Busted CD-ROM

Hello, I have had a dilly-of-a-pickel of a problem I have been dealing with, was hoping the almighty AO could give me some guidance.

My girlfriend has a computer that just plain sucks and I want to upgrade the thing for her. She is running Windows ME on it... need I say more. Anyway, in order to install the XP version I have on CD, I need to access the CD-ROM... therein lies the problem.

When the computer is powered on, the light just continually flashes on the front of the drive. this light begins to flash from the moment the power is flipped on. My guess would be hardware then, right?

I don't want to go have to buy a new CD-ROM drive, mostly because I am a cheapskate. Does anyone have any ideas on what I can do to get this dang CD-ROM drive to cooperate? Any suggestions where to get a really cheap CD-ROM drive, should it come to that?

Thanks in advance,
-Deeboe

Well. I can suggest where to get a really cheap CD drive..
Any shop that has garbage pc's.. just a get 4 speed drive from the early ninetees or something..

You shouldn't have to pay more then 5 bucks for it :D