Format/Initialist new DVD disk?

I have just acquired an old Sony RDR-GX210 from a friend and am trying to format a new DVD RW disk 4x speed. When the disk is inserted, it asks if I want to format, I say yes, but then it says initialisation failed and ejects the disk. I can't access the menu for 'disk information' to do anything more. Can anyone help with this problem? I don't know if this is relevant, but I can play normal pre-recorded DVDs but not disks recorded on another DVD. Many thanks. Lorna