CD / DVD player not listed as device on Windows...

Question

R40 Thinkpad - 4 years old - Windows XP -
CD / DVD player has been working until recently. 
PC DOCTOR - does not list DVD as a device
WINDOWS EXPLORER - does not list DVD as a device
CONTROL PANEL / SYSTEM / HARDWARE / DEVICE MANAGER - does not list DVD / CD-ROM DRIVE as a device
Put CD in drive and close door - spins and read light lites - no software player popup on screen appears.
DISK is 95% full - cannot do defrag - not enough space

Fixes Tried:
Running latest files Norton Virus scan now ... do not expect detection
Turned off and reboot - 1 error displayed "Windows Defender... memory location listed with error message"
Rebooted with ACCESS IBM button - does not list CD / DVD player
NEW HARDWARE - ran with "new hardware installed" does not "see" new cd drive.

Hardware or driver problem?DVD/CD rom missing on device manager