Ever since I re-installed windows, my cd burner won't work. No special error, just the error while burning. It also errors when I boot into Linux, so I'm not sure what the problem is.

What's "the error while burning"?

"There was an error in the writing process. The disc you have attempted to write may no longer be usable." ??

If it really is sync with Windows reinstall and it doesn't want to work in Linux either, them most likely the Windows setup reconfigured the drive resources in BIOS and is now conflicting (It shouldn't happen, so I'm offering it as a solution because it DOES happen).

 

Enter BIOS setup, reset to defaults, tell it to update all configs (ESCD) and boot directly to Linux. If you are good with it, make sure it is correctly set up (I don't do Linux).

 

Alternately, if you are good with Windows do a diagnose and try to determine whether or not it is correctly set up, no conflicts, make sure you have all updates (some features are off in Windows by default). Make sure the CD drive is set up to DMA; if Windows 2000 or XP stock make sure all DMA registry patches are set up, when in doubt manually move the drive's resources.

I found this drive while cleaning the house. I thought it would be cool to take it apart and take a can of air to it.

 

Now it works.