Why my DVD ram can only read CD-R and not any other media

there are plenty of free burning software programs on the internet

http://download.cnet.com/active-iso-burner/3000-2646_4-10602452.html

Active ISO Burner will allow you to burn an ISO image file to CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD+R DL(Dual Layer), DVD-RW and DVD+RW (including double layer, DL). Active@ ISO Burner software accepts command line parameters to automate ISO images burning process.

http://download.cnet.com/instant-cd-dvd-burner/3000-2646_4-10393316.html
Burn audio, video, and data CDs/DVDs and create and burn ISO files. Instant CD & DVD Burner is the ideal choice for anyone looking for a simple but full featured CD/DVD burner. Build and burn ISO files on the fly and compile all kinds of audio, video, and data CDs and DVDs from any kind of file (MP3, WAV, AVI, MPEG, DIVX, XVID). Instant CD & DVD Burner supports all major drives including CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM (SCSI, IDE, EIDE, and USB 1.0 and 2.0).


there are plenty of free burning software programs on the internet

http://download.cnet.com/burn4free-cd-and-dvd/3000-2646_4-10217894.html
Burn4Free CD and DVD is a burning solution that's compatible with more than 3,000 DVD, Blu-ray and CD burners. Burn data and audio from different file types (WAV, WMA, MP3, OGG, FLAC, WavPack, and CDA). Burn and save ISO files, open and save your project to disk, verify content, print compilations, copy DVD, copy BLU RAY and import your audio compilation from M3U and ASX playlists. The drives supported include dual-layer DVD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM, BD-R, BD-RE (SCSI, IDE, EIDE, and USB 1.0 and 2.0).

assuming you have used this make of media before and tried other discs incase you have a bad batch, it could be that your drives laser itself is starting to fail when reading certain media, although it may still be able to read cd's and DVD it may fail with CDR and/or DVD-RW discs.

you could use this burnaware its totally free if you dont like it just uninstall it also there are plenty of free burning sofware cnetdownload.com or majorgeeks

http://www.majorgeeks.com/BurnAware_Free_d5839.html
BurnAware Free is one of the most popular free CD, DVD, Blu-ray Disc burning software available for Windows.

Using this program you can easily create and burn Audio and MP3 CD, Data and DVD-Video disc, ISO and Cue Image,
erase or format rewritable disc, copy your CD or DVD to ISO image.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/CDBurnerXP_d4242.html
.


http://download.cnet.com/active-iso-burner/3000-2646_4-10602452.html

Active ISO Burner will allow you to burn an ISO image file to CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD+R DL(Dual Layer), DVD-RW and DVD+RW (including double layer, DL). Active@ ISO Burner software accepts command line parameters to automate ISO images burning process.

http://download.cnet.com/instant-cd-dvd-burner/3000-2646_4-10393316.html

Burn audio, video, and data CDs/DVDs and create and burn ISO files. Instant CD & DVD Burner is the ideal choice for anyone looking for a simple but full featured CD/DVD burner. Build and burn ISO files on the fly and compile all kinds of audio, video, and data CDs and DVDs from any kind of file (MP3, WAV, AVI, MPEG, DIVX, XVID). Instant CD & DVD Burner supports all major drives including CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM (SCSI, IDE, EIDE, and USB 1.0 and 2.0).

http://download.cnet.com/burn4free-cd-and-dvd/3000-2646_4-10217894.html

Burn4Free CD and DVD is a burning solution that's compatible with more than 3,000 DVD, Blu-ray and CD burners. Burn data and audio from different file types (WAV, WMA, MP3, OGG, FLAC, WavPack, and CDA). Burn and save ISO files, open and save your project to disk, verify content, print compilations, copy DVD, copy BLU RAY and import your audio compilation from M3U and ASX playlists. The drives supported include dual-layer DVD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM, BD-R, BD-RE (SCSI, IDE, EIDE, and USB 1.0 and 2.0).

http://download.cnet.com/burnaware-free/3000-2646_4-10878661.html?tag=mncol;8

BurnAware Free is a full-fledged disc burning tool - fast, lightweight, feature-packed and, most importantly, 100% free. The program burns all types of CD, DVD and Blu-Ray discs containing data, digital photos, music and video. With BurnAware Free, you will be able to create bootable or multi session CDs and DVDs, high-quality audio CDs from your collection of MP3, WAV, WMA, OGG, M4A, AAC and FLAC files, burn disc images, copy discs to backup ISO images and do a whole lot more.

