DVD drive not working

[whwiechm]

My computer seems to have hit a serious problem. Windows said it needed to completely reinstall windows and i would need to install any additional software I had added after purchase. After doing all this, I found my DVD drive was not recognized. Device Manager had this error message

Windows cannot verify the digital signature for the drivers required for this device. A recent hardware or software change might have installed a file that is signed incorrectly or damaged, or that might be malicious software from an unknown source. (Code 52)

How can I resolve this?

[Deep_World]

Hi 

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

Sorry for the inconvenience caused don’t worry let me help you.

This typically occurs when:

1. The driver is unsigned, corrupted, or incompatible.
2. A recent Windows update or reinstall caused driver signature enforcement to block the device.

Recommended Steps to Resolve

1. Run HP/Windows Updates
   • Go to Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update → Check for updates.
   • Install any HP-specific drivers offered by Windows Update.
2. Reinstall the DVD Drive in Device Manager
   • Open Device Manager → DVD/CD-ROM drives → Right-click → Uninstall device.
   • Restart your PC — Windows should automatically reinstall the driver.
3. Check Driver Signature Enforcement
   • Temporarily disable driver signature enforcement (advanced users):
     1. Press Shift + Restart → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart.
     2. Press 7 to disable driver signature enforcement.
     3. Reinstall the DVD drive driver.
   • Note: This is temporary; driver signature enforcement will re-enable after a reboot.
4. HP Support Assistant / HP Drivers
   • Download the latest DVD/CD driver for your HP model from HP Support → Software & Drivers.
   • Install the driver manually if Windows doesn’t recognize the drive automatically.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 

Best regards,

Deep_World

[whwiechm]

I did step one and tried step two, but that did not work. Step three worked but ass you said, it was only temporary. Do you have any suggestions for a permanent solution?

[Deep_World]

Hi @whwiechm,

Thanks for your response . 

Since disabling Driver Signature Enforcement works temporarily, the issue is almost certainly being caused by a conflicting driver that reloads every time Windows starts

1.Update Chipset & Storage Drivers (Critical)

Windows reinstalls often miss these.

1. Go to HP Support – Software & Drivers
2. Enter your exact HP model number
3. Download and install:
   • Chipset driver
   • Intel/AMD SATA or Storage Controller driver
4. Restart

Unsigned storage drivers commonly cause DVD signature errors.

2. Check Secure Boot (If Using UEFI)

If Secure Boot is enabled, Windows will block unsigned legacy drivers.

1. Restart the PC
2. Press Esc repeatedly → F10 (BIOS Setup)
3. Go to System Configuration → Boot Options
4. Temporarily:
   • Disable Secure Boot
   • Enable Legacy Support (if available)
5. Save and exit

After confirming the DVD drive works, Secure Boot can usually be re-enabled.

3. Remove Conflicting Software

Some older programs install unsigned CD/DVD filter drivers.

Uninstall if present:

• Old DVD burning software

Then restart.

4. BIOS Update (If Still Failing)

If the drive still shows Code 52:

1. Go to HP Support → BIOS & Firmware
2. Install the latest BIOS for your model
3. Restart and recheck Device Manager

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 

Best regards,

Deep_World

[whwiechm]

Sorry to have to ask, but what is UEFI?

[whwiechm]

On step one, I did the chipset driver, but there was no intel/amd sata or storage controller driver, but i did go to driver storage. There were three drivers there, two successfully installed but one installation failed repeatedly. That was SP74763, Management Engine Components. Continuing to step 2, I restarted and pressed ESC repeatedly, but it still came up normally. I also tried pressing F10 repeatedly with the same result. I continued to step 4 an updated the BIOS software. then checked Device Manager, but the DVD drive was still not functioning.

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @whwiechm 

We sincerely thank you for your patience and co-operation during this troubleshooting process.

I understand how discouraging it feels to still see the DVD drive disabled after reinstalling Windows, updating drivers, and even flashing the BIOS. You’ve already put in a lot of effort, and I appreciate the persistence—it helps narrow down what’s left to try. Let’s go step by step to isolate the cause and aim for a permanent fix.

