i need to install a external dvd rw,but having a problem installing it.have you got any suggestions.

usually they just plug into the USB socket and are simply found by plug an play
Whats happening when you plug it in?
Give us more details and maybe we can offer help

What operating system are you running?

Come on Jason; you've given us nothing to go on in that one-liner! More descriptive prose please!

Some people have difficulty explaining themselves when it comes to computers. Jason, if you are one of these people my suggestion would be that you call a Professional to fix your problem. You can do this by clicking on the Request Support link on the PCIQ home page. This forum only really works for people who can explain their problems clearly and with the necessary detail.

have you got a power lead plugged into your external drive and ensured the power switch is on? Your external drive might not have come with a power lead (many don't), but you still need one the USB doesn't have anywhere near enough power to power up a DVD drive, normally the leads are just kettle leads.

Make sure it's plugged in and switched on, then plug into the USB port and Windows should auto-detect it as a normal drive.

Darren
be careful about the "kettle lead" theory
Most kettle leads are unearthed, they are for use ONLY with devices with double insulation. You must NOT used them with computer gear
You can tell the difference by looking at the end of the lead that plus into the pc or kettle: kettle leads normally have a notch cut into them, PC leads don't

Thanks for pointing that one out Jon, you learn something new every day.

I never knew that kettle leads weren't earthed (I thought they'd have to be with a lot of kettles being made of metal!)

Mind you most kettles now don't have kettle leads any more, possibly to stop people using them as PC leads. I can't remember the last time we got a kettle with an actual kettle lead, or saw one.

I think the name kettle lead just stuck with PC's though 'cos that's what they were used for before PC's came along.

some metal ones are earthed - but may have the wrong fuse rating, another reason for not using them!
however all the plastic kettles are unearthed and are instead "double insulated" - and the leads dont carry an earth, despite having the connectors on the plugs