Problems with both optical drives

Hi, i am using a home grown pc that was running Win XP and two cd drives for a while. Recently, my WD1200 hard drive died :( and I replaced it with a new Seagate.
Got WinXP up and working and started reinstalling all my programs, like OFFICe , windvd, Nero 6.6, Dvd shrink 3.2 and picasa.

I had no problem with the drives initially except my sound card wasn't working. I was able to burn a dvd backup from picasa and restore pics on my new hard drive.

Then yesterday, I had a chance to intall the AC 97 drivers and get sound to work. AFTER A FEW HOURS itried to burn a data cd with nero but could not. I tried everything:
Updating drivers
updating firmware
deleting upper and lower filters
checked to see that winXP knows it is a cd rom drive
I have even uninstalled Windvd (even though it worked on my previous install just fine.)

My two drives are Optorite D0201 DVD-RW which tests fine on Nero Tool (Master) and Jlms xj-hd166s cd/dvd rom(slave).

The master can play audio, but WMP snaps, crackles and pops.

The slave jlms doesn't recognize any cd blank or audio/data. it just says "insert disk"

Any help is soo appreciated. I refuse to believe that both my drives can go bad at the same time.

Thank you!

Welcome to Windrivers jk1

I would be checking the ide cable connection - replacing it with another just in case.