...firmware update, perhaps?

or do you think it's just the burner itself? (i do intend to try hooking it up to a different computer soon and seeing what the results are)

it's funny, i have researched and researched this problem of a cd burner not recognizing blank cds and repeatedly asking to "insert a disc" and a lot of people seem to be having the problem, with all different kinds of burners (especially for DVDs) yet not ONCE in all the message boards i have searched have i seen the problem get solved...