Ok, not having complete info on everything, it sounds like it may not be the
actual unit in the computer. To me, it sounds like it very well could be
the disk it's self. First "?" is it a burnt CD? I have had burnt CDs that
will play great on some units, and on other not play at all, or sound like
it was a 45 that has been through hell and back. Not all burnt CDs are
created equal. The main reason I am thinking this, before you have the
problems with Hardware config. not recognizing the CD unit, you could play
"OTHER" CDs fine. But this "ONE" CD would sound scratchy. In this case, if
it was a burnt CD, I would re-burn another CD (Don't use the original
"Scratchy" CD), use whatever media you used before to create the original
Burnt CD. Or, if it is an original CD (Unburnt, bought in store), buy
another one.
I will give you another example of a sound problem I had with my CD player.
I purchased Windows XP Plus. I thought it was the neatest thing since
sliced bread. It had all these new things, including sound enhancements. I
play around with it, and thought the speakers were just crappy. It sounded
like music that was running wide open, and all distorted. So, I changed my
speakers (Knowing it couldn't have been Microsoft Software, we know how
reliable Microsoft is..
, but the sound didn't change. So, I disabled the
enhancement software in Plus, and boom, everything sounded great!
But, the first thing you will have to do, is getting Windows to recognize
your drive again. Is it even showing up in Hardware Config? Should have a
"!" next to it. If it does, then you may get by with just installing the
drivers. It is kinda hard to tell you how to re-install the hardware,
with-out knowing what it looks like in the hardware config. (this is
assuming that you don't know how to do it, if you do, I am sorry for making
it sound like you don't know what you are doing.).
Get that unit running properly again, then try the above with the CD's.
Once again, the reason for my thinking, is that other CD's played fine, but
this one would not. Some CD Players can read through a deep scratch. and
others won't if it has even been slightly scratched. But once again, I
can't see the CD, and can't see the computer, just going off experience.
Hope this helps,
Rick