CD drives quit simultaneously

HP 8200 CDWriter and Mitsumi CD drive in W98SE
I don't use the writer drive very often, but it usually makes data CD's
with few coasters.
Last time, I was making backup data CD's, made several fine. I reboot
before each try, much better success.

The next new Imation blank CD became a coaster. I rebooted and tried
again, same result. Then the next time I inserted a CD and clicked on
the CD drive in Explorer, I got a "drive not ready" screen. From then
on, that's all I get, regardless of the disk contents in the drive.

My original CD Drive, a Mitsumi, normally works fine. When the HP
started giving me the screens, I tried the Mitsumi and get the same
screen now, so both of them seem to have started the same issue at the
same time.

At cold boot, the HP drive light comes on briefly as normal in the
bootup process. Normally, the drive light is on continuously if a disk
is present. Now, the light comes on when I open the drive door, blinks a
few times after the door is closed, goes out, even with a CD present.
The drives appear to be still connected as they show up in Explorer
the HP lites up so it has power, both drive doors open, properties
seemed normal in Device Manager.

The drive is 5 years old, but has not had much use, so I believe wear
is not the issue.

An earlier post:
quote
--------
From: "PCR"
Subject: No CD-ROM
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2005 16:51:15 -0500
Newsgroups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion

http://support.microsoft.com/default...;EN-US;q237948
Troubleshoot CD-R_W
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=218617
Troubleshoot CD-ROM or DVD-ROM

I guess, a first try would be...
(1) Boot to Safe Mode. (Hold F5 as you boot, or hold CTRL for the
Startup Menu, & select Safe Mode from that.)
(2) "START, Settings, Control Panel, System, Device Manager tab".
(3) Open the CD-ROM branch, by clicking it's plus sign.
(4) Highlight each drive in that branch, & click "Remove".
(Safe Mode may reveal the presence of a "ghost".)
(5) Close up, & boot to Normal Mode.

Hopefully Windows will find the correct drivers, & all will be well.
---------------
end quote

I went to Safe Mode, deleted the entries, rebooted, "rebuilding
database" screen. In Device Manager, they still say "working properly,
no drivers listed, they still do not read the CD in the tray.

Advice?

TIA

MS