Macbook Pro DVD Drive - Stopped working!

[billyphatu]

Macbook Pro, OSX 10.4.9, 2.16GHz, 2GB RAM.
Drive: MATSHITADVD-R UJ-857

I have what I think might be a serious problem, so I'm really hoping somebody can give me some good advice!

My DVD drive, a couple of days ago, suddenly stopped working - no warning signs, nothing that I was doing was out of the ordinary.

- I have put a selection of DVDs in, and they spin and sound like they're loading, but they are not even acknowledged in Finder. DVD Player doesn't recognise any DVDs, and neither do any of my other players (Niceplayer, VLC etc)
- Audio CDs load up in Finder and iTunes, but the songs won't play.
- Trying to burn DVDs in DVD Studio Pro, Toast or just simply in Finder results in my Mac freezing and my having to cut power.

My Mac is less than a year old and I've been using the DVD drive fine up until this point.

Any suggestions? I'm not a complete novice, but this is the first problem I've had with my MBP!

Thanks as always.

[bobw]

Try zapping the Pram. restart holdin Command-Option-P-R keys for three chimes.
If that doesn't help, less than a year old, call Apple for warranty service.