CD-RW/DVD reads DVDs but nothing else

[slm1950]

My new computer's CD-RW/DVD reads and plays DVDs but not audio CDs, CD-Rs,
CD-ROMs, or CD-RWs, whether commercially prepared, blank, formatted, etc.
The drive was working properly when I first got the new computer. I used it
to load many applications from CD-ROMs and CD-RWs. It is clearly a Windows
XP problem. The rescue CD-ROM accompanying the computer will boot in this
drive, i.e. before XP loads, so it is only after XP loads that the drive
doesn't read a CD-ROM.
I have uninstalled and reinstalled the drive -- no luck; device manager says
it is working properly. The drive is listed in the hardware for Control
Panel/Sounds and Audio Devices. Windows Explorer recognizes the drive but
not any data or folders on the CD (it will read all the folders on a DVD).
I have all the recommended updates to XP, Office, and IE. I suspect a
recent update to one of these created a problem, but I have no idea which
one. MS online support suggested i contact the manufacturer if the drive
(Sony) as if they didn't read the part about the drive reading a CD-Rom
during the boot process. Some online support. Need a guru here.
Suggestions?

[83@discussions.microsoft.com matt 83]

hey there

i have the exact same problem with my laptop all working fine when i first
got the thing but now it only plays dvd and when i try a cd rom it just
clicks at me
this is really frustrating the only thing i can think of is that in a clean
up programme that i have used may have altered the drive
any clues

[m32]

Not specifically that problem, but includes a link to the tool:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060

worth a try. It worked for me, and I swear I didn't do a thing to cause
it.