No, it was strange on XP, but anyway, the new DVD unit, an exact replacement as it happens, is operating perfectly.
I see that I'm allowed to use the Beta RC in several machines at this location, so it's loading as I type. One thing, W7 of course balked at the sight of the partition, and told me to boot with the DVD. This I did, but still that only way to open the partition, was to destroy it! Then the next, with the loss of the new XP, and then the tidbits that were left.
W7 formed a partition for operational reasons, and then went on to used the whole area without the offer to format! Mmm...don't understand that.
I just wait to see if the W7 key is the same for this machine.
I'm praying that it will find the router, or I'm up for another long night.