Yes, in Win98, you need drivers for the specific hardware in order for it to be recognized.  Did your drive come with software for Win98?  On top of that, you need burning software that recognizes the drive as a burner, such as Nero.

<<The device manager shows the the Memorex now under CD-ROM drives but the Adaptec software that was loaded on this pc says I do not have a CD-RW drive>>

There are 2 things you can do,

1) Look for a software update because the Adaptec software version you have isn't compatible with your new burner (Very Common Problem) Some softwares have a Drives-Update patch which you can download and install which will allow the software to recognize your new burner

2) Uninstall the old software and install the software that came with your new burner. Some software is bundled to only work with the burner it came with to help reduce piracy.

If your Device manager see's the new burner then you don't need a new driver for it. Win98 will recognize the drives and use the windows default driver, you just need a software update/patch or use the new software if it came with any. Your software may be too old to use with the drive.

I have just installed nero 5.5 and it does not see the drive.  The only recorder I can select is "image recorder" some type of virtual device.  

Also, I think the Adaptec Software was originally loaded with an Iomega zip drive so I can understand if that software doesn't see my device - but the new install of nero should have detected it.  Under device manager the type shows CD-ROM shouldn't that show CD-RW?

<<I have just installed nero 5.5 and it does not see the drive. >>

Where did you get Nero from? I meantioned bundled software, so if you are trying to use Nero that came with a different burner then it's not likely to work. If you installed the software that came with it you shouldn't have any problems. (Provided you see it in the device manager and the drive letter shows in My Computer.)

The Nero software I have did not come with the Memorex drive so maybe as you explain it does not recognize my drive.  I am searching for the original disks that came with the Memorex drive.  Hopefully, I can locate them.  Also, just to add another twist -- I am going to upgrade this pc to xp professional.  I am going to format the hard drive for a clean install and load xp pro.  Do you think this will affect how it reads my cd-rw drive?

If you get a full version of Nero or Roxio's Ez Cd Creator then it will work on your drive (or the original software) but I am 99% sure the problem you have now is that the software is OEM bundled software that will only work with the drive it came with (not your Memorex).  

<<Do you think this will affect how it reads my cd-rw drive?>>
nope, unless you have a slow PC then it should act the same, possibly better.

I never have used/heard of this but I did a quick search for free burner software and came up with this one:
www.burn4free.com <---- Main page
http://directdownload.burn4free.com/burn4free_setup.exe <---- Download Link

Use at your own risk.

Here is a simple solution, go to www.driverguide.com and get the drivers for your particular Memorex CD-RW. Win98 will recognize alot of "burner drives" as such with the standard adaptec drivers, however, some burners REQUIRE that their own proprietary drivers be installed for the device to work.

If this is not a new drive it could be bad.  Is this drive new or at least a known working cdrw drive?

Don't listen to people who keep telling you to get drivers for 98.  If you can read disks and it doesn't have a problem in Device manager then you don't need drivers.  2 things you need to do first.  Good ASPI driver (not a cdrom driver mind you) and enable DMA on the drive.  Second you need to download the trial version of Nero 6.6 and try that.  That supports all burners made up to this date and you can download it from www.download.com.  Your problem is simply software related.  

Right on eatmeimadanish....either that or the drive is bad.   Also check your drive cable.

>>>The device manager shows the the Memorex now under CD-ROM drives<<<

In this case windows may have screwed up. Boot into safemod and  remove this device and any other cd-rom drive it may be showing from device manager and reboot.  Watch your bios (if you have to go into the bios setup) and look and see if the bios is labeling it as a cdrw drive or at least with it's correct number.  

After you remove all cd/dvd/cdburner drives from device manager reboot normally and windows WILL install the burner without intervention.   eatmeimadanish  is right windows does not need drivers for cd drives they are just like hard drives the OS has drivers already.  Uninstall that Adaptec software that was loaded on this pc and nero 5.5.

Go here and get Drive Speed Checker
http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads8.html 
it will help diagnose problems with your burner

then reinstall nero 5.5

get you aspi drivers here

http://mujweb.cz/www/rightgit/

It is obvious that eatmeimadanish does not have all the harware experience that he/she thinks they have. Windows has standard atapi CD-Rom drivers which will make all CD Drive appear as a CD Rom to Windows. HOWEVER! Some hardware has their own PRPRIETARY DRIVERS that must be installed for the hardware to work which is why I suggested that they download the drivers for their device from driver guide. You can tell the people NOT to listen to our advice if want to. It's a FREE WORLD, and advice here is also FREE, But some of us get PAID for our advice and services. DO YOU?

PS: and I meant to say atapi drivers.....not adaptec.

