running Win7 and discs not being recognized drive is shown

My E drive aka my cd / dvd drive is not recognizing any discs, that includes blanks, store bought artist ones etc. Yes it sees all drives including the new external drive I got. When I boot up PC pops up with a balloon msg saying files waiting to be burned. I have no such request pending. When I try to find them x2 opens to my c drive. No files there I want or should delete. I click on the cd drive and I get a msg that says please put a disc in drive. Btw some of the time there has been either a blank disc in drive or a store bought artist cd. I tried 2 different restore points and each comes up with some msg about something may be corrupted and contact my administrator (me, I guess?). Windows Media Center no longer appears on my pc. I was on the Microsoft site and tried to update it and it says it can't something about software restriction and contact my administrator???? I am not sure if it is related to no disc recognize problem. One more thing the sound is working fine.
An update on the noted comments about Windows Media Player 12 is that I tried to find a exe for it or even 11. I did find it for 11 but it would not install it said already had a newer version on my pc. I just haven't looked in the right place. I don't know if one issue has any bearing on the other but you never know. I have learned a lot since I have been online since early '98 and I do know it is most definitely an ongoing learning experience.

Love your user name as I have 3 poochs (shelties) as well as 8 cats. Now as for my system. Thanks to heaven knows what my youngest stepson did I recently had to reinstall Win7 including my programs etc and in the process I used the cd /dvd drive. So it is relatively recent with the discs not being recognized. Windows Media is on my pc just not sure where and have to admit have not really looked for it, been dealing or trying to deal with the disc problem. I was trying to download a ringtone earlier and the Windows Media Player popped up / I exited it. I am running Registry Mechanic along with Comodo Internet Security 2011 Pro. I am wondering if I still need to run the programs you mentioned.

Hello,

a) Remove Registry Mechanic, its rubbish, Comodo is good though. I recommend MSE: www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

Have you installed any Virtual Image Software aka PowerISO, MagicISO, Alchohol 120%, Daemon Tools ect.? Could you please post the make and name of your DVD drive? It might need new drivers. BTW Did your computer come with Windows 7 or no?

Slasher

okey dokey will try suggested steps
one question click on what "an orb"? I am trying to figure out how to make it show itself again.

The orb is the Windows logo on the bottom left corner of the screen (aka Start). Click on it, than search (type) Windows Media. It should come up. Figured out the DVD Reader/Writer make yet?

Slasher it really is garbage???? What makes the other program better?

I am trying to catch up with the msgs. The drive came with the puter, I also have an external drive. No on the install of image software. I checked an it only showed the name of the drive with no indication that it was functioning etc. Nope it came with Vista and my step son tried to put a version of Win7 on it. I found out later it was not a geniune one which necessitated me putting a genuine one on which I have done.