recovery disc and cd rom problems
 

I updated my compaq laptop from windows ME to windows
XP. I have an external hp cd-writer. First off XP
doesn't like my cd-writer, but it allows me to use it.
about 6 months later...my internal cd/dvd rom will only
play dvds. I've tried re updating my computer to xp and
the internal cd/dvd-rom played dvds and cds for a limited
time and stopped playing cds again.

i thought that if used my recovery disc that came with
the computer i could restore everything to factory
settings, but my internal cd-dvd-rom won't read the cd
and my external drive reads the cd but doesn't work when
i try to reboot my computer with the cd in the external
drive. My computer never came with a windows ME disc and
i have no idea what to do. if there's already been a
post about this direct me to it, otherwise any help would
be greatly appreciated. thanks for your time,
littlebluhair