Are you sure it actually detects the dvd?
When a disc is inserted it opens the File Explorer screen, highlights the DVD drive and shows this message: "Drag files to this folder to add them to the disc." I routinely play movies with the same drive with VLC.
Maybe I'm just not explaining the problem adequately -- let me try again with some new detail:
The PC in question was upgraded from Win7 to Win10 Home in June 2016 -- no apparent problems related to the upgrade then or since. The DVD drive was not used much so it was some time before I realized the problem (not seeing files) and since it was several years old I assumed there was a problem with the drive and replaced it a few months ago. It wasn't long before I realized the problem persisted, and I have tried off/on to find a solution since.
When I load a CD or DVD containing pics or text and open File Explorer, then click on the DVD, there are no files listed ("0 items" in bottom tray). The message "Drag files to this folder to add them to the disc" is shown.
This same disk works fine in a Win7 PC and a Win10 laptop, files are accessible and properly displayed.
If I load a blank DVD, open File Explorer and click on DVD, then drag some files and burn them to that DVD, I get a message "You have successfully burned files to disc." If I then eject that disk and reload it into the PC, it does not see those files just burned moments before! However, as stated above,
that DVD works fine in a Win7 PC and a Win10 laptop.
It seems to me that there must be a problem with the DVD drive -- but Device Manager says it is working properly, and the driver is up to date.