Phantom CD drive stays

Question

I have a phantom CD drive that shows up on my explorer drive list NO MATTER WHAT I have done! I edited the registry. I have used a command prompt "drivecleanup.exe" utility, and a few other items. Windows storage management does not show it, nor does a Belarc Advisor scan, yet it shows in the explorer list here, and the drive letter is locked up so that I cannot use it for another drive.

Answer 1

It may be another program such as WinArchiver as in the following topic:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

Does the drive show up in the Device Manager?

Answer 2

No I haven't installed like that.

Answer 3

Thanks for the reply. I have done all of those things, but to no avail...it has the drive letter locked up. I'm hoping maybe an update will help. Thanks again!

Answer 4

Hi,

Did you ever install a virtual CD software such as MagicDisc?

If so uninstall that program.

Answer 5

This is only a problem for File Explorer. For that reason, anything you do to remove the drive won't work - because it's not there to begin with. You have to provide File Explorer with an opportunity to let go of that drive letter.

Sometimes restarting is all you need to do. Or starting in Safe Mode. Or 'ejecting' the drive. Or undoing auto play. Anything that doesn't actually change anything but gives File Explorer the chance to refresh itself. Sometimes a Windows Update will take care of it.

No harm is being done - it just looks ridiculous and you can't use that drive letter.