Hi Lewis!   

I first enabled a complete IDE drive system with the CR-ROM on H: and an LG DVD burner on I:,, using Dani's 1.8.1/1.4.0 combo with the /!SCSI command line parameter on DaniATPI.FLT.  That got both the IDE and DVD units 'found' and accessable for read operations just fine.    

I then installed the complete as is RSJ 5.5.3 on that box.  In my case I usually use a ghost drive letter "T:" for the burner install, with suitable memory and slush cache sizes for the directory needed.  On boot up the DVD was 'gone', just as in the 'normal' SCSI systems in which my SCSI CR-RW vanishes from the as seen on boot units.  Now .. contrary to what you report:    

have no DVD access with Dani 1.8.1 / 0.4.0. Currently, I'm rolled back to 1.7.10 and 0.3.18. Perhaps this is your problem? I've been using RSJ 6.0 (just upgraded to 6.01 last night, amidst all this discussion).
    

If I attach the DVD burner as 'usual' with RSJ's folder choices, I can do the entire CD-RW burn operations to CD-RW disks with it, and, in theory, have no reason to believe I could not use the DVD burner for DVD burn use within the restrictions that customarily are present in this utility.    

I was trying to learn enough about the latest version 6 code from RSJ until their News Group server was taken down.  Thus I have no other place to huddle over this than either a group like this or the common OS/2 New Group participation.  And in my case, though I do own a licensed copy of eCs 1.4.2R it is not able to be used at all for this research which must proceed on MCP2 turf.    

I think from what I've read at in other forums, there is a serious possible issue with the RSJ 6 version code and DVD issues, even without mixing Dani's work in this too.  In particular, for example, should I try this on the R40 ThinkPad, how do I ever get to see the CD-RW/DVD Read only installed unit as a 'normal' visible drive when not attached?

  That because the burner simply vanishes when RSJ is installed from the as booted system?  Recall, that under the 'new' version 6 code from RSJ, it says the the drive letter isn't even changed as it is attached to burn things.    

I'll be glad to follow a transfer of all this out of this group as needed.  But thought I could contribute here at this level with where I stand now.