I am going to assume that you have a PC running Microsoft Windows OS.

Have you ever tried to play an MP3 file stored on the computer's disk. For example, download the following: Example , by right-clicking that link and selecting to save it to your desktop. Then go to your desktop and double-click it. If it plays, note which application runs it.

If it doesn't, then you may want to install one of dozens of music players you can download and use for free. For example: Windows Media Player or iTunes.

Even if playing a file from your desktop works, it might be good to install a fresh copy of the latest of one of these players.

Next, I would have you load your CD. Note what happens carefully. It may be different once you install a new player. If a dialog pops up and offers to play the CD, then note the name of that application. However, typically they will not offer to play a disk of MP3s because that should be a data disk and not an Audio CD. Tell me how that CD was created. In any case, when that dialog comes up, instead of choosing to play the CD, choose to Explore or Browse. Then copy the files you find on it to your desktop. Now try to double click those files and see if they play. Are they MP3 files? If they are not MP3s, then you probably have an Audio CD and is not well written or your drive is "tired of life." Try another Audio CD that is a commercial product and see if that plays. If so, blame the CD. If it doesn't, then blame the drive. You may be able to update the driver for your drive, but then we are getting much deeper into it than your basic question.