The sound you just heard was your point going right over MY head.
Are you talking to us from a second computer?
Have you got the Service Tag on your PC? if you give me that, or if you haven't found it (or don't want to give it out as it could point to your identity with enough digging), give me the model of your PC, I'll go out to Dell's download site and send you a note to point you to the right file for the chip set.
The "Chip Set" is the core set of chips that control how the main processor (probably a Pentium) interacts with the rest of your system. This chip set will include things like the interface control for your CDs, your hard disk, your keyboard, etc. If the portion of the driver(s) dealing with the chip set dealing with the CD drives has been affected then that can be the source of the problem. On all but the most recent systems your CD and your hard disk are going to be on the same controller (called IDE), but the fact that your hard disk is working is not necessarily any proof that it's NOT the problem.
It couldn't hurt.
So far nothing on the Joel CD, but I think Scholastic, the publisher of the book/CD combo, is one of the more aggressive in the area of copy protection, so I wouldn't be surprised if they've done something nasty. If we establish that as the cause of your problem, and they didn't post a warning "Do Not Use In PCs" then you have cause for action and can expect to recover damages from them.
This could be hugh.
Download the chipset installation program here:
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/format.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&SystemID=DIM_PNT_P4_8250&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=3268&devlib=27&category=27&releaseid=R41334
Just run the setup program and it will do all the rest.
NOTE: this is for a dell 8250 and not 8520 as you mentioned because there is no such animal on dell's support site. So not sure about your model. Anyway, the install program will quit if it doesn't find the right chipset, so not to worry.
follow up - I looked back in the thread and found your post:
Windows XP Professional; Dell 8520;
I find a Dimension 8250, and Dimension XPS models, but no 8520.
Are you lexicdys? Or am I completely lost?
Is it a Dell Dimension? It's not one of the Optiplex models. There is an Inspiron (laptop) 8500. Basic question, this is a desktop we're talking about, right?