Help: Can't write to or read from CD R/W from System but can from some programs

When I try to write (transfer files) to my CD R/W drive from My
Computer I get the following message:

F:\ is not accessbie. The device is not ready.

The same message occurs when I try to open a disk also from My
Computer.

I can write to disks from digital photo programs (Kodak EasyShare, HP
PhotoImaging) and from DeepBurner. The photo disks are readable on the
computer, and pre-recorded disks (like TurboTax) load properly.

What's going on ? If I have a broken or missing program where I can
get another copy.

I have a preinstalled version of Windows98 running on an IBM Aptiva
computer.

TIA.

Lew