TRACYW

I have a Dell Dimension 3000 PC with Windows XP Home Edition. It has got two drives in it; a DVD drive which works fine and a DVD-RW drive. The problem is with the DVD-RW drive. Firstly, it won't open and if on the odd occasion I have managed to open it manually (with great difficulty) it won't recognize a DVD-R disc I put (haven't tried any other types). It seems it doesn't know there is a disc in there. I also get a message every time I start my computer that I have files waiting to copy to DVD again underlining the fact that my computer doesn't seem to recognize the fact that there is anything in the E drive. Previously, I have been able to use the drive to copy photos over but as I haven't needed to use the facility regularly till now, its now I recognize that I have got this problem. Can any one help, please?