Technical help req'd on DVD RW drive.?

Question

System is Packard Bell with Windows XP and AMD Athlon 64 processor, DVD RW R9 drive and DVD drive.
Don't know whether it has any bearing on the problem but my son copied a CD, I wasn't there so I don't know what he did or how he did it but I cannot now copy anything to the DVD RW drive.
I have several TDK DVD's onto which I have copied MS Excel files but all are only at less than 20% capacity and Excel can read the files ok when the disks are in the DVD RW drive.
When I try to copy and paste updated versions of the same files onto any of the DVD's using Explorer copy & paste facilities I get as far as 'write these files to CD' then I get the message 'No CD in drive, put a writeable CD (DVD?) into drive E'.
Even if I swap disks I get the same message and the drive doesn't sound as if it's running.
Genuine help appreciated, further info provided as requested where possible.

Answer 1

can you read DVDs and CDs in the drive? DVDs and CDs use different lasers and different formating.

see if you can update the drivers and firmware of the drive. Check the OS to see if there is a conflict, it's not likely but check it anyway.

Answer 2

It sounds has if the preferences have been changed on your software. After burning files to a dvd's and cd's you can continue to add more sessions unless the disk has been finalised. I don't know which application you use to write to the disks but you should examine the instructions in the help menu files.

Answer 3

Its a very complex technical issue. maybe the operating system is corrupt. you can try system restore
start > all programs > accessories > System tools > system restore.

if this didnt help, please contact the computer's manufacturer. people here at yahoo answers arent that tech savvy to help with this kind of issue. i hope i am making sense !!

Answer 4

i could be the brand of discs you are useing OK