LinuxQuestions.org - problems with DVD configuration

Lately I have been trying to properly configure a DVD drive on my Fedora Core 5 box.

There are still really simple things I do not know about bash, like what the color coding represents for different types of files and directories.

For instance if I type:
$ls -la
(when I am inside /dev)

I get files and directories with weird highlighting. The hdc file appears but it is in a highlighted with yellow blocks surrounding words that are printed with black text/characters. Maybe the highlighting is suggesting that the file is atypical.

Typing:
$vi hdc
(still within /dev)

opens up a new file, rather than a preexisting file such as the hdc file that I cited above.

ls -la didn't indicate that hdc had some non .txt file extension.

My /etc/fstab entry does not contain a line regarding hdc. I would definetly add one if I could be reassured by the presence of a /dev/hdc file.

When I use a GUI, and I right click on computer places DVD, it says hdc is unmountable, thus giving me the impression that if I even have a DVD entity in dev, it is called hdc.

Two other note worthy things about the sceanario.

I installed Fedora Core 5 with a DVD in the same DVD drive etc.
so the DVD still turns on and is responsive in some mechanical sense.

I used the scanbus program from the prompt a few months ago, I cant remember the exact details, but I remember that there was some sort of verification that the computer recognised the DVD drive.

I am contemplating the possibility that fixing the problem(s) may involve patching the kernel or something.

I am trying to fix my DVD drive in order to back up my desktop, so that I may move on to later Fedora core installations.