blank cd-r, cd-rw, dvd-r, and dvd-rw unrecognizable in drive

All of a sudden my pc won't recognize a blank cd or dvd, yet it will

recognize a software cd or any that I've already recorded on. Light will

blink as if it's trying to read it, then quits. My pc actually read a blank

cd today and let me burn photos on it, first time in a month, put another cd

in, and nothing. I've uninstalled and reinstalled cd drive, I've done

everything listed on Troubleshooting Reading CD discs. I recovered my pc, but

not to factory condition, just to point of uninstalling all

non-factory-installed software programs. I've also tried different brands and

speeds of the cds with no luck. Any suggestions?