The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error

I'm helping my uncle with an older Toshiba Satellite laptop with XP Pro and a DVD Multi Recorder RW drive that's having problems reading CDs and DVDs. He says sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but he hasn't seen any patterns and I haven't been able to get it to work at all. At first, it just kept saying to insert a disk but there was already a CD inserted (it just didnt' recognize there was something in there I guess). I ran TuneUp Utilities 2008 to help with some other problems/performance issues, and after I was all done the message changed. Instead of asking to insert a disk, I got the following message when trying to run the same CD: "The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error".

Microsoft recommends several methods at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/891894

I'm a little nervous about the first recommendation of changing the transfer mode as it's something completely unfamiliar to me and I don't want to do anything that could mess up something else. Has anyone tried this before? Any other suggestions or recommendations? It worked at one point so it seems strange to me I would have to do be changing anything too intricate. I would love any advice, input, observations, etc. before I start messing around with this.

The first method is described below:

Method 1: Change the transfer mode for your CD drive in IDE Channel Properties
1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.
2. Under Computer Management (Local), click Device Manager.
3. On the right side, expand IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers.
4. Right-click the channel where your CD drive is connected, and then click Properties. Typically, this channel is Secondary IDE Channel.
5. On the Advanced Settings tab, in the Transfer Mode box for the device that represents your CD drive, click PIO Only. Typically, this device is Device 1. Then, click OK.
If the issue is not resolved after you change the transfer mode for the secondary IDE channel device 1, your CD drive may not be located there. Use the same procedure to change the transfer mode back to DMA if available. Then, repeat these steps to change the transfer mode for IDE devices in the following order until the issue is resolved: • Primary IDE channel, device 1
• Secondary IDE channel, device 0
Note Primary IDE channel, device 1 is connected to your boot disk. This is the hard disk that typically contains your operating system.

I've already made sure the driver is up to date and everything's in order in the device manager. I've never done a "clean boot" before so I'm also hesitant as I do not know what the result would be. Any input on this also would be helpful.

In summary, does anyone have experience with:
1) The error listed in the title of this post as it relates to a DVD Multi Recorder?
2) Changing the transfer mode for a a CD drive in IDE channel properties?
3) Performing a "clean boot"?

And if so, can you provide any insight into getting this drive working to I can open a disk with this drive in a laptop?

Thanks in advance!!