If you can please specify more details about your DVD problem, it may help me to solve your issue better. When you mean it does not read DVDs, do you mean DVD movies or DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW with data on it or copied movies, or all of the above? Does your computer see the DVD but just can't play it or does it not see it at all? Please let me know what service pack Windows XP is on (right click on 'MyComputer' icon and then click 'Properties'), and any other information that may help like when the problem started, how long have you had the computer,and was there anything done to the computer right before you started having the problem?
I'm going to provide some info that may help you in the mean time. DVD/CD players actually have 2 different laser diods which read different types of disks even though there is only one lense that you see. If the lense is damaged or dirty where the DVD diode reads, this could be a problem so try a DVD cleaner to see if that works, but it very well could be a diode missaligned. If one of these diods are misaligned or damaged, it could prevent the DVD from being read but not the CD. Some DVD players have a way you can calibrate each diode, and usually sit near or under the lense. If you can get to the diodes, you can try turning each one, one at a time no more that 180 degrees to see if it helps. Try clockwise and then counter clockwise, but do not exceed more that 360 degrees in either direction. After each turn, try to see if the computer can read a DVD or CD. You have to check each one as you may end up missaligning the CD diode.
I don't know which drive you have, so it may not be possible to align the diodes specially on a slim DVD drvie. I did look online and there does seem to be replacement drives fairly cheap. Here is a link for one for around $30:
www.discountelectronics.com/index.php?l=...ct_detail&p=1139. I'm not sure if they ship overseas so you may have to look around but it doesn't look to be an expensive replacement part if it is damaged. One thing you should do to make sure its not Windows causing the problem or a driver issue, is to get a bootable DVD and see if the computer can read it durring boot up. If it can, then the problem is not the drive, but either a driver problem or an issue in Windows. Hope this helps.
