When you put the cd in and open command prompt and enter /dir are any files there?
I am not trying to insult you at all, it sounds like you know your way around the pc, but could it be something as simple as the power coming loose on the back of the cdrom drive? or can you see it in my computer, windows explorer or device manager?
NO
When the disk is inserted ,the drive fires up, the mouse cursor indicates a disk, then the drive eventually stops and the disk icon disappears. When I go thru explorer, the drive is available but when I double click on the drive, nothing comes up.......