My parent's computer is a Compaq 5724 95 MB RAM 450 mhz Compaq running Windows 98. A while back the CD-ROM wouldnt read any CD's and cept bringing of the famous blue screen of death everytime a cd was inserted. We got a new one and the same problem occured. I found a way to fix THAT, but since I got my own computer their brand new drive has stopped working and when you insert a CD, it holds it, the busy lights blinks orange and green and spits the cd right back out without any notification that it was reasing the disc except for those busy lights. We have tried numerous CD's and the drive never works. My mom played with the Device Settings and got it working again, but nonetheless, it doesnt work now. The DVD-ROM is a "Creative PC-DVD 12x" (all the info i could get since my dad lost the paperwork on it....*SIGH*). We all know it's the OS/PC that is preventing the CD's from working, but have no clue how to fix it. Could someone possibly help?

You had stated having fixed the problem once, and that your mom had done likewise. What did the two of you do before, and have you tried either technique again?

all techniques aside, I try reinstalling it first, you never tha the culprit maybe a lose cable or wrong jumper settings..

Useful fact here. DVD rom has two lasers. One for reading cd roms, and one for reading DVDs. I had a DVD player that died sort of, it would read cd's happily, but would spit out DVD roms. That was because the DVD laser had died. The spit out thing is because it is failing to find the media you put in. Good way to test this is, disconnect the IDE cable of the DVD rom and boot the machine up as normal. Of course the machine will not find the DVD rom, but the DVD rom itself, will still open and close. IF it still spits out your DVD try a CD rom. If it spits out the DVD then you know the DVD laser is RIP. If CD, then CD laser RIP. If both spit out, I couldn't say for sure what is the problem is, but is definitely a fault with the drive, not Windows settings, and if it accepts both DVD AND CD ROM then your Windows software is doing something crazy! Before you accept the above, worth trying a CD ROM cleaner in your drive. Could be REALLY REALLY dusty lens on the lasers' transport.

Before you go and trash it, have you tried looking for a newer driver since you think you know what the drive is?

Wow, thanks for all the suggestions, but despite my insisting that they dont buy a new drive, my mom did today. Tough luck, but it's their money, i will print this page and if the next drive does work, I'll use them. This is a great place with great people. Thanks a lot guys (and gals) :)

Hey nulshock, Thanks for the nice things you said. Best of luck with the new hard drive!