Boot Priority Problem

In the BIOS make sure USB is supported during boot up (some are disabled at default, some are not there until you do BIOS firmware update).

Than check your hard disc boot priority sometimes the USB device is in there instead.

In order to boot from a CDROM, it must be selected as first boot device in BIOS/Setup.

If that still does not solve your problem, consider the fact that the CD-Roms you are trying to boot from may not be bootable. this can happen when you don't burn iso-files correctly as images.

ps:
"The system will not autorun CD-ROM software programs with I attempt to install them"
You do not usually install a software program by booting from its CD. That's the way how you install an Operating System, not simple software.

The CD is "CleanMyPC Registry CleanerOner Year Subscription" from registry-cleaner.net.  I've contacted them, but to reply yet.  My concern is "CD-ROM Group priority is not installed"

It looks to me like there is utter confusion in what you are trying to do.
I'll attempt to sort some things out:

1. The "CleanMyPC" Registry Cleaner does *not* require you to boot from its CD.

2. The "Boot Priority" in the BIOS/Setup (which is the screen of settings you acces by pressing F10 when the computer boots) has got nothing to do with the CDROM autorun feature inside Windows.
You only need to fiddle with this setting when you do *not* want to load Windows, but boot into a Live system or install a new operating system *instead* of loading Windows.

3. The "CD-ROM Group priority" not being installed is nothing to worry about; most modern computer systems do not have more than one CDROM/DVD combo drive. "Group priority" only catches in when you have more than one CDROM/DVD drive and need to establish a boot order between them.


I can only guess what your real problem is (forgive me if I'm wrong here):
Inside Windows Vista you insert the "CleanMyPC" cdrom, because you wish to install that software. But no installation window pops up automatically.
This could have two reasons: a) Autorun is disabled in your Vista; b) there is no autorun file on the CD. No problem.
Click Start > Computer and double-click your CDROM drive. This should show you the contents of the CDROM. Look for a file called "setup"/"setup.exe" or "install" / "install.exe" and double-click it. This should launch the programme installer.

    I am nt attempting to boot from the "LightScrive SuperMulti Drive /CD Writer" in the computer.  Rather, I am attempting to install software programs.  The system doesnm't recognize that a disc is in the optical drive after I insert one to install the software.  I've attached my external Memorex CD-RW to a USB port.  The system recognizes the drove amd the nature of the disc inserted, however it will still not autorun.  I can click on that in My Computer or Windows Explorer and install the program by clicking on "setup" or "installl" or whatever.  
     Why will the onboard optical drive not not recoginze an inserted disc, and why will the system not "autorun"?

You must have disabled autorun for that particular device or media type.

there is a part in the control panel to check you autorun. ^_^

"Why will the onboard optical drive not not recoginze an inserted disc, and why will the system not "autorun"?"

I already gave the answer to this question of yours in my post above:
Quote: "This could have two reasons: a) Autorun is disabled in your Vista; b) there is no autorun file on the CD."

Having autorun disabled in your system is not a bad thing at all, because it protects you from self-installing worms and viruses.
If, however, you want it enabled, try this:
Go to the Device Manager (here's how you do that: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/windowsvista/ht/accessdmcpnva.htm), select your CDROM/DVD drive, right-click, choose Properties > Settings, put a checkmark in the "Auto insert notification" check box. Reboot.

If that does not fix it, check out the following resource for more advanced troubleshooting:
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/01/14/autoplayautorun-not-working-or-missing-not-open-in-windows-vista/comment-page-1

Some additional information:
I purchased the system with Vista Home Premium, and upgraded to Vista Ultimate SP1.
USB support is not addressed in BIOS.
There is an autorun file on the software I am attempting to install.
Autorun is not addressed in the Control Panel.
In Device Manager there is no "Auto insert notification" check b ox for the CDROM/DVD SCSI drive, and the driver is current.

I will review again everyone's suggestions and further troubleshoot the problem.  I will award points to contributing solutions or close this inquiry.

I think there were some good results so far:
We found out that the BIOS and its boot priority have nothing to do with your problem, and that the CDROM device group is nothing to worry about.

We also found out that the only problem you seem to have is a disabled autorun, which is a minor issue (Personally, I disable autorun on purpose on all machines).

If you still want it enabled and you don't mind having to edit your registry, here's how:

- Launch the registry editor by typing "regedit" in the Start Search box:
http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/vista/vista_registry.htm#Getting_Started_with_Regedit

- Make sure to be very careful!

- Browse to the following key (on the left hand panel):
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Cdrom

- Click the "Cdrom" folder on the left panel, so that it opens

- In the list box on the right, check for an entry called "Autorun"

- Right-click it and select "Change"

- Set the hexadecimal "Value" to "1"

- Leave the registry editor and reboot.

Thank you everyone for your input.  I agree, torimar, that perhaps we are getting somewhere now that is it clear that my problem isn't trying to boot from the CD-ROM drive, but rather, "The system will not autorun CD-ROM software programs when I attempt to install them."  In fact, the drive doesn't recognize that a disc is even present.  I am going to again review all the input so far.

Clarification of the problem.  First, lucifer82 and torimar, I apologize for the misleading title "Boot Priority Problem"  The issue has been that autorun does not function when an appropriate disc is inserted into the CD-ROM drive, and that the drive does not recognize the presence of a disc at all.  I've checked AujtoPlay in the Control Panel, and "AutoPlay for all media and devices" is selected.  I've checked the registry entry, and the hexz value is set to "1" for Autorun.

So I inserted an autorun disc into the drive, and it worked.  I tried several, and they all worked.  Then I inserted a data disc, and Windows Explorer listed all its contents.  I was in the process of relaying this information here when the computer froze.  I had to do a cold boot, after which the problem with the CD-ROM drive is back.

When the drive was functioning temporarily, I determined that it is drive E.  My Computer doesn't show a drive E now that the problem has returned.  Also, the BIOS does not recognize the drive.  I am not certain at this point, but it might be a SCSI device.

Any further thoughts on this apparently intermittent problem?

Thank you, torimar!

I opened the tower, blew out the dust, cleaned the vents and fans.  The CD-ROM is a SATA device.  The controller and power cables appeared to be properly connected, however I removed/replaced them.  Put it back together, booted up, and now the optical device is recognized and functioning correctly.

By the way, Device Manager reports the Hitachi hard drive as a SCSI Disk Device, however it is connected to SATA-1 on the motherboard.  Thought I'd seen "SCSI" somewhere while working on this problem.

Thank you torimar and lucifer82 for your comments.