itachihatake --
If your drive was able to recognize a disk before, but now has stopped... POSSIBLE solution... (don't shoot the
messenger on this one, lol!)
I'm sure you have tried, but have you cleaned your optics lately?
Using a Q-tip and a small amount of rubbing alcohol, and GENTLY rotate the swab across the lens, rotating it in the opposite direction you are wiping. This should "lift" any dust or grime from the lens. I would also clean the tray with a soft lint-free cloth (using an air-can just moves the dirt around, doesn't solve the problem)
If it is a new drive, try uninstall from Device Manager,
reboot... allow Windows to discover new hardware, allow windows instlal a generic driver, and then update your driver via your install disk...
Hope this helps!
-- RT
PS - Don't forget to vote!