i just bought that external burner for my hp 100 thats using ubuntu verison 10.4 or 11.4. samsung said it wasnt compatable for ubuntu. is that possible that i'm doing something wrong or is there another external burner i can buy that will work on my netbook hp. with ubuntu on it. thank you

Welcome to LinuxQuestions.

I do not have any personal experience with this particular device and Samsung does not support linux but but I have no reason to doubt that it will not work.

However, there are instances where ubuntu does not recognise a writer if is installed in a Genesys Logic enclosure. Post the output of the lsusb command.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1448072

What happens when you plug the drive in? Have you tried inserting a data disk? The disk should be automatically mounted and a windows should pop up with its contents. What desktop are you running i.e Gnome?

http://www.muktware.com/2017/samsung...linux-major-os

it will not turn one at all. and the disc that came with it is nero 10.
i do have brasero on it right now

I have no idea what this means. The applications on the disk that came with the drive will not work with linux.

I assume there is an eject button on the drive itself. So nothing happens when you press this button?

Can you post the output of the lsusb command?