I hope that you haven’t given up! As soon as we discover your laptop’s model number, we should be able to fix your DVD burner problem. I look forward to hearing from you.

To help locate the correct drivers for your HP Pavilion laptop, I need to know the laptop’s model number. Learn how to locate your computer’s model number by reading: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&docname=c00033108&product=18073&dest_page=product

PS: It seems that your email program isn’t displaying the ampersand symbol correctly; that’s why you saw amp instead of the symbol. If you tell me which email program you are using, I may be able to help.

Connect your computer to a DSL, cable, wireless, or other fast connection (dial-up will be too slow).

In Windows Vista, click on the “Start Menu” (blue button in the lower left corner of your screen). Then right-click on “Computer” and choose “Properties”. In the new window that appears, click on “Windows Update”. Now choose “Change Settings” and put a checkmark under “Recommend Updates”. Also put a checkmark next to “Use Microsoft Update” (if that option exists on your computer). Click “OK”.

To make sure that your computer has detected all possible updates, click on “Check for updates”. If there are any updates available for your computer, there will be a link called “View Available Updates”. Click on that link, and then put checkmarks next to all of the available updates EXCEPT language-related updates. Click on the “Install” button to install the updates. When the updates have installed, restart your computer.

If your burner still doesn’t work, click on the “Start Menu”, right-click on “Computer” and choose “Properties”. This time, choose “Device Manager”. Click on “Continue” when Vista asks for permission. Look for a category called “DVD/CD-ROM Drive”, and click the plus sign (+) by that category. Right-Click on each device in that category, and choose “Uninstall”. Then say “OK”. Also uninstall any devices within the entire Device Manager that have a yellow question mark next to them. Restart your computer.

When you get back into Windows, your computer should automatically begin reinstalling your devices. Be sure to accept all messages asking to search online for drivers. Restart your computer again.

If your burner still doesn’t work, let me know and I’ll post some more ideas for you to try. Thanks!

Thanks for letting me know which version of Vista you are using, but I still need to know if your DVD burner is internal (inside your computer) or external (connected to your computer by a cable). Thanks…