Hi Wanderingsoul22,

First, I'm wondering if you've recently reinstalled Windows. This sort of thing might happen if not everything was reinstalled.

The DVD decoder is your prorgam for playing DVD movies. Windows Media Player cannot play movies unless you have such a program installed. You should have a disc for PowerDVD or something. If not, please go to Osprey's Toolbox (link below) and find VLC Media Player. It's free.

For CDs, it sounds like your autoplay options are not set up correctly. However, if you insert an audio CD and start your normal program for playing CDs, do they play?

>First, I'm wondering if you've recently reinstalled Windows. This sort of thing might happen if not everything was reinstalled.

Yes,it was reinstalled by a local repair shop.

>For CDs, it sounds like your autoplay options are not set up correctly. However, if you insert an audio CD and start your normal program for playing CDs, do they play?

The normal program is Windows Media Player. When the player was functioning properly I would insert a CD and get a pop-up window asking which program I wanted to use, or if it was a CD-R or CD-RW ask if I wanted to erase the disc, write new files, etc. Now when I insert any kind of disc it spins around a few times as if the computer wants to do something, but nothing happens. When I open WMP and click the Rip or Burn tab, a message reads "Please insert a disc" as if there's nothing in the CD drive. Other programs like Real Player do nothing. 

No, my computer will not read any sort of CD.

What about data discs? Are you able to read files?

Ok, then you need to run the Dell diagnostics to determine if the drive has failed. Did that shop replace your hard drive?

The shop did not replace my drive. How do I run diagnostics?

Dell puts the diagnostics on the hard drive, so hopefully they're still there. Start the PC and hit F12 at the blue Dell logo and go to the utility partition. You'll want to choose Custom test, then you can run the READ test on the CD/DVD drive. Make sure you put a data disc in the drive.

I ran the test with a data CD installed. After the "Optical Device Built-In Self Test" the screen read:

Error Code 0417

Msg. Error Code 2000-0147

Msg Error Code Unit 2 Optical Drive BIST- OPU test failed

I clicked Yes to Dell Tech Support's offer to diagnose the problem. The screen displayed a rainbow of colors, then checked the video, LCD, and memory.

Another message read "No diagnostic Utility Partition Identified: Click Yes to reboot."

Your drive needs to be replaced. You can either call Dell spare parts or just search the internet. A new DVD burner for your laptop will cost about $50.