CD/DVD Drive Fails PLUS another Problem on borrowed Laptop

Hi all.....am a new member (today) and was hoping desperately to get some assistance.....TIA...

These things just.....so......happened to start at the same time and I can't figure out if I have a bad CD drive since the other issue (related?) happened.

Here is a description of how the drive acts/reacts and how downloading from the web doesn't work, as well. Again, they BOTH just started and BOTH at the same time.....

CD/DVD Drive Fails:

This has happened all of a sudden, but it's not just the drive. However, when I insert a disc (in this case, to install Photoshop), it doesn't read it. I don't get an error but: it won't autoread, and 2), when I go in thru My Comp. , it will actually let me click to where the install files usually are but the window stays blank, as if I hadn't inserted any software. So is it the CD Drive? - The reason it can't be the software, IMHO, is b/c the computer acts the same way when I try to d/l something from the internet. It "sort of" starts, and then....nothing. So I can't tell where the problem is. I was assuming Hardware, only b/c these different software installs AND internet d/l's can't all have (the same) issue. (Right?)

PS - Older Dell L/T: Inspiron 6000, running XP; also, I have already checked for an updated driver and it tells me that I have the latest (and, I assume, "greatest".....).

Thanks VERY much in advance,

caron1959