Windows unable to complete format

First of all, the drive on my laptop is DVD RW drive. I can use a CD RW disk in it, can't I?

I put a new CD RW disk in and a window popped up asking me if I wanted to format and giving me two options. I didn't think I had to format a new disk. Anyway, I chose the option that allows me to add/delete and make changes to the disk. That confused me because I thought I was supposed to be able to do that anyway with a CD RW. At the end, it said Windows was unable to complete the format. So then I erased the disk and I right clicked on it and selected format again. Again, unable to complete.

In Disk Management it shows as 577 MB RAW. I know this has to be NFTS, but how do I convert it.

To be honest I'm so totally lost. I thought this CD was ready to use and here I am running into all these problem.

CountMike said:

You shouldn't have to format RW (ReWritable) disk before use, just burn it and it will format as it should be.

Yes, I finally just put the disk in, selected the second option when that window popped up and it worked right away. Don't know why that darned window pops up asking you to format and giving you the two options. Oh, well ... Anyway, I know what to do now. Thanks for answering.