no dice. run down...

-uninstalled all burning s/w.
-deleted 1 upper filter and 2 lower filter keys.
-restarted to save mode and uninstalled cd drive.
-restarted to normal mode and allowed drive to reinstall its self.
-inserted new blank cd
-added a file
-followed the wizard to the 2nd page where i got the lovely familiar page of please insert a blank cd...

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr *crys*