Q: Why won't these new CD-ROM games work??

Although they are new as in are they newly released, or older games that you just bought (which may not work with your version of OS X)?

jillimom wrote:

 

that are rejected completely when I insert them.

Try this:

System Management Controller (SMC) Reset

Could also be the drive. Do any CDs work in your drive?

From what I've read, optical drives have two lasers. One for DVD wavelengths, and the other for CD. So it appears the red laser for CDs is dead. Looks like you'll need to replace the drive.

Sorry, I have no idea what a drive would cost in Tunisia, or where you would even look for one.

Unfortunately, optical and hard drives are still the most fail prone devices in any computer. They can last seemingly forever, or die fairly quickly.

Yes, you could purchase an external drive. Though I would get a DVD drive so you have the capability of both. I think it would be pretty difficult to find a CD only drive these days anyway.

If you have a Mac Pro, replacing the optical drive is very easy to do yourself. A laptop, iMac or Mac Mini would be more work, and may be best left to a certified repair person to replace.

Pretty much any drive will do. I bought an external DVD/CD read/write drive just to have one an hand. I didn't even pay much attention to the make. It works fine.

Yup, can't think of any reason why it wouldn't work. Make sure it's USB 2 compatible (anything you look at should be). Not that USB 1 won't work, but it's slower than a snail.