http://download.cnet.com/Ashampoo-Burning-Studio-Free/3000-2646_4-10776287.html

Multi-disc file backup and restore on CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs; create compressed backup archives with powerful password protection; split archives automatically across multiple CDs, DVDs or Blu-ray discs; restore archive contents to their original locations; integrated Audio CD ripper store your audio tracks as WMA or WAV files; new option for setting the number of copies you want to burn (available for all disc formats); discs can now be verified immediately without being ejected first (if the drive supports this feature); numerous other small improvements that make the program easier to use and more effective; burn files and folders on data CDs/DVDs/Blu-ray discs; burn Audio CDs from WAV, MP3, FLAC, WMA and Ogg Vorbis files; burn MP3-CDs from your MP3 files; burn Video DVD, Video CD (VCD) or Super Video CD (S-VCD); create and burn CD/DVD/Blu-ray disc images; burn speed and other options can all be set automatically.

http://download.cnet.com/Macrium-Reflect-Free/3000-2242_4-10845728.html

Macrium Reflect Free Edition. An award winning disk imaging solution for free. A complete disaster recovery solution for your home and office. Protect your personal documents, photos, music and e-mails. Upgrade your hard disk or try new operating systems in the safe knowledge that everything is securely saved in an easily recovered backup file. Macrium Reflect supports backup to local, network and USB drives as well as burning to all DVD formats. This version is for non-commercial home use.

http://download.cnet.com/ImgBurn/3000-2646_4-10847481.html
ImgBurn is a lightweight CD/DVD/HD-DVD/Blu-ray burning application that has several modes, each for performing a different task: Read - read a disc to an image file; Build - creates an image file from files on your computer or network (you also can write the files directly to a disc); Write - write an image file to a disc; Verify - ensure that a disc is 100% readable (you can also have ImgBurn compare it against a given image file to ensure the actual data is correct); and Discovery - used in combination with DVDInfoPro, you can check the quality of the burns your drive is producing.

If you're reading the file from a CD-ROM, then either:
* the CD-ROM drive is reading incorrectly,
* the CD-ROM is scratched, and thus cannot be read 100% correctly,
* bad RAM in your computer, that "corrupts" the data being read from the disk into the RAM.

Replace the CD-ROM.
Replace the CD disk.
Download "MEMTEST86+", and run it, to test the RAM; replace, if necessary.

No, according to the data below. You can buy a PCI wifi card or a wifi usb from Frys or even Walmart.
Take care WBTech Product Details Discover the ultimate in entertainment with new power and convenience of the HP Media Center PC 873n. Watch or record your favorite TV programs - even pause live TV, instantly replay or skip commercials. Create a slideshow of your family photos, add music and set it to play on your PC during a holiday party. Save your original videos, photos, music or data on DVD+RW/+R or CD-RW discs. Specifications Key Features Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition Form Factor Tower Processor Intel Pentium 4 2.53 GHz Installed Memory 512 MB (DDR SDRAM) Recommended Use Home Use Processor Processor Type Intel Pentium 4 Processor Speed 2.53 GHz Processor Manufacturer Intel Max Processors Qty. 1 Motherboard Bus Speed 533 MHz Video Output Interface AGP 4x Memory RAM Technology DDR SDRAM Installed RAM 512 MB Installed Cache Memory 512 KB Max Supported RAM 2 GB Installed Video Memory 64 MB Hard Drive Hard Drive Capacity 120 GB CD / DVD Optical Drive Type DVD+RW Optical Drive Read Speed 2x (DVD) · 32x (CD) · 8x (DVD) Optical Drive Write Speed 12x (CD-R) Optical Drive ReWrite Speed 10x (CD-RW) · 2.4x (DVD+RW) Other Drives Floppy Drive 3.5" 1.44 MB floppy Audio / Video Audio Output Type Sound Card Video Input Type TV Tuner Modem Modem Type Fax / Modem Networking Data Link Protocol Ethernet · Fast Ethernet Networking Type Network Adapter Dimensions Depth 15.52 in. Height 15.25 in. Width 8.27 in. Weight 35.06 lb. Warranty Warranty 1 Year