This has what transpired so far:  This is a pc that I wanted to update to windows xp pro - so I have re-formatted the hard drive and installed Windows XP Pro successfully.  I looked at the devices again and under CD-ROM my Memorex 40maxx 1248aj is shown.  I loaded Nero 5.5 which looks like an orginal CD which means I don't think it came bundled with any other software (but I could be wrong) -- When I go to select the recorder drive for the software my drive is not listed -- the only thing shown is "image recorder" virtual device.  So I then went to driverguide.com to see if I could locate a driver and I only see documentation -- no drivers for this drive.  I also called Memorex to see if they could direct me to a driver and they couldn't find one.  They suggested I go through with the upgrade to XP and see if that helped -- which it didn't.  I am now going to attempt to search for the original floppy or disk that came with the drive.  I removed this cd drive from another pc (and it was burning cd's fine on the other pc).  I really appreciate everyone's help with this problem.

Yeah.... funny thing..... I went to the Memorex site and they don't even have your drive listed in their products.

I have two burners, each came with an OEM Nero 5.5 disk. The disks are not interchangeable. T

Uninstall Windows Media Player and then delete the drivers for your optical drives and reboot.

Remove any IOMEGA related software that you have for now including its drivers and any other CD burning software that you might have on ur system. Start PC in safe mode and go to Device manager. Remove any device listed there but not currently on ur system. Restart the system normally. Get http://download.adaptec.com/software_pc/aspi/aspi_471a2.exe and load it up on ur system.

Now get the latest version of Nero from the website and load that up. Get it from http://www.ahead.de and check that your recorder is recognised by the software.

Also you might wanna get updated IDE drivers for your motherboard and load them up too just in case its a proprietary thing as mentioned above. What motherboard do you have? Your drive has an updated driver or firmware available too. You might wanna check http://cd-rom.free-driver-download.com/15422/Memorex-40MAXX-1248AJ-Firmware-ZWS4.html for more detaiils.

Also does ur drive boot the system if u insert a Win98 Cd in it and set the BIOS sequence to CDROM? If it does i am sure the drive is fine.

Dan

wow

Thats exactly what I have been saying the whole time. I don't get why I still recieved notification after unsubscribing. Glad to see people put useless comments like "wow"

I downloaded a trial version of Gear CDRW software and burned a CD with the drive.  It did recognize the drive with the full version of the software.  Thank you very much for all of your guidance.  I appreciate it !!

Your very welcome. I appologize about the capital words, I just wanted you to read my comments and not the ones about finding drivers or anything else. I've been a computer tech since I was a teenager, I've trained people with A+ certification and MCSE

DoTheDEW335.  No one is criticizing your expert status.  I said wow because of the capitals all over your post.   As in... way to get your point across.  

In the end your answer was right...Good Job

I am glad the user like 5 comments under me got the points, but my absolutely correct answer (which fixed your problem) was not awarded any.  This makes Eatme sad, and when Eatme is sad, he goes and finds a Danish...

Eatmeimadanish,
Sorry!! You are correct -- I looked back at your answer and you did advise me that it was software related.  If there is a way I can go back and award you some points I will be happy to do that.  Please let me know and I do appreciate your help.  Sorry again....... :(

Danish suggested something that was already said. My first 2 posts say everything that is needed for this answer, eatmeimadanish's comments are just a duplicate of what was already said.

Same goes for tlcompany's comments.

<< If there is a way I can go back and award you some points>>

Personally I don't think they should get any points since I posted the correct answer in great detail in my 1st 2 posts. IF you really feel they deserve points then you can post in community support (it's free) and have a moderator re-open the question and you can change the awards...


Post Here to get the question re-opened and don't forget to leave a link to this question:
https://www.experts-exchange.com/Community_Support/

DoTheDew335,
I definitely do not want to remove the points awarded to you as you did give me very detailed info on what I needed and I solved my problem.  I just did not want to shun anyone that should have been awarded points due to my not reading their answer correctly.  I appreciate the time everyone took to help me and I didn't want anyone to be left out.  Thanks.....

mmj1,
I completely understand. I just think that if somethings posted once, someone else should not duplicate it and end up getting points for it. I think the solution was provided, then a few other comments were added that were the same as the provided solution. At the end you take out points from the person who answered it and give some to people who posted the same thing. It just seems wrong to me , but it's your question and your points to award.. So just use the link I posted above to post a free question in Community support, asking them to re-open this question (leave a link to this question "https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/21324414/Swapped-DVD-drive-with-a-CD-RW-drive-do-I-need-drivers.html") and they will re-open it so you can change the points awarded to whomever you'd like.

I understand what you are saying -- and I'm glad you pointed this out.  I will be more aware of the answers I am given.  As for this issue, I am going to leave things as they are.  Thank you again.....:)

Thank you for your understanding. Thanks again for the accept ;)