What is wrong with my dvd burner?

I am running Vista 32 but for the last few days whenever i try to burn anything to dvd all i get is a grinding noise coming from the dvd drive. If i copy a disc it will read it but as soon as i put the new disc in to be copied to-it spins and grinds periodically. I have had the burner for a couple of years now-do you think its time to suck it up and buy a new drive or do you think its something else? the lens is definately not dirty, a program said that the lens was dirty but we have had the drive cleaned and we are still getting the same problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated.What is wrong with my dvd burner?
The noises suggest the gear drive in the motor is wearing, this is fixable but costs more to replace than buying a new drive.

Your additional info suggests you are not sure what drive to get, so if you want to do it yourself the easiest thing to do is remove the old one, take it to a computer store and simply ask them "have you got a new one of these" and they will find you what you need.

If it has two plugs in the back of it one about half the size of the other, one will be solid the other has 4 coloured cables that will be a SATA drive. If it has the same four coloured cables (although a slightly bigger sized plug) and a wide cable that plugs in the back that will be IDE (now more commonly called PATA).What is wrong with my dvd burner?
The problem is most likely down to the Laser going low emission, that means it will read a disc but when it tries to burn one it is throwing up errors. The grinding noise you are hearing is the laser going backwards and forwards on the sled trying to achieve focus and failing.



To be honest these things are so cheap these days it most likely is time for a new one.What is wrong with my dvd burner?
Take it to service center then will help you!
Chris B gave the correct answer. Just replace the drive. Anyone will do. If you used the "Lightscribe" feature than you should get an HP drive. Other than than any one will do. They are all more or less the same.

Just check the cable connecting to the back. If it is not a wide flat cable you will need a SATA burner. I think this system uses a SATA DVD burner.

Update:
I think this is the drive you need (SATA): HP dvd1270i 24X SATA Multiformat DVD Writer

But if it has the "wide" cable connected to it you will need and IDE/PATA drive:
HP dvd1140i 22X PATA Multiformat DVD Writer

I put links to them down in the "source" area.