CD/DVD Drive Not Detected in Windows 11 (Not in Device Manager or Explorer)

Question

Hello,

I am seeking help with an issue where my internal CD/DVD drive is not being detected by Windows. Here is a detailed summary of the problem and the troubleshooting steps I have already taken:

The Problem: · The CD/DVD drive is not visible in File Explorer or Device Manager (even with "Show hidden devices" enabled).

· The drive is detected in the BIOS/UEFI settings, confirming it is not a physical hardware failure.

· When I insert a disc, the drive motor spins and the activity LED flickers, but no AutoPlay window appears.

System Information:

· OS: Windows 11, 64-bit

· Version: 24H2

Troubleshooting Steps Already Performed:

1. Registry Check: Verified that the UpperFilters and LowerFilters values do not exist in the following registry key (and did not create them as they were absent):     HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
2. Microsoft Support Guide: Followed methods from the official Microsoft support article, specifically:   

· Step 5: Fixing corrupted registry entries.   

· Step 6: Creating a new registry subkey.   

· Result: No change.

3. Hard Reset: Performed a full hardware reset by shutting down the laptop, unplugging the AC power adapter, and removing the battery for over 15 seconds.   

· Result: No change.

4. IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers: In Device Manager, I uninstalled the drivers under the "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers" section and restarted for them to reinstall.   

· Result: The controllers reinstalled, but the optical drive did not reappear.

5. Operating System Upgrade: The problem originally occurred on Windows 10. I upgraded to Windows 11 in an attempt to resolve it, but the issue persists.

This has proven to be a real brain-teaser, and I would be very grateful for any further suggestions.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Best regards, Rachid