What operating system are you using on your laptop?
Does the USB port function correctly with other devices? Does the device show up in your list of drives at all? If you are using Windows 2000 with this particular drive then you may be having some compatibility issues.

After You install the drivers and Windows has detected a device, go to the device manager and check the list of devices to see if there is any reference to the cd drive or a similar device. There should be a yellow question mark beside the device to make it easier to find. If there is, right-click that device and select properties. On the General page, Windows will describe any issues involving the drive. Make sure the drive is connected at this time. This may help you solve your problem or atleast provide u with some more information that you can post here.

If all else fails, uninstall the drivers and device by going to the device manager, right-clicking any recognized device and selecting uninstall or remove this device. Then attempt to install the device again, by going to the control panel and selecting the add hardware wizard. If Windows cannot auto detect the device then use the wizard to select the device from the list of devices that the wizard provides. Download a small applet called "unknown device identifier" at the following link: http://www.zhangduo.com/UnknownDeviceIdentifier.exe
It will give u the information u need to provide to Windows about the device. It is safe, I tested it out myself.

Wish I could help u more but given the age of the device you are attempting to use and without knowing what OS u have, it is hard to determine what the problem might be. Given the fact that windows detects a device, the problems seems to be correctable.

Good Luck!