When an audio CD is placed in the CD-ROM, the computer cannot play them because it doesn't recognize the format. This PC has about 4 different players - Windows Media Player (newest) RealPlayer, Winamp, and Adaptec Easy Creator. None work - they ignore the CD completely. Media Player returns an error informing that the file type is not recognized, etc. I've tried changing file associations but none seem to work. I suspect this is something simple in the config. setup but I can't find anything that helps. The sound card works fine on .wav files already stored or on web sites with sound. The CD Rom works fine for data CDs.

You probaly should have left the file associations as they were...was the CD drive EVER able to play audio CDs? If so, what have you installed or changed since then that may have caused the current problem? Have you tried reinstalling Media Player or WinAmp to see if that helps?

Look on the back of the jewel case and if there is a "Copy Control" logo then the cd is copy protected. It is made to not to play in computers. I don't own a music cd player, my only cd/dvd players are in my 5 computers. Even my Bose radio does not have a cd player since the music I play on computer plays through the Bose radio.