It probably has to do with the FIRMWARE in the writer. FIRMWARE is the program that resides in an IC chip that controls your ROM drive. ROM drives are ATAPI devices, which means, they have their own little program that tells the writer what formats it can read. Some writers can only recongize DVD+R format, while others can recognize only DVD-R format, but most can read both +R and -R formats. If you got your DVD writer from a cheap mass produced computer manufacturer, you might have gotten a cheap Chinese built writer with only limited read and write capabilities (cheap ROM FIRMWARE).
One thing you can do, is to open the computer and pull out the DVD drive and take a look at the label on the writer. It will tell you the make, model and manufacturer. You can then go to the manufacturer's website and see if they have a FIRMWARE update which can be programmed into the ROM chip on the writer. This is as simple as downloading a FIRMWARE file and clicking on it to execute and install the FIRMWARE update.
However - CAUTION! You MUST have the exact manufacturer, the exact make and the exact model (that is why I suggest looking at the label on the writer box). If you download and install even once, the WRONG FIRMWARE, your writer will NEVER WORK AGAIN!
There may or may not be an update for your ROM drive. It all depends on the manufacturer.
Another way to fix the problem, is the BUY a new DVD writer and install it yourself, and check the specifications/data sheet before you buy it. They only cost about $30 these days. I like Pioneer drives the best, but Samsung, LiteON are other good brands. Make sure the spec says DVD-R AND DVD+R read and write.
The DVD should also be able to read and write the older CD types of +R and -R CD's.
One of the easiest things to do to upgrade your computer is to remove and install a new DVD writer drive. There are plenty of YOUTUBES on line to show you how.
One thing you can do, is to open the computer and pull out the DVD drive and take a look at the label on the writer. It will tell you the make, model and manufacturer. You can then go to the manufacturer's website and see if they have a FIRMWARE update which can be programmed into the ROM chip on the writer. This is as simple as downloading a FIRMWARE file and clicking on it to execute and install the FIRMWARE update.
However - CAUTION! You MUST have the exact manufacturer, the exact make and the exact model (that is why I suggest looking at the label on the writer box). If you download and install even once, the WRONG FIRMWARE, your writer will NEVER WORK AGAIN!
There may or may not be an update for your ROM drive. It all depends on the manufacturer.
Another way to fix the problem, is the BUY a new DVD writer and install it yourself, and check the specifications/data sheet before you buy it. They only cost about $30 these days. I like Pioneer drives the best, but Samsung, LiteON are other good brands. Make sure the spec says DVD-R AND DVD+R read and write.
The DVD should also be able to read and write the older CD types of +R and -R CD's.
One of the easiest things to do to upgrade your computer is to remove and install a new DVD writer drive. There are plenty of YOUTUBES on line to show you how.