My DVD RW drive(E) doesn't recognize or read any disc inserted.

Hi,

Stage 1 : Please do all the below even if you have done some before as it is often the total

process which solves the issue.

Try this - Control Panel - Device Manager - CD/DVD - double click the device - Driver's Tab -

click Update Drivers (this will likely do nothing) - then RIGHT CLICK the drive - UNINSTALL -

REBOOT this will refresh the default driver stack. Even if drive is not shown continuebelow.

Then work your way through these - remember the drive could be bad, could have a loose

cable or slight corrosion on the contacts (usually for a laptop) and other issues.

Your CD drive or DVD drive is missing or is not recognized by Windows or other programs

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060 - a Mr Fixit

Manually try this fix if the 314060 Fixit did not work

http://www.pchell.com/hardware/cd_drive_error_code_39.shtml

Your CD drive or DVD drive is missing or is not recognized by Windows or other programs -

a Mr Fixit

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/982116

The CD drive or the DVD drive does not work as expected on a computer that you upgraded

to Windows Vista

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929461

When you insert a CD or a DVD, Windows Vista may not recognize the disc

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/939052

Your CD or DVD drive cannot read or write media - A Mr Fixit

http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cd\_dvd\_drive\_problems

CD/DVD drive does not appear in Windows Vista, or you receive this error during Windows

Vista setup after booting from the DVD (AHCI)

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/952951

CD-R drive or CD-RW drive is not recognized as a recordable device

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316529/

Hardware devices not detected or not working - A Mr Fixit

http://support.microsoft.com/gp/hardware\_device\_problems

Another possibility is that the cables are loose. Remove ALL power, then check cables in both

ends. Remove and replace, do not just snug. For laptops you can often clean the power and

data contacts with a pencil eraser.

Some DVD drives do not use the Windows default drivers so check with the System maker and

device maker to see if there is firmware or drivers for your drive if needed.

===============================

Stage 2 : You could have drive issues as the CD/DVD is actually 4 drives in 1 case ( CD & DVD

burn and CD and DVD read). So it is not unusual for 1 or 2 parts to not function while the others

do so properly.

Did you complete the troubleshooter for the drive that still does not work? There are some

registry entries that the troubleshooter does not fix and those "might" be the cause.

Check with your System Maker and Device maker for both possible firmware updates and

the correct Registry entries for your drive.

These are the keys I think are the ones in question - for the CD/DVD drive sub-keys of course

as there will other sub-keys in these keys. Be sure to ask for specific keys involved as well as

the settings.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\IDE

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Hardware Profiles\0001\System\CurrentControlSet\Enum\IDE

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

You probably can find more info here and maybe even the exact registry settings for your CD/DVD

drive from someone with the same model.

Forums - a lot of real expert help

http://club.myce.com/

CD/DVD units

http://www.myce.com/storage/

Use DevManView to locate CD/DVD in registry (be careful and make a Restore Point before

changing anything) - find the device in DevManView and then Right Click on it Open in RegEdit.

DevManView - Free - an alternative to the standard Device Manager of Windows, which displays all

devices and their properties in flat table, instead of tree viewer

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/device\_manager\_view.html

Hope this helps.