Help!! LITEON LDW-401S-WI won't burn

[KTIGGER982]

I just bought the LITEON model # LDW-401S-W1 and I can't get it to burn DVD's. (Well, it worked once) I have been reading forums and tried a few different things, but now when I right-click on the driver, there is no tab for recording?? I use DVD shrink and am trying to use NERO to burn. Now it won't even read the blank discs. It will play a regular DVD fine, but won't recognize a DVD-R when I put it in.
In terms of media, I have tried Memorex, Sony, and Verbatim...none of them work. The Users manual lists MCC, Ritek, CMC, Ricoh, Sony, Maxell, and TY. Sony is the only one that worked so far, but only once. The others that are listed (aside from Maxell) I've never heard of and didn't see at Fry's Electronics. I'm new to this and could use all the help I can get!

[scarecrow]

The rightclick tab for recording is handled by XP's embedded Imapi burning engine- the sooner you get rid of it the better...
As for the burning thing- are you sure you are using the right media? Your burner can only handle "plus" type media and not "minus". So, of course it will NOT recognize a blank DVD-R...

[KTIGGER982]

The rightclick tab for recording is handled by XP's embedded Imapi burning engine- the sooner you get rid of it the better...
As for the burning thing- are you sure you are using the right media? Your burner can only handle "plus" type media and not "minus". So, of course it will NOT recognize a blank DVD-R...

I already disabled the Imapi burning engine. I did get it working after trying different things for a few hours, but it still won't show a disc is even in there unless it's a Sony DVD+R. It won't read Verbatum or Memorex. I am using DVD+R media. I have tried three brands and so far only 1 has worked. Why is that? How can I find out what all will be compatible with my burner?

[scarecrow]

There are small badges of Memorex which are made by Mitsubishi chemicals and are very good media, but the big majority of the ones you can find are of very poor quality (CMC Magnetics). Same applies for Memorex, first they attracted customers by using top notch dye (Ricoh), but their latest badges seem to be CMC crapola, too...
Here is a good media compatibility list- maybe not the best on the net, but good enough:
http://www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdmedia

A firmware upgrade could solve some media readability problems you encounter.