Emily,
WinME won't allow you to boot to DOS unless you hack the system files. So let us have Cwoet try it with a DOS7 boot disk first.
I have a specialized one here with all "Swiss Army Knife" utils one might need:
http://loogoos.hu/php/download.php?view.438
Cwoet,
if CDs are recognized under DOS, it proves that something is wrong with the installed WinME's (Microsoft) drivers, as the file system of GK II CDs are neither UDF nor hybrid (which COULD be a reason for lack of recognition).