Sony DRU-710A & DVD XCOPY PLATINUM

Just purchased the Sony 16x and most of the time the software freezes on advanced or simple methods of reading the dvd. not the burn , the read. I used to have a Teac 8x and used TDK 4x DVD+r with no problems. When I installed Xcopy Platinum I had a problem with the software, 321 studios and I finally realized that after its installed it ran fine, then when it was updated, it failed. so they said run it without the updated version. So here I am, trying to update the hardware, using 16x Verbatim, and taking an hour to read and 45 minutes to record.... if it works. I have ordered an DVD+/-RW 16x+|NEC ND-3500A BK (CHEAP PRICES) to add to the brother hood of burners thinking Sony doesn't want us to burn movies since it has a vested interest in that area. I am running Windows XP , a gig of RAM, 2.8 GHZ.