Assuming you get the software installed correctly, this sometimes will stop cd-rw's from crashing machines: click Start, Settings, Control Panel, System, Device Manager. Click "cdrom" and click your cd-rw, then click "settings" and see if the box marked "DMA" (Direct Memory Access) is checked. If it is, uncheck it, click OK, close out, and reboot the machine. I had to do that to make my Iomega cd-rw work, and it does now. If it doesn't work, go back in and re-check the DMA box, and try reinstalling the drive and software. Good luck.
