File required from XP professional disc, CD drive not responding.

[C0RR0SIVE]

XP SP3 has basic sata controller drivers. His laptop most likely uses an older drive, I have a 1500 from 2007 with one those older drives. The issue is on the back of those drives, on the inside are two switchs, after so long they just get worn out and the drive gets to thinking it's always open. I can't even find those older cd drives for a laptop anymore, only sata.

Best bet for op in the end is to see if the laptop can boot via an external cd drive, or figure out how to install xp via usb flash drive.

 

[Slaymate]

It sounds like your drive has died. There is circuitry in the drive, accessed by the bios, that identifies the drive and more circuitry that actually operates the drive. So the drive can be seen and still not work.