I didit this time; no DVD,CD,system restore

Yes I was very stupid. I ran this little speed up program that deletes junk keys as part of its operation and I really didn't like it and deleted it (without restoring what it did). Then I finished putting my computer the way I like it and after running it for a couple days it was running great so I reset my system restores and went on with my business not really concerned as I was getting ready for a clean install in a week or two anyway. Well, next time I put a CD in my DVD/CD rewritable drive (1 week old) it can't read the disk. Now I instantly think of that stupid little program (and no system restores) and this ugly sinking feeling starts up in my stomach. So here's what I have done.
I uninstalled the DVD/CD driver and rebooted and no luck.
So I installed my CD Rom (one I was using till a week ago) as a slave and that one also could not read.
So I uninstalled both drivers and changed the cable and rebooted and was getting a 41 error on both units (forget what that was).
Then I unplugged both and put a 3rd older CD rom in by itself with the same result.
So I switched back the cable to the original and put the DVD/CD Drive back as the master and the CD Rom back as the slave and plugged in a floppy drive and when Windows starts the floppy drives green light just stays on constantly (don't really care about that right now but thought it could help lead to the real problem,,,besides me being dumb).
So I am now getting a 31 (yes it changed during my readings and reboots on the internet) error under both drive devices and I go and delete the registry values for the upper and lower filters and reboot with same result though no error now. Also uninstalled drivers again with same result.
Next I went and got a firmware update for the Sony DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Unit,,,actually I did that before deleting the upper and lower filter values and it wouldn't install. After deleting the upper and lower filter values then it installed and for the first time today when I put a disk in the DVD/CD drive it fires up to a higher speed but still no read. Also no errors in device manager but still not working.
Then I got a drive check program from the manufactorer and ran that and the DVD/CD drive passed all writing test but failed the reading test.
Here is the log on that test:
[01/31/2007 11:13:47 PM] 1 log - 702 MB Blank CD-R
[01/31/2007 11:13:47 PM] 1 log - Media ID: 97.24.01
[01/31/2007 11:13:47 PM] 1 log - Testing drive: SONY DVD RW DRU-830A (SS23)
[01/31/2007 11:13:47 PM] 1 log - Begining Test
[01/31/2007 11:13:47 PM] 1 log - Begining CD Write
[01/31/2007 11:14:05 PM] 1 log - 32768 bytes written to track (16 sectors)
[01/31/2007 11:14:09 PM] 1 log - Adjusting track 02 start from 6144 to 6296
[01/31/2007 11:14:13 PM] 1 log - Adjusting track 03 start from 173779 to 174083
[01/31/2007 11:14:19 PM] 1 log - 32768 bytes written to track (16 sectors)
[01/31/2007 11:14:25 PM] 1 log - Adjusting track 04 start from 179923 to 180379
[01/31/2007 11:14:29 PM] 1 log - Adjusting track 05 start from 347559 to 348167
[01/31/2007 11:14:34 PM] 1 log - 32768 bytes written to track (16 sectors)
[01/31/2007 11:14:40 PM] 1 log - CD Write complete
[01/31/2007 11:14:40 PM] 1 log - Begining data verification
[01/31/2007 11:14:40 PM] *** err - Failed to read data from track
[01/31/2007 11:14:40 PM] *** err - edwMmcRead10 returned the following error: SCSI Sense - Key:4 (Hardware Error) ASC:08 ASCQ:03

All I want is to be able to install windows clean but need a DVD or CD drive. What do you think is the problem? And what should I do next???
Sorry a bit long but thought this all would help get to the root of the problem a little faster. My thought is corrupted windows program (as in missing a few parts). I do have an unerase program but I'm not sure what I'm looking for. I did try looking for a system restore file there but also don't know what that looks like either. Over 30,000 items to go through.
Thnx in advance for any insite or ideas on how to proceed.

 

Well, I took my DVD/CD drive back and exchanged it for a new one just to be safe as it was new enough to do. The drive now reads some disks but can't use any files stating they are not win 32 format even though they are. But the good news is I can now boot up from my windows cd so I can do a clean install, which is all I wanted anyway.

So peace, out!!

 

If its XP thats because the files are not in UDF format as some OS wont read older formats

 

Actually all disks and drives were used on this exact system before problem with the exact same OS. After reinstalling xp it did not solve the problem.
I ended up using Drive Magic to help me upgrade my drivers (manual select) and after installing, alls well again. DVD/CD drive and CD rom are both working normally again. Not sure if I would trust that to automatically install what it thinks though. But hey, I even boot faster now.