dvd drive not shown in Disk Management, but works

[Hans L]

Hello:

I have Windows 7 Ultimate, 64-bit.

I do not know when my dvd/cd drive disappeared, but it has. It is not shown in Disk Management. However, it works insofar as that I can boot from it with a boot disk. I cannot run disks in it.

Disk Manager shows drives C-H (SSD), J (ext), L (ext) and Z (mapped drive of other computer), but not my DVD/CD drive.

What can I do to get the DVD/CD (optical) disk to show? (I seem to remember , way back, that you had to make sure drive letters were activated. Don't know how these days; have looked!)

Thanks in advance.

Hans L

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Try this,
Open the Playing and Burning CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray Discs troubleshooter

When referring to disk management it would be nice to see it
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html

 

[Hans L]

FixIt could not discover the DVD/CD device. Attached is my Computer Management screenshot.

Hans L

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
What does device manager show ?

 

[Hans L]

Hi,
What does device manager show ?

This is what it shows (attachment).

Hans L

 

[ThrashZone]

Dang
See if this one does anything
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/mats/cd_dvd_drive_problems

 

[Hans L]

Dang
See if this one does anything
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/mats/cd_dvd_drive_problems

Unfortunately, did no more than the one without the "RNP in the file name.

Strange, because I can boot from the darn drive. It is there. Anything in the boot program? (Can't remember the correct name for it, therefore "Boot Program :-(

Hans L

 

[ThrashZone]

Well the only thing I can think of is to shut down and disconnect it from power and restart
Then repeat connecting it again :/

 

[Hans L]

Well the only thing I can think of is to shut down and disconnect it from power and restart
Then repeat connecting it again :/

I will certainly do that. Thanks for your patience with this issue.

I will report back (tomorrow).

Regards,

Hans L

 

[ThrashZone]

Just for the record mine on 3 machines shows the cd drive as D: so you're using that drive letter for something else :/

 

[Layback Bear]

I would recommend using the "D" drive letter only for a DVD/CD player.

My rule of the thumb is don't use A, B, or D. Let Windows 7 decide what to do with them.

 

[Hans L]

I would recommend using the "D" drive letter only for a DVD/CD player.

My rule of the thumb is don't use A, B, or D. Let Windows 7 decide what to do with them.

I have changed the drive letter for the drive on D to K. Now, I will restart, and see if something good happens.

 

[ThrashZone]

Dang
See if this one does anything
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/mats/cd_dvd_drive_problems

Well the only thing I can think of is to shut down and disconnect it from power and restart
Then repeat connecting it again :/

If nothing happens try these again

 

[Hans L]

Dang
See if this one does anything
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/mats/cd_dvd_drive_problems

Well the only thing I can think of is to shut down and disconnect it from power and restart
Then repeat connecting it again :/

If nothing happens try these again

No cigar. Thanks, anyway. Don't know what might be wrong. Will have to try in January ... runing out of time.

Regards,

Hans L

 

[DavidE]

The DVD drive works before Windows starts, but not after Windows is running, right ?
It might be a DVD drive firmware problem, BIOS version problem, MB chipset driver problem, Registry problem, etc.

You can google for dvd drive not recognized windows 7 and find others have this problem.
Here is one thread you can look through:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...7/12830a8a-6118-4ab9-bce6-30adfa8f9dea?page=1

I would run a System File Check to make sure there are no errors:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

 

[ComputerGeek]

If the info might be helpful, here's my best guess (and reasons why):

You boot into BIOS
BIOS detects the hardware and you can boot from the drive while in BIOS. As you said, that tells us the drive is there and working

Machine next boots into Windows
The first step in PnP protocol is device detection

• Devices detected and recognized appear in Device Manager. IMO the best place to start when you have missing devices is Device Manager. If the device isn't in Device Manager, it will never appear anywhere else like the "higher" functional levels (like Disk Management, File Explorer or My Computer)
• Your DVD isn't in device manager (nor are any "Other devices" listed - where a device might also appear if device detected but no driver found) which IMO points to a Windows PnP device detection problem. (Drive letter issues apply to Disk Management so wouldn't be relevant in this case since you never make it to Device Management)

Device detection is handled between the bus controller and the device (your DVD drive in this case) and the PnP bus that connect them.
> Make sure you have the latest chipset drivers installed
> Even if installed, reinstall them
> Check for updated BIOS for you m/b

/* EDIT */
p.s. The shut down, disconnect all power a few hours, reconnect (as some one else already mentioned) is also worth a try. It can reset a controller

/* EDIT2 */
And as also referred to by someone earlier in a thread they provided: a firmware update on the drive may help too (if one exists). But easier said then done when it doesn't connect. Which is why i'd try other things first