disc. Disk utility shows it but has a dash beside write cache. K3B shows it,but says error beside write. cat/proc/sys/dev/cdrom/info: drive name: sr0 drive speed: 52 drive # of slots: 1 Can close tray: 1 Can open tray: 1 Can lock tray: 1 Can change speed: 1 Can select disk: 0 Can read multisession: 1 Can read MCN: 1 Reports media changed: 1 Can play audio: 1 Can write CD-R: 0 Can write CD-RW: 0 Can read DVD: 0 Can write DVD-R: 0 Can write DVD-RAM: 0 Can read MRW: 1 Can write MRW: 1 Can write RAM: 1 no ndiswrapper I honestly don't know what I'm using that allows me to use the driver. Maybe I can't? How would I get a linux driver? I am up to date on all kernel updates as far as I know. I thought maybe I just needed to add something else like a destination for the file? If I can't get it figured out I will try ubuntu forums. Thanks for your help chuggerguy!