Blank dvd media is not reconized

Rewritable CD-RW / DVD-RW media typically have lower recording speed (4X - 12X is common) compare to CR-R / DVD-R (20X - 50X is common).
The quality of the CD/DVD media is the most important factor: buying a well known brand blank media is always advisable.
The higher the recording speed for a specific brand the higher the price: that said, a CD/DVD with a high recording speed rating can always be used at a lower (and usually more reliable) speed.
If you are not burning CD/DVD everyday, then a cheaper 'slower' media, especially at an attractive price point, is OK.
ps. Be aware that writable CD/DVD media are not always readable/compatible in other devices (e.g. external DVD or CD players) ... even well known brand media can fail compared to lesser brands.

Well a quick check here says it should manage 4 x DVD write speeds:-

http://reviews.cnet.com/dvd-drives/sony-dru-510a/4507-3212_7-21226932.html

The only thing I can think of is that lens may have some dust on it, try a CD lens cleaning disk or a blast of air from an aerosol spray can.

After this, I'm afraid its down a replacement.

The inspiron e1405 notebooks were shipped with 2 different types of optical drives:
8x dual-layer DVD+/-RW
24x CD-RW / DVD-ROM

the later will not write DVDs

right click on the drive.... go to properties... under tab recording, remove tick "enable CD recording on this drive" and press apply... after that tick "enable CD recording on this drive" and press OK.
It should work.

open explorer and go to 'My Computer'
right click the DVD/CD-ROM Drive
click on the tab labeled 'Recording' (usually on the far right)
click the option that is labeled 'Enable CD recodring on this drive'
...and POOF, magic happens...

It can be CD-blank media problem. Try another brand or if you use CD-RW try to use CD+RW.
Also try to use simulation mode. If it works fine it can be CD-blank media problem.
Good Luck

You have to pre-select type of media in your burning program (CD or DVD) before adding files and commencing burning procedure.

lol a blank DVD cant be opened directly in Win xp, you need to use a DVD burning tool... for your laptop did you check you the DVD-ram reads cd's also?

Drive might be dead. Try another drive to eliminate the drive as being the problem. Also try DeepBurn writer software.

Its a dvd-rom drive. READ ONLY MEMORY.

That drive will not burn a dvd...it has to say dvd-r/dvd-rw.
or be referred to as a super drive.

Hope this helps.