Should be IDE cable...IDE interface according to the specs. You computer has IDE connections so the drive should work.
Product Specification Model HP DVD1040i Lightscribe 20X DVD Burner/Black/Retail Manufacturer HP Mfr Part # DVD1040i Buffer 2MB Interface IDE
Include

• Internal DVD ±R/±RW drive with DVD±R up to 20X, double-layer recording, DVD-RAM, and LightScribe direct disc labeling
• Software CD including electronic user's guide
• Quick-Start placemat
• Getting Help guide
• Installation screws
• Nero 7 Essentials

Data Transfer Rate (Read)

DVD-ROM up to 16X (CAV)

CD-ROM up to 48x (CAV)

Data Transfer Rate (Write)

DVD+R up to 20X (CAV)

DVD+RW up to 8X (ZCLV)

DVD-R up to 20X (CAV)

DVD-RW up to 6X (ZCLV)

DVD+R Double Layer up to 8X (ZCLV)

DVD-R Dual Layer up to 8X (CLV)

DVD-RAM up to 12X (PCAV)

CD-R up to 48x (CAV)

CD-RW up to 32x (ZCAV)

Access time

DVD 160 ms

CD 160 ms (typical)

Supported Disc

CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL

CD Text, CD Extra, CD-DA (audio), CD-I, CD-ROM XA, Photo CD, Video CD, CD-ROM

OS requirement

Windows 2000 Professional SP4

Windows XP Home edition

Windows XP Professional

Warranty 1 Year Weight 3.3 lbs

if you have CD RAM and DVD ROM then change it to CD/DVD ram because in case of CD RAM and DVD ROM it may read CD but not DVD but sometimes it can read DVD also but when we copy data to computer it may freeze or give us error so i give you one suggest to buy a new CD/DVD RAM

keep the cd then go to my computer and dvd and play

1. check your system meets the requirements for your device:
• Minimum system requirements: 800 MHz Intel® Pentium® III
processor or equivalent, 1.6 GHz Intel® Pentium® IV processor or
equivalent recommended (Actual drive performance depends on PC
configuration)
• 128 MB RAM (256 MB RAM recommended for video editing)
• 1024 x 768 video resolution with a minimum of 16-bit color required
for DVD authoring and editing
• Video capture: IEEE 1394 interface or analog video capture device
required
• Minimum hard disk space requirements: 1 GB free for included
software installation, 10 GB free for DVD video disc creation (18 GB
free for double layer). Internet connectivity recommended for software
updates
• Operating system compatibility: Microsoft Windows XP/2000
Professional SP4, Windows XP Professional x64 edition, and
Windows Server 2003
2. Have you install the sowftware that came with your device?
3. is your system recognizing the hard drive (go to start>run>type devmgmt.msc and press enter> and look under cd/dvd rom drives... is your device listed? is it showing with a ? unknown device or a ! next to it's name?
a. if the device is not listed chances are you didn't set up the jumper correcly when installing the device or the device may not be powered or there's an issue with the data cable connectd to the device and the motherboard, check your physical setup.
4. check the removable media is in fact compatible with your drive: this is the compatibility list
• Device write media compatibility: CD-R, CD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+R DL,
DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-R DL, DVD-RW, LightScribe CD-R,
LightScribe DVD+R, LightScribe DVD-R, 4.7 GB single-sided/9.4 GB
double-sided DVD-RAM (2.6 GB single-sided/5.2 GB double-sided
media not supported)
• Device read media compatibility: DVD-ROM, DVD+R, DVD+R DL,
DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-R DL, DVD-RW, DVD-Video, 4.7 GB
single-sided/9.4 GB double-sided DVD-RAM (2.6 GB
single-sided/5.2 GB double-sided media not supported), CD-R,
CD-RW, CD-DA, CD Extra, CD-ROM (Mode 1 - Yellow Book),
CD-ROM/XA & CD-I Ready (Mode 2/Form 2 – Green Book),
Photo-CD (single and multi-session), VCD, CD-Text

data taken from http://h20426.www2.hp.com/product/opticaldevices/sg/en/pdf/dvd940i_dataSheet.pdf

I would suggest cleaning the drive with a cleaning dvd, $19.99 at most retailers. Or you can open up your computer and verify all connections to the drive are good, disconnect and re-connect to be sure. Hope this helps.