damn dude that happened to me last night from a really stupid reason. I put in a very messed up and warped music cd in the drive and it had trouble ripping bc it was rlly messed up and it jammed my drive and after 10 mins I got it open using nero eject.
You may simple need a new drive if it happens like your describing it though. I guess that's what happens with a dell huh.
That Dell would still smoke your system
Definitely Call Dell as AznPride83 recommended.
Haha, that's why you don't buy dell. Maybe you can gain a little knowledge out of this forum and build your own computer next time around?