Cannot read a cd on my multidrive dvd/cd writer

One day my OLD LG multiwriter dvd/cd writer worked fine. The next day it did not. I went and purchased a NEW Liteon Multiwriter dvd/cd writer. I found it still could not read a cdrom. It read a dvd ok. It will not display any contents of the cd or recognise it. I update the drivers for it..no help. Any ideas? I think my Windows XP has lost a file somehow. What could I check to make this work again. I even disabled my Patin Couffin Engine but this did not help. I then updated it but this did not help. I deleted my burner program, but this did not help. I need some ideas to try otherwise I may have to reformat the hard drive as a last resort. Please advise.