The computer is detecting the CD rom but the cd rom is not detecting or reading any CDs

To fix this problem what you can do is to perform the steps below:
- click start > run and type "regedit" w/o qoutes
- once you access the REGISTRY EDITOR kindly open therse folder (each folder contains another folder) make sure to follow the below steps carefully.
- go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class
- insed the "class" folder look for {4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} it is the CD/DVD rom drive.
- at the right part of the registry delete "upper" and "lower" filters name
- once done close the registry.

Go to device manager

- click start > run > type "devmgmt.msc"
- click the + sign beside CD/DVD drives
- right click and select properties
- go drivers tab
- and then select the button uninstall the driver
- RESTART THE COMPUTER

After restart all should be fine now.

Cheers . . .

The laser is probably burned out or the spindle motor isn't turning.
With the price of these units, I'd just replace it.
There's not much you can do to fix either problem anyway.
A CD ROM (hard to find, but some places still carry them) can be had for $5 or $10.
For just a bit more, you could get a DVD burner.