You should be able to buy a combination CD/DVD burner and replace what is there. It would depend on the type of laptop as to whether you could buy a generic drive or (in the case of many Compaq laptops) have to buy it from the manufacturer.

If the laptop has USB or Firewire ports you can always add an external burner also.

I have done all of the above at one time or other so I know it's possible.

Kathleen