Need some help with a friends cd/dvd drive.

The computer is an advent 7111 laptop about 1.5 years old,When you try and run a disc it just clicks and makes a couple of other noises,when you click on the drive it says there is no disc inserted,she tried uninstalling the drive then rebooting and letting windows reinstall it,no difference.

So what she needs to know is,

A,is the drive faulty,beyond repair

and

B,which makes of drive are good and which are bad,and would any slimline drive fit in her laptop drive bay.

Any recommendations or info would be good.

Cheers.

Chris.