I recognize this may sound like a simplistic question but I can't seem to figure out how to format a CD-RW for use as a writable and eraseable storage media.

I own a laptop (Microsoft XP pro O/S) with a Toshiba SD-R2102 CD writable/DVD-readable internal drive. I've succeeded in burning numerous CDRs (data, music, VCDs and SVCDs) with each of my two authoring programs: Nero 6.0.0.23 and Alcohol 120%. As such I know it's not the drive that's the problem.

I've even tried to employ the Roxio Easy CD Creator Basic that came with the laptop but to no avail. Each time I upgrade from the OEM Roxio Basic to the Starter Kit to 5.3.5 version as posted on Roxio's website my Nero program is rendered useless and I'm still unable to format a CDRW. (I then have to run a System Restore to restore the status quo ante)

I've gone through about 5 CDRWs already, 2 Fuji CDRW (1X-4X) and three Sony CDRWs (4x-10X), but have not succeeded in formating a CDRW. I get to the final stage with Roxio-- the porgram indicates it's "preparing/closing disk for writing/re-writing/erasing etc." and then I receive an error. Needless to say to disk is unusable afterward.

What am I doing wrong?