cd/dvd drives show exclamation mark next to them (fix inside)

bledd · 30 Sep 2006 at 16:24

this guy gave me his pc to cleanup, one problem was couldn't see the dvd/cd drives -they had exclamation marks in device manager and it was complaining that it couldn't find them

spent about 15 mins trying different ide cables and drives
this is what fixed it

hp site
go to device manager, click uninstall on the cd drives
#
Click Start, Run, and type the following into the Open field: regedit
#
Click OK. The registry editor appears.
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In Windows XP, click File, Export, type a filename that is easy for you to remember, and click Save.
In Windows 2000, click Registry, Export Registry File, type a filename that's easy for you to remember, and click Save.
A copy of the registry has saved for back-up purposes.
#
Click the plus sign ( +) next to the following items in the list:

* HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
* SYSTEM
* CurrentControlSet (or the current control set with lowest number if that is all that is listed)
* Control
* Class

#
Select 4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318.
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Select UpperFilter in the right window and press the Delete key.
Confirm the deletion by clicking Yes.
#
Select LowerFilters in the right window and press the Delete key.
Confirm the deletion by clicking Yes.

go back to device manager, and click scan for hardware changes, and they'll show up

michellez · 30 Sep 2006 at 22:16

itunes is good at causing this.

had some p2p sw like limewire/napster cause it too.

it's them messing up when trying to install their cd writing features :/

edit: deleting just upper filters does it when it's itunes that has caused it. otherwise you might find your self deleting lower filters too (and having some cd writing softare not working till you reinstall it (as long as it wasnt the reason lol)).

bledd · 30 Sep 2006 at 22:44

when i saw the fix i was thinking, what the hell, this won't work :rolleyes:

iMacMart · 1 Oct 2006 at 12:05

I had the same issue after a few reboots once I installed Vista, found the same fix and thought??? No chance, but I was wrong and it worked a charm

bledd · 1 Oct 2006 at 12:07

this problem is pretty retarded if you ask me

Supercow · 27 Dec 2006 at 13:47

Think this needs a bump, since more and more people will be installing Vista, maybe add to a sticky somewhere?

bledd · 27 Dec 2006 at 13:48

its not just vista

xp does it too (and probably 2k)

Phil99 · 27 Dec 2006 at 14:50

I had a problem like that on a newly built pc about a year ago using MCE2005. I think the fix was the same, and it seemed to be caused by corrupt RAM in my case.

Supercow · 27 Dec 2006 at 17:44

Just got home and done your workaround, and works a treat, thanks a bunch dude!

neminator · 18 Feb 2007 at 21:38

Already said thanks in the other thread, but this one needs bumping.

bledd · 29 Mar 2007 at 17:22

casual bump as i just needed to use this again on someone else's pc!

mightynimrod · 5 May 2007 at 16:21

Does this work in vista thats not been installed over the top of XP?

In device manager it just doesn't show up the drive at all once it's vanished.

If i reboot a couple of times it comes back (sometimes)

jbloggs · 5 May 2007 at 16:35

There is an article on the Microsoft website that deals with This issue, it does not state that it refers to any particular OS, so it probably would work in Vista.

Also see Here

barnettgs · 21 Jul 2007 at 17:39

bledd. said:
this problem is pretty retarded if you ask me

Agreed, this is getting beyond the joke...so much for the centralising! (registry) :rolleyes:

Ross1234 · 21 Jul 2007 at 17:48

Would this sort the fact that my memory card reader dissapears completely from my device manager?

bledd · 21 Jul 2007 at 19:10

nope, that's probably due to a bad usb lead at a guess

this fix is only for cd/dvd drives

Ross1234 · 21 Jul 2007 at 19:37

I know its not a bad USB lead its a driver issue I think. It only appears if I plug the USB lead in to the motherboard while the computer is on

arcam_boy · 30 Jul 2007 at 20:34

I've been searching for ages to get itunes working on my PC thanks very much for the info