Clarifying UEFI

UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) is the modern replacement for the traditional BIOS. It controls how your system starts up and enforces security features like Secure Boot. On HP laptops, you usually reach it by pressing Esc immediately at startup, then selecting F10 for Setup. If pressing Esc/F10 still boots straight into Windows, it may mean Fast Boot is enabled or the timing is too quick—try holding Esc as soon as you power on.

Next Steps to Resolve Code 52 Permanently

Re‑install Storage Drivers Manually

• Since the Management Engine Components package (SP74763) failed, that may be blocking proper driver signature validation.
• Download the latest Intel Management Engine and SATA/Storage Controller drivers for your exact model from HP’s driver page:
  HP Software and Driver Downloads
• If the installer fails, extract the package with 7‑Zip, then in Device Manager → right‑click the controller → Update driver → Browse my computer → point to the extracted folder.

Remove UpperFilters and LowerFilters (without registry edits)

• Some DVD burning software installs filter drivers that cause Code 52.
• In Device Manager, right‑click the DVD drive → Properties → Driver Details.
• If you see extra filter drivers listed (other than cdrom.sys), uninstall the associated software from Apps & Features.

Test with Windows Generic Driver

• In Device Manager, right‑click the DVD drive → Update driver → Browse my computer → Let me pick from a list.
• Select CD-ROM Drive (Microsoft driver).
• This bypasses unsigned vendor drivers and uses Windows’ built‑in support.

Secure Boot Adjustment

• If you can reach BIOS Setup (Esc → F10), under System Configuration > Boot Options, temporarily disable Secure Boot and enable Legacy Support.
• Save changes, reboot, and check if the DVD drive initializes correctly.
• Once confirmed, you can re‑enable Secure Boot.

Windows Update Catalog

• Visit Microsoft Update Catalog.
• Search for “DVD/CD-ROM Windows 10 driver” or “HP DVD drive Windows 10”.
• Download the .cab file, extract it, and install via Device Manager → Update driver → point to the extracted folder.

 

Since disabling Driver Signature Enforcement worked temporarily, the root cause is almost certainly an unsigned or missing storage driver. Installing the chipset, storage controller, and Management Engine drivers manually (via extraction if needed) is the most reliable path forward. Using the generic Microsoft CD-ROM driver is also a safe fallback if vendor drivers refuse to load.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[whwiechm]

Happy New Year. In your instructions, under Remove Upper Filters, I found a second filter driver. When I removed that app, the DVD drive seems to be working now. To me this is strange because I have been using this app for many years and now it has started giving me trouble. The app is ANYDVD.  Any final thoughts?

[Hawks_Eye · Accepted solution]

Hi @whwiechm 

Wish you the same!!

Thank you for the update, and I’m glad to hear the DVD drive is working again after removing the filter driver. That persistence really paid off.

It may feel surprising that software you’ve used for years suddenly started interfering, but here’s why this can happen:

 

Why older apps can suddenly cause Code 52

• Driver signing enforcement: Modern versions of Windows enforce stricter rules on driver signatures. An older filter driver that was tolerated before may now be blocked.
• Compatibility shifts: After a full Windows reinstall or major update, legacy drivers can conflict with newer storage or security components.
• Filter driver behavior: Programs like AnyDVD install low‑level filter drivers to intercept disc activity. If those drivers aren’t updated to match current Windows builds, they can trigger signature errors and disable the device.

 

Best practices going forward

• Use updated software: If you rely on disc utilities, check the developer’s site for the latest version that supports your Windows build.
• Stick with native drivers: For basic DVD/CD reading and writing, Windows’ built‑in driver (cdrom.sys) is usually the most stable option.
• Avoid multiple disc utilities: Running more than one can stack filter drivers, increasing the chance of conflicts.
• Keep chipset/storage drivers current: These underpin how Windows communicates with the drive, so keeping them updated helps prevent recurrence.

 

Final thought

Your troubleshooting shows the issue wasn’t the hardware—it was the filter driver. Removing or updating such software is often the permanent fix. If you still need disc‑related features, I’d recommend reinstalling only the latest, Windows‑signed version of the app, or using Windows’ built‑in tools for reliability.

Regards,

Hawks_Eye