thanks for the advice, but still no go...I followed these directions in the registrey editor:
"There should be many keys called {4D36E965E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE 1 0318}
If you want to export a copy of the values, select File => Export and enter a suitable filename, which will be saved as a .reg file that can be restored just by clicking on it. When you select a particular key, in the right window, for some of them, you should see keys called UpperFilters and LowerFilters. Select each such entry in turn, right-click with the mouse on it, and click Delete. After closing the Registry Editor, you should be able to use the CD/DVD drive again. However, you may have to reinstall software that accesses the drive, such as CD writers and DVD players."
as directed and set about going through every entry in each of the specified keys that indicated anything to do with the internal drives. For each I closed the editor and refreshed the "my computer" prompt to see if a drive would show--to no avail...
Next?
O my media computer I have attemped to install a new dvd drive, but am running into some set-up problems...
how many strikes is that????
hope someone has a solution soon
Tom