Adding LG50 external optical drive to a Surface RT

[WPCentral Question]

I bought a LG50 super slim DVD writer to enable me to play/record DVD's. But my Surface RT- original series - running Windows 8.0, does not recognise the LG50 even though the Windows screen directed to says the software can be downloaded if only have Windows 8.0 - it then says must have Windows 8.1 minimum. How to over come and permit use of the external drive?

 

[hotphil]

Install 8.1 on the Surface?