How do I play an audio cd in my computer?

You would thought it would be as easy as inserting the cd into the slot and the computer automatically would prompt your media player of choice or simply start playing it. My conputer does nothing! I go into computer and and it is not even detecting my cd.!, there's nothing I can do, I tried Itunes and it does not detect it either. Isn't this patetic? I can't even play a dumb cd in my computer, (somebody else dumb is a little frustrated) Plase help.