cd drive not found?

One day when i went to burn a movie my computer says no writer found..
i check my computer, and the dvd drive isnt there…
im running vista…
when i put a cd in the drive it sounds like its trying to read it but then nothing happens…
i tryed deleteing the upper and lower filters but still no luck..
i also reformated the computer and nothing…
sometimes when i reboot it magicly appears…
and other times it doesnt…
can anybody help me out with this?
Answer #1
check the connection/cable?
Answer #2
its a laptop tho…
hp pavilion…
if i unscrew the bottom will the drive be there? or would i have to unscrew somemore…
do you know?