Windows 7 not wanting to detect DVD/CD's

[Dreshanda]

This issue has been going on and off for a few weeks now, but my DVD drive refuses to read any sort of disk that I put in it. I have tried brand new disks also, but the drive still refuses to read them! It also doesn't say that I have a DVD drive when I open the My Computer folder, even when I have a disk in. I am not very skilled in the art of technology...therefore, I would prefer having all instructions idiot proof'd.

 

[logicearth]

There is a chance that your drive is broken, I had this happen to me once but finally got Dell to replace it.

 

[Tepid]

Just out of curiosity, do you have iTunes installed?

and can you try this? CD-DVD Error 31 or CD/DVD drives not showing in Explorer

 

[Hopalong X]

Your CD or DVD drive can't read or write media

Try this and let us know. Microsoft so it is safe.

On right side of page click the giant RUN NOW button.

Mike

 

[mikedl]

Just out of curiosity, do you have iTunes installed?

and can you try this? CD-DVD Error 31 or CD/DVD drives not showing in Explorer

The latest iTunes does not have that issue on Win 7. I used the aforementioned fix by Tepid when I was running XP but it is no longer necessary and iTunes is not the culprit it once was in such instances (as long as one is running the latest iTunes, that is).

 

[Tepid]

Ok,, thanks for the update, I may have to update that post. However, those keys can still be responsible for this type of issue and the MS fix also mentioned I do believe (fairly certain) does the same thing.

 

[mikedl]

You weren't wrong, Tepid. iTunes can be the culprit but not if one has the latest version installed.

 

[Dreshanda]

Just out of curiosity, do you have iTunes installed?

and can you try this? CD-DVD Error 31 or CD/DVD drives not showing in Explorer

I did have iTunes installed, but I ended up deleting it earlier. Now that I think about it, every time I deleted something on my computer from Apple, something bad happens.

 

[Dreshanda]

Your CD or DVD drive can't read or write media

Try this and let us know. Microsoft so it is safe.

On right side of page click the giant RUN NOW button.

Mike

I have tried it twice, and it didn't fix anything. The first time I let it automatically try to fix it, and the second time I did it "manually." After each time I rebooted my computer, just because.

 

[Dreshanda]

There is a chance that your drive is broken, I had this happen to me once but finally got Dell to replace it.

My friend, I do believe that you are right. I have seriously tried everything I could find that was safe and legal to try to fix it, and nothing works.

 

[Zidane24]

Try this

http://www.sevenforums.com/1017137-post2.html

 

[Tepid]

Zidane, no offense, but that info has been posted twice or 3 times on the first page.

*********
I agree, it is either a bad drive, bad cable, bad port, or have you checked that it is setup in the BIOS?
Check that the cable is plugged in proper, and maybe (if you can) move it to a different port on the board. But unplug the cable at both ends and plug back in. Also make sure no pins are bent, if there are any.
Also, just for giggles, can you try installing the latest chipset drivers for the mobo?
While I do doubt that this will work, it should not hurt either. And you never know.

If it is setup proper in the BIOS and you have tried the other fixes already listed and the chipset drivers do not help. Then it is one of the three things I mentioned above in this post.

 

[Zidane24]

Zidane, no offense, but that info has been posted twice or 3 times on the first page.

*********
I agree, it is either a bad drive, bad cable, bad port, or have you checked that it is setup in the BIOS?
Check that the cable is plugged in proper, and maybe (if you can) move it to a different port on the board. But unplug the cable at both ends and plug back in. Also make sure no pins are bent, if there are any.
Also, just for giggles, can you try installing the latest chipset drivers for the mobo?
While I do doubt that this will work, it should not hurt either. And you never know.

If it is setup proper in the BIOS and you have tried the other fixes already listed and the chipset drivers do not help. Then it is one of the three things I mentioned above in this post.

I see that LOL...sorry for re-posting information!

I agree with that you ask to do now AND if none of it pans out sans the bad drive part....
well....
it has to be a bad drive

I will ponder it a bit and maybe I or someone else gets a spark of genius LOL

 

[millerralf]

This worked for me. My Toshiba notebook would play recorded cds and dvds, but not see blank media or things I recorded. Now I have to try burning. I'll report back.

 

[millerralf]

It still won't read blank media,tells me I need to format. Using Maxell, Sony or Philips cds and dvds.

 

[millerralf]

Why can't this be solved? This is obviouly a problem for many people. I can't backup my system or burn anything. I have uninstalleded all third-party burning software. Now I'm going to uninstall iTunes again.

 

[Coram Daes]

Dreshanda: You hardware specs do not tell if you have a custom built pc or a branded one, but, I stumbled over a similar issue and in my case it was not related to W7 as such.
Turns out I set the SATA channels the DVD's are on in AHCI mode. In BIOS.
So if you have reviewed and altered any settings in the BIOS, there are many reasons for this, have a peek at that.