Iphone

I have a SONY Vaio notebook that plays audio CD's and DVDs with no problem. But it won't read most software program discs (some work fine). Either nothing happens or I get the message to insert a disc in the drive.

Iphone

Sort of:
DVD and CD use different lasers but in a multi-drive (burned or pressed media) there are not seperate lasers for burned or pressed. (With the possible exception of very old or el-cheap-o drives.)
The difference between pressed and burned media is the intensity of the laser's beam.

Because the CD and DVD discs use different lasers it very possible to have problems with one and not the other.

If one of the the lens' is dirty or the electronics in the drive that control that beam's intenisity are failing it might have trouble with some kinds of media and not others because of the amount of light that is reflected back to the 'pick-up' (if you will).