Microsoft has a utility available called EnumCD.exe. It will simply scan for CD/DVD drives and return their properties. This will tell you whether Windows is seeing the drive correctly. This is the information it returns; I bolded information that could indicate an error.
*EDIT*
Sorry - forgot the download link
:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...;EN-US;Q305184
Properties for Device 1
Device ID: IDE\CdRomLITE-ON_LTR-48246S______________________SS0B____
Adapter Properties
------------------
Bus Type : ATA
Max. Tr. Length: 0x20000
Max. Phy. Pages: 0xffffffff
Alignment Mask : 0x1
Device Properties
-----------------
SCSI Device Type: CDROM Device (0x5)
Media Type : CD-ROM (0x2)
Removable Media : Yes
Product ID : LITE-ON LTR-48246S
Product Revision: SS0B
Inquiry Data from Pass Through
------------------------------
Device Type: CDROM Device (0x5)
Vendor ID : LITE-ON
Product ID : LTR-48246S
Product Rev: SS0B
Vendor Str :
CD Drive Capabilities from Pass Through
---------------------------------------
Error: 121 The semaphore timeout period has expired.
Properties for Device 2
Device ID: IDE\CdRomPIONEER_DVD-ROM_DVD-120_________________1.21____
Adapter Properties
------------------
Bus Type : ATA
Max. Tr. Length: 0x20000
Max. Phy. Pages: 0xffffffff
Alignment Mask : 0x1
Device Properties
-----------------
SCSI Device Type: CDROM Device (0x5)
Media Type : DVD (0x33)
Removable Media : Yes
Product ID : PIONEER DVD-ROM DVD-120
Product Revision: 1.21
Inquiry Data from Pass Through
------------------------------
Device Type: CDROM Device (0x5)
Vendor ID : PIONEER
Product ID : DVD-ROM DVD-120
Product Rev: 1.21
Vendor Str : 2002/12/03PIONEER
CD Drive Capabilities from Pass Through
---------------------------------------
CD Reader : Yes
CD-R disc : Yes
CD-RW disc: Yes
CD writer : No
DVD Reader : Yes
DVD-ROM disc: Yes
DVD-R disc : Yes
DVD-RAM disc: No
DVD writer : No