Inspiron 9300 Sony dvd dw-d56A drive - HELP ME

Ok let me start off saying I know just enough to be dangerous so if you post a repsonse please dumb it down for me to understand.

I want to burn a few dvd's. I've captured my video, made the stinkin movie and when I'm ready to insert my blank disc in the drive - nothing happens. It just makes all the spinning, clicking, chirping noises. It never shows up in my computer. The drive is there and it says that it's functioning properly but it doesn't show up. I've tried roxio, sonic and windows media center. Everything tells me that I don't have a drive. I'm running XP. I have an Inspiron 9300 and my dvd-rw drive is a sony dvd dw-d56A drive.

I've updated my firmware. I've checked to make sure the recording box is checked under properties. I'm at a loss and don't know what to do.

Please help me! We leave in two days for a 12 hour car ride with three small children. I need this dvd to work! They need something to watch!

Kristen