I am running Windows XP Home Edition on an HP Pavilion 512w and my CD Rom Drive (Samsung SC-148c) won't recognize any media. I keep getting a box that tells me to insert a disc in drive E: I have attempted a system restore and also tried changing the drive letter associated with the CD drive, but to no avail. I even reset the system BIOS to the factory default with no effect. Previously, I had an external CD burner attached to the computer via USB, but I no longer have it. Could that software be superseeding my internal drive? I am curious to know if anyone else out there has been experiencing this problem and what, if anything I can do to fix it. Thanks.

when you say 'any' media, do you literally mean different types of stock or cd's that have been burnt on the unit itself??

I mean that it won't read either installation CDs or music or anything that I have previously burned. The icon still appears when I click on My Computer as well, the drive just won't read anything.

Have you checked the Device Manager for any Issues? Drivers?

Also (just an outside chance) have you tried to clean the drive?

canned air; lens cleaner?