CD-Rom & external drives stopped working!

[Marylander]

Hi,

My CD-rom drive stopped working after a year of no problems, it is recognized - no conflicts or whatsoever, but it does not do anything - does not recognize CD's blank or recorded, music or data. I tried reinstalling the system software to its original state - still did not work. I connected a cd/dvd external drive that worked for a couple of days and then it too did the same thing. I am running XP Home

Makes me think it is not really the drives.

pls help

[patio]

Easiest way to test that drive would be to connect it in another machine...if it does the same thing it is dead.