CD-ROM drive to install Linux

[James Austin <auji cruzio com>]

Hello,
 I've got an old PC that I'd like to install Linux on.  The problem is I
 can't seem to get a CD-ROM drive to work for installation. I've tried a
 cheap HI-VAL drive made by Western Digital and a Sony CDU77E-Q and
 neither is recognized during the installation of Linux.
 Does anyone know what CD-ROM drive will work, and where I can get it.
 Thanks for your help.
 
 Jim Austin