Vista - dvd/cd driver wont recogonize blank discs

ok so my driver decided that it all of the sudden didnt want to recognize blank discs. at first it was all discs. now that i have deleted all programs and music and pics and what not, did a disc clean up, it plays movies, but still wants nothing to do with blank discs. No matter what type either.i was hoping that a program was the cause of it all but like i said, i deleted all programs. it makes a noise while trying to recognize the disc, and it will freeze up any programs that i try to use until i eject the disc. does any one have any idea as to what i can do to fix this? will i have to contact hp? or should i just buy a new burner?