I Need Help with my drive!!

I have a DVD/Cd drive, well its a DVD/Cd burner (BenQ)...

Recently it has been unable to read DVDs, it can however read and burn CDs.
Why can't it read and burn DVDs?

When I insert a DVD nothing happens, when I check the Drive - I go to my computer and click on Drive E it shows nothing. When I attempt to burn files off my computer onto DVD it says please insert DVD, when there is already one in there.

I am in desperate need to fix this problem. Can any one please help me?

Thank you so very much.

You can try this registry fix: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320553

Most of the CD with DVD drives have two different lasers - one for DVDs and one for CDs. It could be that the DVD laser just died leaving with the cd burning ability only.

Have you tried reading a standard shop bought DVD movie?

Bad hardware, Bubba. BenQ drives aren't very reliable. There are many inexpensive alternatives from Asus, LG, Pioneer, MSI, etc. that are better products.

If Benq has a firmware update for that drive, you might try installing that. I had an old Acer CD-RW that I thought was dead and updating the firmware brought it back to life.

No guarantee, but it might crutch you through until you can pick up a better drive like slgrieb said.