Player Won't Play CD's or DVD's

I am having an issue where my Pioneer DVD 104 player no longer plays CD's or DVD's. I am currently using a Windows XP Office operating system. Windows XP claims this device is working properly. I have even freshly downloaded an updated driver from Pioneer for my device that claims it to be applicable to Windows XP.
Each time I install any CD or DVD, a tiny CD/DVD "cursor" flashes upon my monitor for a very quick second(s), but then my DVD player quickly ejects the disc. My player quickly ejects every or any disc installed.
I can't say when this first began happening because I also have a separate high quality CD Burner which works properly and fine. The CD Burner gets 1000 times more use than the DVD player. But there was a time where I would play both CDs and DVDs in the Pioneer Player also without any issues.
I have even made sure that Pioneer device is now also fully set up and recognized for auto play in both CD and DVD modes.
I know this is an old unit. But it has been rarely used up to now and I doubt that it is broken or worn out in any way. I don't really want to give up and throw it out because of ignorance.
I believe that I am only overlooking something very simple. Thanks to everyone and anyone for you help...
-- Ray