I think my computer has caught some strange disease. It is extremely sluggish and I cannot log on to my DSL internet, even though two computers hooked up by USB wireless adapters in the next bed rooms have no problem accesing the net. Therefore, I decided to backup all my data files and start fresh by reinstalling win xp but suddenly none of my two dvd drives can read the xp installation cd or any media--copied or original! This is weird. Never happened to me before. After I right click My Computer and click on Manage and click on disk management my two harddrives C and D appear ONLY after a very long wait but my two disc drive show no media? Can anyone tell me how I can get around this problem so that I can do a clean install of Win xp?

When you reinstall XP it is best to do it in stages.
Firs t make a note of where usb, printers, mouse keyboard are plugged.
Disconnect the internet, speakers, any usb device.
Use a plain keyboard.
Disconnect your 2nd hard drive.
Disconnect 2nd dvd drive I am assuming one is read/write You want read only type connected. You do this by disconnecting power cord to computer then open the case and remove power connector to that dvd drive. Reconnect the power to the computer. Put in the XP disk and retry.
If it succeeds then add speaker connection restart see if you have sound.
Continue with the install Next is anti-virus program and spyware
Connect to internet do your windows updates then start with 2nd hard drive.
Follow through with one item at a time.