It may be that the game CD's are in the UDF format. You will need a UDF reader program. Install a UDF reader and see if that lets your machine read the drive. UDF readers are usually free and can be found at several places on the net.

I installed it and it still doesn't read the cd-rw and cd-rs
 
it still says " the disk in drive d is not formatted"
"would you like to format it now?"
I click yes and it says "disk in drive d can not be formatted"
 
Is there any setting in windows 2000 that could possibly be the reason it won't read cd-rws and cd-r with games on them?

I have two quick observations, but will get back later. You are using a DVD drive apparently. Some DVD-RAM may not be capable of reading a CD-R/RW disk, depending on recording conditions. Were these games subject to a copy protection scheme originally since some schemes "hide" a CD's table of contents so your CD-ROM drive can't read it?
Why don't you give the specifics of the drive - make manufacturer, etc.

The cd-rws and cd-rs contain games burned off a bin or iso file
my dvd-rom is a toshiba sd-r2102
 
think it is possible to just duel-os it and install win98 on it, see if that works b/c win98 reads the cd-rs and cd-rws on my pc fine
but I'm guessing its not working because of the dvd-rom I have.
 
or maybe I could buy the same exact cdrw i have installed on a comp that the cd-rws actually work
 
but anyway, have any other suggestions?
 
all I want is to be able to install all the games i have for when I'm away on trips, thanks

If you have the original CD's for the games, have you put them in your DVD drive to see if they will play? If they do, it may be a problem in the way the CD rom burner is making the disks and not your DVD.