Extra CD drive showing but does not exist.

[Guest]

I'm showing two CD drives under 'My Computer' when in fact only one is
installed.
Double clicking on the one that doesn't exist gets me the 'Insert disk'
window.
Properties/Hardware only shows the one that exists and NOT the phantom.
The CD/DVD drive that actually exists is working fine.

How can I remove the non-existing drive from 'My Computer'?

PS There are no 'Alcohol 120%' installs or artifacts on this lady's new
machine.

 

[smlunatick]

I'm showing two CD drives under 'My Computer' when in fact only one is
installed.
Double clicking on the one that doesn't exist gets me the 'Insert disk'
window.
Properties/Hardware only shows the one that exists and NOT the phantom.
The CD/DVD drive that actually exists is working fine.

How can I remove the non-existing drive from 'My Computer'?

PS There are no 'Alcohol 120%' installs or artifacts on this lady's new
machine.

Do you have Nero installed? Nero can also install a "virtual" CD
drive.

Do you have any U3 compatible USB flash drives? U3 system works like
a CD.

 

[glee]

Click Start>Run, type: cmd
Click OK

At a command prompt, type the following command , and press ENTER:

set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1

Still at the command prompt, type the following command, and press ENTER:

start devmgmt.msc

When Device Manager opens, click View> Show hidden devices.

Remove any entries that exist for the phantom CD drive under the DVD/CD-ROM Drives
category.

Close Device Manager and reboot.

Does that help?

 

[Guest]

Thanks glee,
followed your instructions and the phantom is gone.

 

[glee]

YW!

 

[Scotty Snelson]

Cool! It worked to get rid of 4 phantom USB drives too.