DVD/RW on Inspiron 1500 will not load

Hi I have run into a problem with not being able to load a tax program onto my machine.  The drawer opens and the light on the side lights and the DVD runs but never opens the program and will run for ever if I let it.  I normally shut it down afer 20 minutes.   I dont know a lot about  computers but would like to see if I can get it to work.  An help would be greatly appr.  Thanks