Computer won't recognize DVD-R drive.

[Stone]

I'm fairly new here and I don't know if this has been addressed here before, but here goes:

I'm running Windows XP with service pack 2 and I just installed an external Sony DVD/CD dive through the usb 2.0 port.

Anyway, when I go to "my computer" it is recognised as DVD-R Drive (E:), but as soon as I put in a blank DVD+RW it turns into CD Drive (E:) and when I try to write on it I get an error message saying:
" The disc in the drive is not a writable CD or it is full.
Please insert a blank, writable CD into drive D:\, or insert a disc with enough free space to hold all the files you have selected for writing to CD."

The drive plays DVDs and CDs just fine but has trouble when I try to burn music or video.
If anyone can help, I would greatly appreciate it.

[Murray S.]

Howdy and welcome to CTH:

To the best of my knowledge, cd-rw's MUST be formatted before they can be used.. Have you done that??

Murray

[Stone]

Thanks for the welcome, Murray S.

I've only tried a dvd+rw so far, not a cd-rw, but no I haven't formatted it yet.

How do I do that?

[Murray S.]

The option to format will be part of whatever burning program you are using..

Murray

[Stone]

I hate to be a burden, but...
I'm using Nero BurningROM 6.6.0.14 and I dont see the option to format.

Maybe I'm doing something wrong.

[Murray S.]

Start Nero.. Go to Help.. Search "format" (no quotes)..

Murray

[Stone]

Thanks for the help, Murray.
I appreciate it.