Start  your PC in safe mode [F8 key  before  windows  begins to load] take
item 3  on the  menu , once  the  Desk Top appears  R/C My Computer choose
properties, next  Device  Manger and  remove  all references  to  CD-ROMs,
you  will have to  expand  the  CD listing to  see all device by clicking
on the  + next to the  left  of  the  icon.
Restart and  see  if  both  are listed  in DM.

rgds
Li'l Roberto

I, too, am not an experienced computer user, but I was
experiencing a simaliar problem, after a minor system
crash. Some parts of my comp. acknowledged my CD-RW,
others did not. A friend, and a computer genius, as far as
I'm concerned, suggested this...
1) Uninstall the CD-RW.
2) Create a new folder in Windows, using the usual CD-RW
name.
3) COPY the files from the driver floppy disk to the
folder you created. (Note: COPY NOT INSTALL, at this time).
4) Exit Windows folder.
5) Open control panel, then click "add/remove hardware"
icon.
6) At "Install/Uninstall" tab, click "install from a
floppy disk or CD-ROM drive" - even though you won't be
doing this exactly. The next window tells you to insert
the floppy or CD and click next, just click next, don't
insert the floppy.
7) This window gives you the "browse" button option,
click "browse" and go to the folder you created in Windows.
8) Highlight folder and click "open". At next window
click "finish"

I hope this works for you. I managed to correct the
problem using this process. Good Luck!

Windows doesn't support CD/RW. It will identify the device as a CD-ROM,
which seems to be what it has done for you.  You CD-writing software knows
how to access the device for writing and is not affected by whatever device
Windows has identified.

If you mean that the CD-ROM used to appear in Device Manager with a label
that identified the exact device (including a term such as CD/RW) and now it
shows only a generic CD-ROM device, then you can try removing the existing
device and allowing Windows to re-install the device.