Just one final quick update from my side on this topic. I connected by external DVD writer to my laptop which is now running Devuan Linux. I tried using both K3b, and also the command line to burn various iso images to a blank DVD-R, but I kept getting error messages similar to what I got when I tried using this drive to burn DVDs with my FreeBSD desktop. And the error I got in both cases was, :-( unable to PERFORM OPC: Input/output error.
I'm no expert, but after poking around in various forums, it appears that this error occurs when the external drive is unable to calibrate its laser to the media which is inserted in the drawer. So, I tried cleaning the lens, I tried two different brands of blank DVD-Rs, but I still got the same error message anyway.
After poking around some more, I found that the below special USB cord, which comes with the external USB writer actually supplies electrical power to the laser, and if the computer's operating system isn't configured to supply current to the laser through the below cord, then the recording process comes to a screeching halt, and you get the error message stating unable to perform OPC.
Apparently, the below plugin power adapter only supplies electrical power to the motor, and not to the laser, at least not during the initial calibration phase of the burn process.
Also, although I'm not absolutely certain, it appears that the installation software which comes with this particular external USB DVD writer helps the Windows operating system manage the flow of electrical current to the laser during the testing phase. And of course, this software only works in Windows. So, unless there is a way to hack the above USB cable, I doubt that this particular drive will be able to burn a disc in either FreeBSD or most flavors of Linux. I thought that I had it working with Ubuntu a few years ago, but maybe I'm mistaken about that.