Rating: 
Summary: Great CD-writer for all Uses
Review: It is a easy to use writer. I've used it on a Win98 machine and a WinME machine. Make sure you have the updated drivers. The first launch of this product had problems. The second release 8220e is very solid (with the right drivers). I got one of the first release ones and HP sent me a second release in the mail within a few days. I would use Nero instead of the software that comes with the writer. The software is freezes up my system, but uninstalling it cleared up all problems. The writer itself has been a dream.
Rating: 
Summary: HP Software 4 Dummies would of been Helpful!
Review: Had a few to many setbacks to get this to work properly on my IBM Think Pad, 300 MHz Pentium processor, with Windows 98. After many thoughts of throwing this burner out the window - I found out it's the HP Software that was causing me a lot of grief! The burner works GREAT!! The HP Software disc 1 cd, kept freezing up (3 little words Ctrl. Alt. Del.) I also needed to download the updated version of Record Now & Dla for the 8200e series on HP's website. Go to the Control Panel, Change the Power Schemes in Power management Properties set all to Never & Shutdown all running programs except Explorer & I must shutdown and reboot after a complete burn or the next burn will freeze up & walla a successful burn! I have now started using Nero software at Nero.com and bingo, no problemo. So guess what caused the missing star, out of a rating of 5 stars!
Rating:
Summary: Please update drivers
Review: This product works fine and is even better when you buy it refurbished because a lot of this issues has been fixed already. People don't want to believe that refurbished not always means used, it could be also renewed or improved. I bought this Burner and a HP 5200C Scanner (3 years ago); both refurbished; and I have never had big problems. The Burner might be a little slow because that is the fastest speed that a USB 1.0 could work. USB Burners won't work fast unless you have newest USB Versions 2.0.; Interface and Drive. In order to keep an equipment working well, you need to do maintenance, and this means to keep updating your PC with drivers and everything else. ...
Rating: 
Summary: Nonfuntional with Win2K & XP
Review: I purchased this drive and had good success getting it to work with Win98 on an IBM Thinkpad. I decided to upgrade the notebook's OS to Win2K Pro for work and security issues and that was when my problems began. The drivers HP supplied did not work properly and the computer continually claimed that the drive was a 8290. Once I upgraded the OS, no matter what drivers I used, the drive was not recognizable by the PC and the two times I managed to get the software (Roxio EZCD) to recognize the drive, I ended up with coasters. Attempts to get a resolution from HP on this were futile. The drivers did "bad things" to my notebook requiring a reinstall of the OS. The best I have been able to determine (from reading other people's problems with the same drive), it appears that there are issues with the firmware of the CDR and if you get the earlier versions of this drive you may be able to get it to work. The older versions of the firmware (which my drive falls under) do not work as advertised. I just checked (today is 04/10/2002) HP's site for updated drivers and they still have the old drivers which caused the problems (problems were encountered 11/02/2001, drivers used are dated 10/31/2001). I gave the drive to a friend of mine who uses Win98. She is able to use it without issue on her computer (so far). As long as you are running it with one of the older OSes, you may be o.k. Using anything newer and you are definitely on your own. Joe.
Rating: 
Summary: Piece of Junk!!!!!!!
Review: Whatever you do, DO NOT BUT THIS PRODUCT!!!!!!! After only having this cd-burner for about six months, it just quit working. The software that comes with it is terrible. It constantly comes up with errors that make no sense. HP tech support is useless, so just take my advice. Buy anything else!!! You will be glad that you did!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: HP CD Writer Review
Review: I have an HP CD Writer 8200 series that is external. I like it, but the only problem I have had is that if you bump it, your burn stops. I would tell people to buy it, just be careful of bumping it!
Rating:
Summary: Buyer Beware
Review: Do not buy this CD writer ... you'd be much better off with anything else. I had a hell of a time setting it up, and after much talk with HP tech support (who were no help), I finally got it to work after barebooting my system, taking my laptop off the docking station, not passing through the USB hub, and without task manager and any startup items. What a ROYAL PAIN! Everytime I have to burn a CD it takes forever. Now, it's even refusing to work with my specialized setup and insists on making this noise I've never heard before. JUNK!!
Rating:
Summary: OK, but be prepared for trouble
Review: I read the reviews and saw lotsa cautions, so I borrowed a friend's old 8200e, with Adaptec 2.5, worked like a charm on my Dell Inspiron 3500. Bought my own 8220e with HP's S/W, and ran in to all the problems. Bottom line: HP's S/W is shameful and installing USB drivers can be hazardous.
The HP S/W in the box just wouldn't work to make Audio CD's. Eventually found on the HP site that there is a whole new application named HP Record Now (which replaces MyCD). Released July 27 2001, 8.65Mb download. That works like a charm and I have made many good Audio CD's since, even though its very basic with no opportunity for user intervention like Adaptec. At least it now does what I paid for.
Before all this, my first attempt to load the USB drivers resulted in a trashed Registry on the Dell. Dell Helpline confirmed that #1 source of trashed registries is loading USB drivers (not necessarily just HP). I was caught out by forgetting to close my HP printer/fax/scanner app. which tried polling the printer in mid-installation. Messages you NEVER want to see on the screen. Rescued by a guru with professional tools, otherwise it was delete all and start over.
Now of course everything is backed up on CD, but you have to get there before that's any comfort! Proceed with caution, and make sure you have a support system to call on. Chances of problems seem high.
Rating:
Summary: Does not work for me either.
Review: Like most of the reviews this thing has not worked for me. I will try getting some new software.
Rating:
Summary: Piece of [junk]...
Review: This is the worst CD writer i have ever used. The driver froze my OS( windows 2000). The service folk at HP blamed it on my dell laptop USB port.. However i bought a mitsumi cd writer and it was plug and play.. Don't even waste money on this. To sell it they have included some nice extras free which you can buy anyway for about $...
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