HP Envy laptop does not recognize external DVD drive

[Logor123]

Hello,

My HP Envy x360 laptop with a Windows 11 operating system does not recognize my Sawake (or 5Awake, I'm not sure) external ODD & HDD device. I tried connecting it by a USB port as well as by a USB-C port (it has a double-ended cable), but to no avail. The device itself recognizes that it has been plugged into a PC, since the light on it flashes, the button for opening it works (it doesn't when it's disconnected), and once I insert a CD, it makes noises suggesting that it's reading it, but my PC doesn't react to it. Under This PC, it shows nothing except C:/. The problem is not with the ports, because they recognize my USB flash memory sticks, and it's not with the external device either, because it works on my Dell PC with a Windows 10.

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @Logor123 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thank you for laying out the situation so clearly. It’s genuinely frustrating when a device behaves as if it’s working—lights flashing, discs spinning—yet remains invisible to the system. 

I’m really sorry you’re dealing with this, especially when everything else seems to be functioning as expected.

Let’s walk through a few steps that can help resolve this issue on your HP Envy x360 running Windows 11:

 

1. Check Device Manager for Recognition

Even if the drive doesn’t appear in File Explorer, it might be listed in Device Manager.

• Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
• Expand DVD/CD-ROM drives. If your external drive appears, right-click and choose Uninstall device, then restart your laptop and reconnect the drive.
• If it’s not listed, check under Universal Serial Bus controllers or Disk drives for any unknown or unrecognized devices.

 

2. Update or Reinstall USB Drivers

Windows may not be assigning the correct driver for the external DVD drive.

• Open Device Manager.
• Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
• Right-click each USB Root Hub and select Update driver.
• If that doesn’t help, uninstall the USB controllers and restart your laptop to let Windows reinstall them automatically.

 

3. Check AutoPlay Settings

Sometimes AutoPlay is disabled, preventing the system from reacting to inserted media.

• Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > AutoPlay.
• Ensure Use AutoPlay for all media and devices is turned on.
• Set the default action for Removable drive and Memory card to “Ask me every time” or “Open folder to view files.”

 

4. Run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

Though hidden in Windows 11, this tool can still be accessed.

• Press Win + R, type:
  msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic
  and press Enter.
• Follow the prompts to detect and fix hardware issues.

 

5. Review HP USB Compatibility and Power Settings

Some HP laptops restrict power delivery to external devices via USB-C or USB-A ports.

• Visit HP’s USB troubleshooting guide for steps to adjust power settings and verify port functionality.

I truly hope this helps restore functionality. Let me know how it goes or if you'd like to dig deeper into any of these steps.

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

[Logor123]

Hello,

Thank you for your thorough reply. However, by the time you posted it, three days after my query, I had already bought a brand new Verbatim DVD reader and thrown away the old one. I therefore do not know if your solution works or not.

Best wishes

[Hawks_Eye]

@Logor123 

You are Welcome!

Thank you for the update—and I completely understand the decision you made. 

It’s unfortunate the original issue couldn’t be resolved in time, but I’m glad to hear you’ve found a working solution with the Verbatim drive.

Wishing you uninterrupted performance from here on.

Regards,

Hawks_Eye