DVD drive disappeared and can't uninstall

[Grant DVDless]

My DVD drive has disappeared several times. The first time I resolved it by
deleting Upper and LowerFilter registry keys (per Microsoft support article
314060 http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/314060).

This time the Upper and LowerFilter registry keys are no longer there. I
still cannot see the drive in Device Manager so I can't uninstall the drive.
The drive lights up and I hear the disk spinning, so it doesn't seem to be a
power issue. The last time I had this problem it resolved itself after
several reboots. This time I'm out of luck. I've spent hours trying to
resolve it and I'm desperate - any help much appreciated.

 

[Bob I]

Does it actually appear in the BIOS and POST info? If not, you may have
a failed drive but double check the data cable connections, reseat if
necessary.

 

[Grant DVDless]

I had to do some digging to find out how to check BIOS info. I checked under
Accessories --> System Tools --> System Information. The first time the
CD-ROM Component info was blank. I checked again a few hours later and it was
populated (and now the drive is working again) - I didn't reboot, the only
thing I did was to open the drive and close it again.

Does this suggest a loose connection? I have a laptop - is there any way I
can check the connection or do I just have to junk the laptop?

Thanks so much for your help.

 

[Bob I]

I'd say that you do have some kind of hardware connection issue. Maybe
remove the DVD from the slot in the laptop and plug it back in?

 

[smlunatick]

I had to do some digging to find out how to check BIOS info. I checked under
Accessories --> System Tools --> System Information.  The first time the
CD-ROM Component info was blank. I checked again a few hours later and it was
populated (and now the drive is working again) - I didn't reboot, the only
thing I did was to open the drive and close it again.

Does this suggest a loose connection? I have a laptop - is there any way I
can check the connection or do I just have to junk the laptop?

Thanks so much for your help.






- Show quoted text -

Accessing the BIOS is usually done during the BOOT UP sequence before
Windows starts up. You must access the BIOS before XP starts and
check to see if this DVD shows up in the listed drives.