Vista - Need critical help please. Thanks.

Ok, here is my problem in full. First off, I am no computer genius, so most of the stuff I say will sound very basic, I do not know the correct terms for a lot of the stuff.
Anyhow, I have a HP pavillion dv9700 notebook pc. It started about 3-4 days ago. I went to import some songs on a cd onto my iTunes, which is when I found out that my CD-ROM drive was missing, for how long, I do not know. It was just then that I had discovered it (not having put a disc in my computer for a good while). So, I went online to find some fixes to this problem. I tried the "delete 'upperfilter' and 'lowerfilter' " fix. Then rebooted the computer, however, I do not know if this is the trigger to what is yet to come. So the computer rebooted, and I then was able to find my CD/DVD-RW drive.

I uploaded my music. Later on, out of nowhere, I tried to turn my computer on, a day later maybe. This is what happened, it starts up really slow, then gets to the blank screen before startup and just sits for ever. Then I get a message saying "Operating System not found". I know what this means, I think, but I have no clue why I am getting it, what did i do wrong to cause it. Anyhow. This only occured a time or two, in which case I would shut the computer off, turn it back on, and it would bootup properly. I would say that it would mess up 3 times out of 10. So I DID save all the items i wanted to keep onto a jump drive, just incase.

The next day (yesterday) I was importing some more music, and during the middle of the first song, my screen just suddenly went white with black fuzzies and stripes through it (???). I then turned off the computer. I tried everything I knew, which isn't much. I scanned my computer for viruses (0 found). I also did 'Disk Cleanup' 'Disk Defragment' and restored my computer a month beforehand. The problem persisted. Although, now, It will not bootup properly more than half the time. Keep in mind this computer is only around 6 months old (bought in July 2008).

I do not know if this thread belongs in the 'Drivers' section, I assumed since it had something to do with my CD-ROM drive. If it is in the wrong section, sorry.

Sorry for the huge description, but I want to give the readers as much detail as possible so that it may be easier to spot the problem. Thanks

Have you tried startup repair, checkdisk, and SFC/scannow yet?
System Recovery Options
Check Disk - chkdsk
System Files - SFC Command

Oh WOW, I had the same thing happened to me but, unfortunately for me, I botched the whole thing, had to reinstall windows and I am still w/o cd rom drive... you fair much much better than I did!

I hope you resolve your issue soon.

Ok Ty for the advice. I will try.

I thought I had it really bad, I can't imagine it being any worse. I'm sorry that your computer had so much trouble. I wonder if reinstalling vista would help mine. Thanks I hope I can get it back to normal.

I could live without the cd-rom drive, at this point I just want my computer out of it's other troubles.

BUMP
I tried the disk check, and the system files check, they did fix one thing that said something was corrupted. but my problem still persists, I can't get my cd-rom drive back and sometimes have 'operating system not found'.

Get the shop to fix it, it is free and will be under warrenty.

Yeah, I'm thinking about taking it down there.