I inserted an audio disc (mp3's ), that I made a couple of years ago with my old computer, and a window opened and asked what I wanted to do. I chose RIP and it proceeded to copie that disc to Media Player. Next I put a blank disc into the drive. Nothing happened. No window opened.

Then I went to My Computer and right clicked the drive and opened Properties. There is nothing there to indicate that there is a disc in the drive.
So I removed the blank disc and put the Audio disc in and went to properties again and it showed "Audio CD" and it played.

No Auto Start prompt when you insert a BLANK disc.

As to formating, the only thing I can find is a window under properties, InCD Page Settings, There is a box marked Format disc to CD-MRW. That box is checked.

I do NOT get Auto Start prompt with a blank disc. I DO got it with any disc that has something on it such as an Audio MP3 disc.

Under properties the Audio disc shows "Audio CD". The blank disc shows nothing.

The only thing I can find about formating is under Properties, InCD Page Settings, there is a box marked Format Disc To CD-MRW. That box is checked.

Has this drive ever burned CD's for you?

I highly suspect the CD's and the drive are not compatible.

This is the first time I have tried to burn with this drive.
I have tried four brands of CD's and none of them work.
I have gone to the Mitsumi Web site but they don't list supported media for my model (487ete). They do list other models but not mine.
The guy at the computer store told me this is a common problem. He said some drives will only work with a certain brand CD.