DVD/CD drive missing from Device Manager

[huddslad]

Hi When a DVD failed to play recently, I checked Device Manager and found that the entry for the DVD/CD drive had disappeared. I have spent hours trying to find a solution to the problem, but without success. I have now completed the online form to ask HP if they can send me a link to download whatever is needed, but have received an automated response suggesting that I try to get help from your forum. If anyone can help me to resolve this problem, it will be much appreciated. Many thanks.

[A4Apollo]

Hey there! @huddslad, Thanks for stopping by the HP Support Forums!

I understand CD/DVD drive is missing from device manager on your PC.

Don't worry I'll try to help you out.

Did you make any software or hardware changes to your PC?

As you mentioned the DVD drive is missing from device manager.

Try removing the optical drive from your laptop and reseat the drive back in securely and check if it is getting listed.

Please try the steps recommended below.

Unplug all non-essential external plug and play devices, especially cameras, and complete the following steps.
Click Start, and type "regedit" into the Start Search field.
The registry editor window appears.
Select Computer in the main window.
Click File, Export, type a filename that is easy for you to remember, and click Save.
A copy of the registry has saved for back-up purposes to the Documents folder. If problems occur after using these steps, browse to the file and double-click it to restore the registry.
Click the plus sign (+) next to the following items in the list:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
SYSTEM
CurrentControlSet
Control
Class
Select 4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318. Make sure you have selected this exact key name.
Select the LowerFilters value and press the Delete key. Confirm the deletion by clicking Yes.

Refer this article to further troubleshoot CD/DVD Drive Is Not Detected.

If the issue still persists after trying out the steps, it is a hardware issue with the optical drive.

Please contact HP support for service options.

Link to contact HP.

I'll watch your reply!

Take Care! 🙂

[huddslad]

MrRobot, many thanks for your help. I have followed the steps suggested, but there is no entry for LowerFilters on the registry page. FYI, I replaced my Vista laptop a couple of years ago, when a permanently flickering screen made it unusable. Before scrapping it, though, I thought I may as well click on something marked for advanced users only, which I believe was a debugging tool, and the flickering stopped! Since then, I have only used the machine as a backup, so cannot be certain when the DVD/CD drive failed. I only became aware of it a few weeks ago when I wanted to backup some files from my Windows 10 laptop. After switching on, I was prompted to update Java, and renew Avast, which I did. When I then realised that the DVD/CD drive was missing, I uninstalled the Java update. As the drive did not reappear, I attempted a system restore, but older restore points had been erased presumably because new automatic restore points had been added for the Java installs and uninstalls. In case it is significant, no devices are shown in the BIOS, which I reset to defaults. The article that you have provided a link to mentions checking the drive cables, but I would not be confident in attempting anything like that. As I wouldn't want to risk doing more harm than good, do you think I might be better simply accepting that the DVD/CD drive no longer functions, please?

[Jeet_singh]

Hi @huddslad,

Thank you for replying,

It looks like you were interacting with @A4Apollo, but he is out for the day & I'll be glad to help you out, 
I'm the Jeet_Singh & I'm at your service. 

As I understand you are finding it difficult to follow the steps suggested, I would personally suggest you contact our HP phone support so that they can remotely take the control of your PC and help you check the settings as well as guide you with the steps to remove the panel and reseat the cables. If you are still not comfortable, they can help you setup a service for your PC. 

HP Technical Support can be reached by clicking on the following link: http://h22207.www2.hp.com/us-en/?openCLC=true

(1) Once the support page opens please select the country in which you're located. Next, enter your HP model number on the right.

(2) Next, choose the 'Contact Support' tab at the top and scroll down to the bottom of the 'HP Support- Contact' page to fill out the form provided with your contact information.

(3) Once completed click the 'Show Options' icon on the bottom right.

(4) Lastly, scroll down to the bottom of the page and select 'Get the phone number.' A case number and phone number will now populate for you.

If you have any troubles, let me know and I will do my best to help!

Feel free to post your query for any other assistance as well,

It's been a pleasure interacting with you and I hope you have a good day ahead.

If you wish to show appreciation for my efforts, mark my post as Accepted Solution.

And click on the Purple Thumbs up icon at the bottom of my comment.

Regards,

[huddslad]

Hi

As my Vista laptop is now quite old and used only as a backup machine, I would have no wish to contact HP phone support to be talked through how to dismantle it.   I am quite content to accept that the DVD/CD drive is no longer functional should there be no straightforward way to recover it.

If a volunteer with good IT knowledge would kindly confirm that this is likely to be my best option, I should very much appreciate it.

Many thanks.

[Jeet_singh]

Hi @huddslad,

Thank you for replying,

I appreciate your time and efforts,

I would suggest you could try to turn off the computer and then try to turn on and boot the computer into the Bios F10 and check if the CD/DVD drive is detected or not. 

If the drive is not detected, If you are comfortable, you can try one last step to go ahead and reseat the CD/DVD drive and check

If still the Drive is not getting detected it is clearly indicates a hardware failure. You could go ahead and replace the drive.

I hope this helps. Let me know if you need any further assistance. I'll be more than happy to help.

Feel free to post your query for any other assistance as well,

It's been a pleasure interacting with you and I hope you have a good day ahead.

If you wish to show appreciation for my efforts, mark my post as Accepted Solution.

And click on the Purple Thumbs up icon at the bottom of my comment.

Regards,

[huddslad]

Hi

I have now found out how to reseat the DVD/CD drive and done so.

Unfortunately it has made no difference, so I will simply accept that the cause of the problem was the drive reaching the end of its working life.

Many thanks for your assistance.  

(Sorry for the bunched up text in my first two posts.  I was unable to format it as Rich Text editor was not working.)

[A4Apollo]

@huddslad, It's great to hear from you again.

I appreciate your efforts for trying out the steps.

As you mentioned the issue still persists after trying out the steps.

It certainly looks to be an issue with the optical drive or the connector on the laptop could be faulty. 

Please contact HP support for service options.

Link to contact HP.

Have a beautiful day ahead!

Take Care! 🙂