This is all true, you cannot write to a pressed CD/DVD/BLUE RAY disk. But you can burn the heck out of them if you mess with the intensity pot for the laser!
I have worked on several original X-Boxes and to get them to work you sometimes have to up the laser power on the DVD drive. This is very tricky as you can actually damage a disk if you turn it up too high.
I know this most likely isn't your problem. If it were, you'd have a TON more fragged CDs and DVDs on your hands. But it is a thought...
