Mac doesn't detect CD-ROM properly

I have a CD-ROM 700 MB, 80 Minute Recordable Disc that I want to burn a video on, and with some help I've found Burn and DVDStyler. However, both do not recognise my CD-R. When I enter the CD-ROM, a menu pops up asking me what I want to do, and if I select "Open with finder", nothing happens. The drive stops sounding busy after some time. Finder only recognises my external remote disc drive, and the info is suspiciously empty. Disc Utility, on the other hand, does seem to identify the CD-ROM correctly as HL-DT-ST DVDRW GX40N Media, but it is uninitialised and unwritable. Is there anything I can do in order to get Burn or DVDStyler to recognise my CD-ROM and burn data on it?