CD rom not working

I have gotten a digital camera for Christmas and I was trying to install the
software so I could then download the pictures I had taken. I pushed the
button, and it came up with a red light as it usually does, and made the
sound as if it was going to open. However, it did not. I pushed it a couple
more times, and again nothing happened. I did not look into it much then.
However, I was trying to burn some CD's for a project and now nothing is
coming up at all. It again makes the noise as if it is trying to run it, but
no little red light. This has actually been happening for a few days now. I
went to the hardware part of my computer, and after a little snooping I found
that it had been uninstalled somehow. This is the first time I have ever gone
into hardware, and my mum doesn't get on much.
I tried system restore, and went back to the 24 of December. The disk drive
does still not work. Does anyone have any idea how to help me? Is there
anyway that I could re-download it?

Thanks so much.