My media player stopped working and I'm wondering if I can use an external burner. I have an HP LAPTOP running windows 10.Sure, an external burner will work just fine. I have several of them for use with my laptop and tablet.An external burner is not going to help your problem with Media Player. If you are actually having a problem with windows media player you should download and try VLC.All I want is to be able to burn my own CD's. I don't care how. What is VLC?Code: [Select]My media player stopped working and I'm wondering if I can use an external burner.VLC is a media player. I suggested this because you stated above that your media player stopped working. What program are you using to burn CD's? Of course, you can use an external burner. They're not too expensive.To my way of thinking, a DVD drive is a media player (hardware) while Windows Media Player and VLC are media PLAYERS (software). Is the OP talking about the hardware or software in order to burn DVDs?Methinks he's havin issues with both....I down loaded the VLC. I GOT the external cd burner. I PLUGGED it in and my computer recognized it. I MADE up a play list, clicked on "burn CD". It made a noise and says that it's burning. When I tried to play it back, it said the disc was empty. These are the same discs I use all the time.What program are you using to burn the CD?I'm not using any program. I used to just make up a play list, put a CD-R in and click on "burn CD". Whatever happened to "user friendly"?