Optical drive....dead or software issue? How can I tell?

Question

I'm using a PowerMac G5 with OS 10.4.11. Recently I routinely went to put a DVD-R into the drive to copy some archived files for a client, and it froze. I restarted, drive wouldn't work or eject. I got the disc out using the "paperclip" hole on the drive, but now, the drive isn't even showing up in the System Profiler. When I go to ATA in the Hardware section it says "no information found." The eject button doesn't work on my keyboard either.
I've tried taking the drive out and cleaning it, and tried to use the Hardware Test that came on my G5 disc but it won't work. I also booted from a system disc on my backup external Firewire CD drive and ran Disk Utility/repair disk, and it did some repair but the darned Optical drive is still showing as "no information found."
I've since ordered a new drive and I'm waiting for it to arrive, but is there any way for me to tell if this is a software/OS X issue, or if it's a hardware one?

Answer 1

I just wanted to add that this just happened to me on my G5,I put in a store bought CD and noticed it did not show up on the desk,so I decided to eject and I would not. I tried the paper clip method and it opened it a bit but not enough. Then I discovered on reboot that the drive was not even a choice any more.I still tried to get the disc to eject and finally did,somehow,now I am afraid to insert anything in my Super drive,what is going on I wonder. The system did not even see the drive until I forced it open then everything looks fine. I find it too unusual we would both be having the same issues,I dunno.
Check that: I did insert my Leopard install disc and on the next reboot ran Disc Utility,everything worked fine there,eject and everything!