e: drive missing and cd rom not working in general

so let me see if i can get most of the necessary details out here.

the core of my problem is that my cd rom drive over the last year finally completely crapped out on me. The cd rom had been slowly dying for awhile now. It wouldn't read dvds for a long time. It began to take longer and longer to rip/burn cds. I was still installing stuff from cd's just fine like games and programs. It would open and close but would no longer detect any sort of cd/dvd (anything)

My computer is a 4 year old Dell dimension 4600. using windows xp.

So i said wth and bought a new cd-rom drive. the one in paticular i got was

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&cm_mmc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel-_-Content-_-text-_-

I have tried putting this new one in about 30 different ways. I have switched the master/slave. I tried installing it in the main port (top one) and the sub port (lower one).

The only success i have had is when i put it in the lower port. My hardware detector says that i have a cd rom drive in there and it is fine... but i have no e: drive in "My Computer" file. I have tried refreshing and nothing seems to bring back my e:drive. The new one will not run any cds or dvds...

first post i have made on here i am trying put as much info as i can think of...sorry i am lacking on some of the geek speak...willing to provide any more info as needed.

 

and since i haven't seen it in so long i guess it's actually my D: drive that is missing...i fail at memory