Matshita DVD-RAM UJ-831S ---upgraded drive in Toshiba laptop now doesn't work

I bought this drive only 9 months ago and it was working fine up until a few days ago. Now all of a sudden it doesn't work and I get this error msg: "Device status: Windows cannot start this hardware device because its configuration info. (in the registry) is incomplete or damaged. (Code 19)"

I thought maybe a driver issue so I tried to search online for driver updates but everywhere I look I get the (blanket-blank) DriverDetective website that SAYS it's free but then of course is not free! It just scans free and who knows if what they say is really true. (?) That SW says I need a new driver.

So this afternoon I just spent nearly an hour on the phone calling (A) the place where I bought the upgraded drive (DVD/CD combo drive) and they didn't have a clue--and said they don't provide tech support anyway, that I had to call the manufacturer. So I googled Matshita and find out that (B) it's owned by Panasonic so I called their number and got transferred around 7 different times and always got the wrong dept. I was told by one person that Panasonic no longer supports "computer peripheral products" meaning I guess parts that THEY manufacture (!) but used for non-Panasonic laptops. Argh! But another guy in the Panasonic laptop diagnostics dept said they DO have a tech support dept for "computer peripheral products." So who knows!

All I want to know is: is there a free place to download drivers and how do I know if it really is a driver issue?

The only other thing I can think of is that perhaps (?) Windows downloaded an update automatically recently without me knowing it, and said update conflicts with the drive somehow. (?) This happened with my PDA software -- they had to come up with a patch to work with XP.

Help!