Question : Windows Vista won't recognize CD or DVD disks.

I've been experiencing this for a while now. When I'd insert a DVD (or CD), windows would not recognize the inserted disk and freeze the window, so I'd have to eject it and Win would come back to life.

So I went out and bought a brand new DVD recorder and installed it only to find the same thing is happening.

Note that it I right click on the drive's icon and hit "explore" I *sometimes* am able to browse through the contents of the disc, but for a short while.

Both drives are IDE drives.

These didn't work:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/939052/en-us
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/929461

Answer : Windows Vista won't recognize CD or DVD disks.

Since you bought a new DVD drive, is it possible to replace it with SATA DVD drive?
Before that, have you tried to use other IDE port?
Since you said that you don't have any cheap components in your machine, I presume you have enough power in your PSU, right?

Regards