Inserting CD freezes PC [SecuROM Issue? Corrupted drive?]

[Zipppy]

I've been having this annoying issue with my CD drive, every time I insert a disk, it freezes Windows Explorer, and after about a minute or so, it freezes the whole system, locking everything up, even the sound.

I've been noticing this has been happening since I installed DiRT 2 on my PC via DVD. Since DiRT 2 uses SecuROM for DRM (I've been reading that it corrupts disk drives), it possibly has corrupted the drive itself, making me with two options: sending the drive back for replacement at the store, or doing RMA via the manufacturer.

The model is an ASUS DRW-24B1ST drive. Is there a way to fix this issue software-wise? The only difference in this situation, from my old PC, I don't have a virtual drive software installed (like Daemon tools, etc). When I had DiRT 2 installed on my old setup, it took forever to read any CD, and it kept trying to move the head back and forth repeatedly.

[Tom]

in device manager uninstall the drivers for it then reboot your pc and it will auto reinstall its own drivers.. see how that works

[Zipppy]

I tried that, no avail.

[Zipppy]

I'll give it one more try. Will edit this post with with an update.

EDIT: nope.

[Zipppy]

I connected it via a USB HDD enclosure, and it is working normally.