TSSTcorp CD/DVDW TS-H552B in a compaq presario desktop

for the record i will have to say dont buy compaq and especially dont get anything with TS-H552B, but i may be biased from having now TWO of these devices choke.

ok, so i can read CDs, read DVDs, and i go to burn a CD with iTunes, tells me i need to insert a blank CD. imagine my horror when i realize I ALREADY INSERTED THE BLANK CD. i try different one. i think it told me to go "F [my]self." i close iTunes and try just inserting a blank disk. lots of spinning but No Go.

i decide to try out the handy PC Doctor slopware that comes with the computer. cant run the Read/Write test because it doesnt seem to believe i'm using blank CDRWs, which i actually was only because someone left a stack of em at my apartment, fancy that. the first time this happened i was luckily able to take the computer back to costco but it's been too long now.

any miracle cures for this or am i just another privileged soul to own a quality computer system?

thanks for any and all help