HP CD-Writer cd16e

I have an HP Pavilion 7-something (I can't tell you because I'm
writting from work now and the computer is at home), 2 years old, XP
(came with it), latest updates installed (I don't know if they include
XP SP1), equipped with a floppy drive, hard disk, DVD-ROM and an HP
CD-Writer cd16e that used to work, but not anymore.

Symptoms:
1. when I insert a blank CD and try to record it, I am told to insert
a blank CD.
2. when I try to read a data CD, I can click on the letter in
Explorer, but I can't see any files or folders (Explorer is set to
show all files).

I don't know if it's a hardware problem (maybe not, since I can see
the letter in Explorer and Windows finds the device every time I
remove it from Device Manager).

It might be a software problem, but I don't know how installing the
drivers for a Logitech Access keyboard and mouse (both wireless) and a
Logitech web camera could stop the CD writer working (except for
Windows updates, they are the only programs I have installed since the
CD Writer worked last time).

Thank you for your help,
Cezar Botez