IMac G5 won't read any CDs but DVDs work fine

I have an iMac G5 with a PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-K04L drive
and firmware revision D441.
Just recently it stopped accepting any CDs (commercial CDs, software CDs, blank CD-Rs). It buzzes and grinds and groans and then spits them back out, but refuses to mount them. The only exception is the Apple OX Installation CD that came with the machine - that one works without a hitch. DVDs play fine and I can burn to blank DVDs. The problem is only with CDs.
I've tried suggestions from the forums:
- reset PRAM and NVRAM
- trashed com.apple.kernecaches, Extensions.kextcache, and CD Info.cidb and then rebooted
- fixed permissions
- verified disks
Not sure what else to do - but I would appreciate any suggestions - since it reads the Apple installation CD, does this mean it's not a hardware problem but a software problem?

You will need to take it
to your local Apple Authorized Service Provider and
have them take a look at it. Hopefully your iMac is
still under warranty or AppleCare.
Thanks for the reply.
Is it possible to install a replacement unit on my own - or is this definitely not a do-it-yourself type fix? Also are there more reliable internal dual layer DVD/CD burners than the one the iMac G5 came with?
If I decide to simply plug in an external burner, are the external burners compatible with iLife 06 (iDVD and iTunes)?
Thanks.

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