I just replaced the dead cd-burner drive on one of my computers, I got a lite-on DVD burner drive that does pretty much everything from newegg for like $39. There are good prices out there. I also have an external usb cd-burner that I can connect to any of my computers by usb to have an added cd-burner, I found it on a clearance rack at an electronics store for around $15. If you do not want to dig into the machine to take the old one out and install the new one you may want to get one of the external usb ones. Replacing the internal one is not difficult but does take a bit of knowledge, it is more difficult than say adding memory. Some times the doors can get off the tracks and on occasion they can be taken out and worked on and fixed but that is a big maybe! It is a good idea to never force things! Also if you use the paperclip in the little hole in the front of the drive it is usually advised to have the pc turned off and unplugged to do that, I know not everyone does that but on the directions that come with them it does say that. Guess the risk of something electrical happening is the reason.

I would like to point out that since the thread was started in 2002 I would hope the situation has come to some resolution. Either that or the OP's son is the only 25 year old still in middle school. What you should do is lie to your kid and tell him that grades are monumentally important. That's right I said lie. Grades are somewhat important, and they certainly make paying for college easier. Having said that, knowledge is way more important, I would far prefer my son get a C with complete understanding of the material than get an A with no real understanding of the material. There is a myth about college in general that most parents simply don't understand. Your incredible Ivy league schools have the small advantage of degree portability, but a degree earned from a large state school in the state where you want to work can be nearly as strong. There is a significant amount of research that shows HR directors are biased towards their alma mater, so for example if you want to work in central Ohio then Ohio State is a great choice, mostly because the HR director is statistically more likely to have graduated from Ohio State than anywhere else. The Ivy league only negate some of that. Furthermore, if your son intends to continue to graduate school then even High School performance will not be looked at. Grad schools care about entrance test scores disproportionately, all other factors pale in comparison. When we look at applicants for graduate programs the things we consider are: (1) test scores, (2) work experience, and (3) interview, undergraduate grades only sit in the background to help answer "can the student handle the rigor?". Finally, there is a LOT of research that shows good grades are not an indicator of a successful career and or a happier life. The most significant indicator for success in the work place is participation in an extracurricular sport. The fact of the matter is a B/C student with a strong social life is more likely to be successful than an A student without one. In the end, please make sure that your son/daughter understands the material (please, for the love of god, teach them some math). If they don't understand the material, especially math and english, fix that! Keep their grades as high as you can but don't sacrifice socialization for grades.

Oh, honey. Can't we fix up your SS and my SD and throw them to the curb??? I feel for you, but at least your husband is on your side. I have tried everything in my case and my DH is just burying his head in the sand. W/ us, I was taken advantage of so badly by his son, who lived w/ us for a couple of years at the end of H.S. and for breaks from college. Then, these SDs started crashing in on us during college, always w/ a crowd. Now, this older SD moved in for "3-4" months. It'll be 6 mo. in the end of the month and I'm just sick of it as it's very disruptive to my 3, almost 5, and 7 y.o. boys. Anyway, your situation stinks. Your SS CHOSE to be an adult when it was convenient for him to be an adult, but when it's easier for him to play the "poor son", he reverts back to being a child. I feel for this poor baby he fathered. I actually commend him for wanting to step up and be a father, but he needs to first recognize himself AS AN ADULT! My parents have had issues w/ my brother. My dad is calm all the time, but once just lost it and asked my mother how she'd have felt if he were in his 40's and still totally relying on his parents for food, money, etc. I would simply tell him that you're proud of the hands on father he is trying to be, but that the first step is for his child to respect him. Does he want the child to see him as an overgrown teen? (I have huge issues w/ so many of today's adult men who still view themselves as 16 y.o. boys!) Of course he should be able to see his baby whenever possible, but you and his father don't need to go through that stage again. Say you'd love to extend to them a standing invitation for Sunday dinner - tell him to come over early, let you both play w/ the baby, eat, then he can GO HOME! It's time. He's made adult decisions so it's time to be an adult. And, I'm w/ you - the technicality of being in school is a joke. Come on, being in school means you are taking enough classes that you are prevented from holding down a real job! He needs to grow up! Good luck, keep posting, Dana

Kelo and Mikella- Thank you both so very much for the information. If mediation is only like $30- I think that is EXCELLENT and will have to look into it. I will also check into counseling, just wanted to make sure we were within our legal rights and boundaries before we did anything. Because if we weren't- the BM would definitely have our heads on a platter!! BUT now things have even gotten worse than they were! On the childrens last visit all hell broke loose. BH asked his 3 kids to vaccuum the downstairs- a chore that would have taken them each about 4 minutes!! Immediately the oldest (12) starts in "Why do WE have to do it?" "WE didn't make the mess!" and on and on. Then the twins (9) of course followed her lead! BH told them they needed to do it because this is their home to and he asked them to! Well they started CRYING, real tears over all this. Finally (after about 45 minutes) the twins did it (still crying as they did it).... but 12 yr. old was still adamantely refusing! So after about 1.5 hrs of the oldest still sitting in a chair and refusing to get up- my BH went over and took her by the arm and tried tipping the folding chair up (to get her out!) AT this pt. the twins came and started literally attacking their dad- slapping, hitting, etc... saying he CAN'T touch there sister and they are calling their mom! Well hubby gave each of twins one crack on their seat end and told they were NOT using the phone because they were being punished! Well to make a longer story a little shorter- they repeatedly told my BH they HATED him and HATED it at our house and they were NEVER coming back. BH finally couldn't take their abuse anymore and told them to call their mom. She came and picked them up 20 minutes later! Now my BH is VERY depressed and withdrawn! I am very worried about him. Wouldn't a reasonable mother ask why they got in trouble? And then tell them she is NOT picking them up and they should listen to their dad?? Instead of running out to rescue them? 2 last things- they DO NOTHING at home and i think that is why it is such an adjustment to be HERE! And my BH is REALLY the most even tempered, sweet, easy to get along with person I have ever met! We have been together 6 yrs and this is only the 2nd time he has spanked them! Well as always ty for listening and any other words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated!