Windows won't read my DVD-R's?

[Guest]

I am on an HP laptop with a DVD-RW drive. The drive was working perfectly
when I got the laptop 6 months ago, but about two months ago I ran into a new
problem. The drive still works perfectly with everything except for DVD-R's.
When I put one in the drive, either blank or burned, it makes thinking
noises for a minute and then it stops and doesn't recognize that there's
anything in the drive. If I try to use explorer to burn the DVD-R, windows
won't let me. I know it's Windows and not the drive because if I open my
Sonic Record Now! program, it will recognize the disc and if it is already
burned, the program will ask me if I'd like to make an image of the disc for
copying. If it is blank, it will prompt me to burn things onto it and when I
do, the DVD-R will work in everyone ele's DVD-RW drive except mine. I've
already tried the trouble shooter and taken the computer back to Best Buy who
told me to reformat. I truly don't want to do that. My Windows disc says it
has an option for fixing Windows without reformatting, but I can't seem to
get to it on the disc. Can anybody help me with this?

 

[Frank]

Do you have SP2? Have a look at these articles.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;321641
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;818733
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;899527