Help CD Rom Autorun Setttings?

I'm very un-techy and like to mostly play games from my CD Rom,now I am getting errors saying missing files,and Autrorun settings being off,I think I checked thge right place and it said autorun or autoplay was enabled,but everytime I put in a game,even after a fresh iinstall,it has a flash of desktop icons,a few seconds of black screen like if it was preparing to start my game,I tried many,not just one game btw,but then there is nothing no messages at times others saying either missing dll or autorun settings not enabled.I can't have a missing dll on a freash install.So I don't want to screw anything up but need to know how to determine the problem and fix it.Any help is appreciated!The system is like 2 months old and hand built by my brother,whose unvailable for the next few weeks,I miss my games!
have XP home,1994 mhz processor,1 gig ram,54.60 free disk space of 74.52,VIA694 System Model:AWRDACPIBIOS Versionhoenix Technologies, LTD 6.00 PG


Version:x86 Family 6 Model 8 Stepping 1 Speed:1994 MHz
Any other questions that may help please just ask and tell me how to find the extra information,thank you,clueless female gamer

 

Can you start any of the games from the Start/Programs list while the disc is in?

 

It doesn't seem so,I hear my CD Rom gearing up even,but then like I explained,blinking desktop icons and one sometimes two black screens similar to when the games were loading prior to the problem,but after the black screens,normal desktop,no game starts.I have tried reinstalling after going into the my computer,D drive,And clicking the exe. but same results,either error messages or nothing.I am assuming that it has to do with either 'Autorun' or Autoplay' since that was my 1st message when the game failed,I checked all the right places,I think,and the box is checked for Autorun.I'll try again with a few of my games,mand try to post some off the exact messages.It's like my only real life distraction,gaming,and after 4 days now,I'm getting edgy,no Civ3Conqests,RON,and these are games you put hr.s,days,wk.s into one game.I may lose the lil sanity I got left soon.Thank you and anybpody else for any help,as long as its not too techy complicated though,lol .I need step by step directions in laman's terms if possible,again thanks! I come here read,lurk,etc,but this is my 1st time with a pc diaster.