Hey my CD drive doesn't read CDs... Think it started since I installed SP3 for Windows XP(Well I didn't have SP2... just jumped to SP3)... When I put the CD the My Computer just stops responding... However the drive reads CDs for the first 2-3 minutes after restarting the PC. So I don't think its actually a hardware problem... I have not tried anything till now... Please help me.

Thanks in advance.:)

From what I have read, it appears that a number of Apps fro Burning CD/DVD's can cause issues (due to filters)

Is this a CD/DVD burner? Do you have burning software installed? If so try this:

FIRST UNINSTALL ALL SOFTWARE USED FOR BURNING (creating) CD/DVDs
Examples: ROXIO, NERO, etc.

Next, this will require you to edit the registry... if you are not comfortable doing this then dont. Instead Remove SP3 (How to remove Windows XP Service Pack 3 from your computer)

Warning: Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk. (I know, sounds scary! )

Note: If you had installed multiple CD-writing software products on your computer, you need to uninstall the software products before you remove the registry keys.

Remove the Registry Entry

1: Click Start > Run > in the box type regedit > OK.

2: Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/System/CurrentControlSet/Control/Class/{4d36e965-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}

3: On the File menu, click Export.

4: In the File name box, type savedkey, and then click Save.

5: Click the REG_MULTI_SZ data type UpperFilters > click Delete on the Edit menu > Yes.

6: Click the REG_MULTI_SZ data type LowerFilters > click Delete on the Edit menu > Yes.

7: Quit Registry Editor, and then restart the computer.

Upon rebooting, all should be 'normal'.

Agree with above, here is a link that involves similar approach as listed above

Upperfilters
Follow method 2 on this link, if this does not resolve problem, the changes you may have made will not effect your computer operation in any way - even if you do not get error 31/19, follow these steps
You can no longer access the CD drive or the DVD drive, or you receive an error message after you remove a CD recording program or a DVD recording program in Windows XP: "error code 31"

Haha... ok cool I tried it StaticFX(:)thanks mate)... but my regedit is not working and neither is my taskmgr so I guess I have a virus? And my avast antivirus also has some problem now... oh my god... I don't want to format... Ne other ideas?

Thanks for the replies guys !

See if this helps taske mgr

Download this to enable task manager. Save and open and say OK to enter into registry
Download and run this REG fix and double-click it.
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/reg/EnableTM.reg

Sounds like you have a virus/malware type of problem.

After you try the trick to re-enable the task manager (sometimes it works, othertimes it doesnt) go get Malwarebytes (Malwarebytes.org) its really good at getting rid of stuff like that. Let it do a FULL scan.