Start - Control Panel - Open System Icon - Hardware Tab -
Device Manager.
Copy and paste form Windows XP Help and Support below.
(On your computer)

You can check the status of any hardware installation in Device Manager.

To check the status of your device

Open Device Manager.
Double-click the device category to display all devices in that category.
Right-click your device, and then click Properties.
On the General tab, read the Device status message.

If your device is not listed in Device Manager, it is not recognized by your computer. You need to install a new device driver manually.

To install a driver manually

Close any open programs.
Start the Add Hardware Wizard.
Click Next, and wait for Windows to search for Plug and Play hardware. Most newer hardware is Plug and Play, so you will rarely need to go beyond this step.
If no Plug and Play hardware is found, a list of hardware types appears. Click Add a new hardware device, and then click Next.
Click Install the hardware that I manually select from a list, and then click Next.
In the Common hardware types list, click the appropriate hardware category, and then click Next.
In the Manufacturers list, click the manufacturer of your hardware, and then in the Models list, click the model name.

Or, click Have Disk if you have an updated or third-party driver to install for your hardware.
Click Next, and then follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.
Note

To open the Add Hardware Wizard, click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Printers and Other Hardware. Under See Also, click Add Hardware.

cboy:first of all thanks for your advice! I opened the device manager and the DVD/CD-rom drives. When I click on the properties for that it reads HL-DT-ST DVD + RW GWA and then some numbers. It says the device is working properly.
Is the DVD only being recognized? ...because I can play a DVD but not a CD or burn a CD. I am technologically challenged, but had been able to burn a CD previously....
what do I do now? Thanks for your patience and advice!!!

Try turning the CD over to see if you get the same message.
tm

Oh tickman! if it were just that simple...but no, I still get the same message! wish that had worked!!

crafty...I have had the same problem in the past and sometimes still do. I have a Dell too with Windows Media player and the service pack 2 was installed as well. I seem to do ok, by just taking it out and pushing it in repeatedly until it recognizes it and also I seem to have to wait a few minutes to hear that the cd player is coming on, there is a whirring sound. Most of the time this works for me so I haven't tried to fix it better than that. Mine is also out of warranty so I try to let sleeping dogs lie. [g]

pm2

Prairiemoon2: I have tried repeatedly pushing it in and out and am about to try not so gently!!! grrrrrrrr....frustrating when you have burned them in the past and all of a sudden I can't !! mine is out of warranty too of course!!!

Go to a reliable store and get advice on weather to replace
your CD Drive or maybe to buy an Exterior CD-RW Drive.
Explain your problem to them.
Circuit City website here.
Circuit City

cboy...thanks for the link...husband has been bugging me to add on to my Christmas list, now I have something to ask for!!!!

iTunes causes this problem because it has programs that run in the background and intercept system notifications that a CD has been inserted. WIndows Media Player never gets notified that it was inserted as a result.

If you have iTunes, uninstall it. Also Windows 'critical' update KB929399 is known to cause issues burning CDs. Uninstall it if the problem persists.

well..have uninstalled iTunes, but the issue remains. How do I find the update KB929399 to uninstall and will the uninstallation cause another problem of some sort? Think I'd better highlight " External CD-RW Drive" on my Christmas list!
Thanks for your help!