CnC Generals CD not working on Lite-on CDRW/DVD Combo

[gojane]

Last weekend I built a new PC with the following specs (all brand new btw):

AMD 2600+ (Not Overclocked)
Gigabyte basic Mobo 7V400L (?)
512mb PC2700
MSI 128mb AGP x8 TV Out
Lite-On 48x?x48/16x CDRW/DVD-Rom Combo Drive
Win XP Pro etc..

No probs with normal software but has problems with some games and not others - particularly CnC Generals.

Installs fine (even re-installed just in case) but when you put Disc 1 in to play the game, it says: Incorrect CD, please insert original (or similar like the message you'd get from an incorrect backup).

Neither of these game discs are backups - they are originals but do have SafeDisc protection. And before some wise guy asks - yes the correct cd is being inserted.

I did read on the EA Games Tech Support that there is a potential problem with SafeDisc protection and Macrovision for DVD-Roms but the fix they offered didn't work.

Has anyone else come across this problem?

If it can't be fixed, I'm thinking of putting in a CD-Rom from an older PC which only reads at 24x max. Is 24x max ok to run CnC Generals?

Cheers.