UPDATE your CD-RW "Firmware" often!!

[kjzone]

I use only Plextor and Yamaha CD-RW's. These companies are
very good about Firmware Updates that address Reading and
Writing Problems and have Supported the reading and writing of
CD+G's for some time. However few companies support the
direct Playing of CD+G anymore. That's why I keep around my old
HP 8210e (with Firmware 1.0f) for Playing.

The procedure for Updating Firmware between Plextor and Yamaha is quite different. Yahama requires that you go in and
disable DMA and AUTO-INSERT, before installing the Firmware Update. Plextor on the otherhand has no such requirement, just run the Updated Firmware.