Optical drives not seen in device manager

[JClark]

Hello Group:
Asus A8N-SLI, AMD 64
Windows XP Pro SP2 all updates. No viruses on scan.

My optical drives (CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-RW) suddenly quit showing up in
Windows explorer. In Device manager they were seen but had big yellow
question marks. As advised on several websites, I deleted the registry
key for upper filters value

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class
{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

(not so easy to do -- In case anyone else has to do it, I had to use
regedit32.exe instead of regedit and change permissions to permit the
delete). Then I reinstalled the chipset drivers (NVidia).

Deleting that key worked -- as far as getting back the drive letters
in Windows explorer and MyComputer, but now they don't show up at all
in Device Manager.
The drives seem to be working fine, but I'm a little concerned about
not seeing them in Device Manager, in case I wanted to update the
drivers, etc.
Any solution?
Many thanks.

Jack

 

[Brian A.]

Does it show in?
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Enum\IDE

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[JClark]

Does it show in?
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Enum\IDE

Hello Brian.
Yes, both CDR and CDRW show up and the DVDR shows up twice.
I appreciate your help!

Jack

 

[JClark]

Hello Group:
Asus A8N-SLI, AMD 64
Windows XP Pro SP2 all updates. No viruses on scan.

My optical drives (CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-RW) suddenly quit showing up in
Windows explorer. In Device manager they were seen but had big yellow
question marks. As advised on several websites, I deleted the registry
key for upper filters value

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class
{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

(not so easy to do -- In case anyone else has to do it, I had to use
regedit32.exe instead of regedit and change permissions to permit the
delete). Then I reinstalled the chipset drivers (NVidia).

Deleting that key worked -- as far as getting back the drive letters
in Windows explorer and MyComputer, but now they don't show up at all
in Device Manager.
The drives seem to be working fine, but I'm a little concerned about
not seeing them in Device Manager, in case I wanted to update the
drivers, etc.
Any solution?
Many thanks.

Jack Correction:
(not so easy to do -- In case anyone else has to do it, I had to use
regedit32.exe instead of regedit and change permissions to permit the
delete).

Should be regedt32.exe and not regedit32.exe. Sorry
Jack

 

[Brian A.]

Get the latest updated drivers for the device/s from the manufacturers support
site.
Boot to Safe Mode and remove any/all devices in Device Manager listed as
DVD/CD-ROM drives.
Delete the contents of the folders:

c:\documents and settings\your user name folder\local settings\temp

c:\windows\prefetch

c:\windows\temp



Reboot and Winodws will redetect/reinstall the device drivers. If possible stop
the devices from being installed automatically, select to install the drivers
from a specified location and use the browse button in the hardware wizard to
point to the directory that you have the drivers.



This may be old hat and you never mentioned any error messages, yet if not
then it may help:

CD-ROM access is missing and messages cite error code 31, code 32, code 19, code
39, or code 41 after you remove Easy CD Creator in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q314060

CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive appears to be missing after you install Windows XP
or Windows Vista Beta 2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320553/en-us



--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[JClark]

Get the latest updated drivers for the device/s from the manufacturers support
site.
Boot to Safe Mode and remove any/all devices in Device Manager listed as
DVD/CD-ROM drives.
Delete the contents of the folders:

c:\documents and settings\your user name folder\local settings\temp

c:\windows\prefetch

c:\windows\temp



Reboot and Winodws will redetect/reinstall the device drivers. If possible stop
the devices from being installed automatically, select to install the drivers
from a specified location and use the browse button in the hardware wizard to
point to the directory that you have the drivers.



This may be old hat and you never mentioned any error messages, yet if not
then it may help:

CD-ROM access is missing and messages cite error code 31, code 32, code 19, code
39, or code 41 after you remove Easy CD Creator in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q314060

CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive appears to be missing after you install Windows XP
or Windows Vista Beta 2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320553/en-us

Many thanks, Brian! I've been waiting anxiously for your reply. I'll
follow your nice instructions (probably this weekend) and report back
the results.
Jack

 

[JClark]

Get the latest updated drivers for the device/s from the manufacturers support
site.
Boot to Safe Mode and remove any/all devices in Device Manager listed as
DVD/CD-ROM drives.
Delete the contents of the folders:

c:\documents and settings\your user name folder\local settings\temp

c:\windows\prefetch

c:\windows\temp



Reboot and Winodws will redetect/reinstall the device drivers. If possible stop
the devices from being installed automatically, select to install the drivers
from a specified location and use the browse button in the hardware wizard to
point to the directory that you have the drivers.



This may be old hat and you never mentioned any error messages, yet if not
then it may help:

CD-ROM access is missing and messages cite error code 31, code 32, code 19, code
39, or code 41 after you remove Easy CD Creator in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q314060

CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive appears to be missing after you install Windows XP
or Windows Vista Beta 2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320553/en-us

Hello Brian,
This is a bit mystifying. I copied your note and reviewed the
references and started out to make the recommended deletions. But I
checked Device Manager again before starting and Lo and Behold, my CD
and DVD drives are now listed! They suddenly appeared as suddenly as
they had disappeared.
So now that it doesn't seem "broke" I guess there's no point in trying
to fix it. I'll observe and be thankful. I have carefully saved your
advice against possible future need.
Many thanks again.

Jack

 

[Brian A.]

Glad to hear it Jack. As you mentioned, no need to continue to fix what isn't
broke, good luck and have fun.

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375