Lenovo 3000 n200 optical drive problems

[squareyes]

Hi all,
does anyone on this list a fully functional Lenovo 3000 n200 laptop?
Mine has never had a properly working optical drive. Will install 
operating systems then doesn't exist in either Win XP or Ubuntu.
Been in touch with Lenovo techs a number of times, different answers 
each time.
1.Update bios
2.Install Win XP drivers (Don't seem to be any)
3.Sent me a new drive same problems (Sent it back)
4.My fault as original image not still on machine, sent me Recovery CD's 
Won't recover, Vista gets to welcome page then shuts down in a loop.
5. Sent machine to Lenovo, was told nothing wrong with it, but at last 
optical drive working. Shrunk Vista and installed Ubuntu 8.04, optical 
drive now gone again, in both Vista and Ubuntu.
6. Rang Lenovo and was told optical drive will only work with Vista even 
though they have for sale WinXP recovery CD's
As this is NOT mentioned at point of sale if indeed it is correct, 
doesn't this breach anti trust laws?

Would be very interested to hear if anyone has one of these machines 
working correctly, and if so,
just how did they get it working, or should we  avoid this machine?  
Lenovo forums seem to have numerous optical
drive problems listed.
Don't really want Vista, but will keep it if it means I can get Ubuntu 
running successfully.

Many thanks in advance.
Take Care
Winton