Dvd rom not reading anything but restore/boot discs

Seems like a common problem with the same answers. I have a Dell Inspiron 531s. After my kids played around to much I complete restore. (kids don't use this computer anymore) can't play any cd's at all. Computer recognizes the drive, yet once a disc is inserted, I get the same message - please insert disc into drive E.

went through Microsoft's fix it program. No change.

went into the registry and I don't have upper or lower filters to delete.

uninstalled and reinstalled drivers...waste of time.

Computer will read my boot discs...I will not run the dell diagnostic program again. I feel its a waste of time. Spent far too much time on the already. Why will it read the restore disc or utility disc, but not a cd?

could clean it again, but don't know why.

is there a fix for this that does not involve replacing the drive?

I am running vista home basic.

my dvd drive is listed as HL-DT-ST DVD-ROM GDRH20N.

any ideas?