MJScore,
This is a longshot, but just in case, make sure that you don't have a CD-RW disc inserted in the drive when you check the speed in the drive properties.
If a CD-RW disc is in the drive, the drive speed will show the maximum speed rating for the inserted CD-RW media, not CD-R. There were some drives made to operate at 8x max with CD-RW, so I just thought I would throw that in.
There is no significant difference in the drive support capability between the Basic and Platinum versions (Basic usually supports a drive first), so you don't need to buy the Platinum version to test the drive. What drive do you have? Is it listed as supported in the Basic version at
Roxio Supported Drive Inquiry Strings?
By the way, you don't have the latest Basic drive update patch, which is
(DriveUp5.3.4c.exe - 4/14/03) 208 KB. I recommend that you download and install it before trying again.