The error is most likely caused by a problematic driver. If the problem started just after the Windows update, then the issue might be the new driver. On the other hand, if the problem began without any changes in the computer, then the drivers might be corrupted or outdated. There is a slight chance that the issue is caused by a hardware problem as well. So, don’t rule that out. Here is a list of methods that will help you solve the issue.
Here are some tips.
Method 1: Delete the UpperFilters and LowerFilters entries from the registry.
There are a few registry values that you can change to fix this issue. This solution is complicated, and since you are going to make some changes to a sensitive part of your system, it is better to first create a backup and have a way to return to your current state if things go wrong. Back up the registry. Here’s how you can create a backup of your System Registry:”. If you have made a mistake and wish to recover an existing registry backup, you can easily do so by following these steps:
Open the Run dialog box by pressing the Windows key and R.Type “regedit” in the box, and press Enter or click “OK.In the registry editor, click on the File from the toolbar, and then click.Go to the location where you have stored the backup file, left-click the file, and then click ‘Open,’ or simply double-click the file.
Delete the UpperFilters and LowerFilters strings. Now that you know how to back up and recover files, and hopefully you have created a backup of the aforementioned file, let’s proceed to make the changes and fix the original issue.
If you cannot see the UpperFilters and LowerFilters, then you will have to create the strings. Here’s how:
Restart your computer and recheck the error; hopefully, your DVD drive has reappeared. Note: The filters are, in most cases, the cause of the CD/DVD drive letter disappearing from Windows Explorer, which is why this is the most popular fix. If you are not confident about fiddling around with your computer’s registry, simply download this .zip file, run the .reg file inside, and it will delete the entries for you.
Method 2: Use a Microsoft Fix-it Tool.
Download the Microsoft Fix It tool, designed to troubleshoot issues pertaining to CD and DVD drives. For computers running Windows XP, Vista, or 7, this Fix It can be found here. For computers running Windows 8 or 8.1, this Fix It can be found here. Run the Fix It utility. When prompted by the utility, click on Detect problems and apply the fixes for me.
If the problem is indeed caused by messed up lower/upper filters, the Fix It tool will detect and successfully resolve the issue.
Method 3: Manually Assign a Letter to Your CD/DVD Drive.
In the event that your CD/DVD drive is not visible in Windows Explorer because Windows has not assigned a letter to it, manually assigning a letter to the drive will do the trick. Press the Windows key once. Type “diskmgmt.msc” into the search bar and open the program.
In the bottom half of the Disk Management window, check to see if there is no letter assigned to CD-ROM 0 or CD-ROM 1.
If there is no letter for the CD/DVD drive, right-click anywhere on or near the term ‘CD-ROM’ and click on ‘Change Drive Letter and Paths.’ Click on ‘Add.’ Open the dropdown menu in front of the ‘Assign the following drive letter’ option, and select a drive letter for your CD/DVD drive.
Click on OK. Back in the Disk Management window, press F5 to perform a refresh. Upon completion, the respective letter will be assigned to the CD/DVD drive.
Method 4: Uninstalling DVD Drivers
Uninstalling your DVD drivers and then restarting your system should be the next thing on your list. Uninstalling a driver might seem illogical, but Windows has its own generic drivers for every device. So, if you reboot the system after uninstalling a specific driver, Windows will automatically install a driver for that device. Since Windows’ own drivers are the most compatible versions, this is bound to work. Follow the steps given below to uninstall the DVD drivers:
Once done, restart your system. Windows should automatically install the most compatible versions of drivers once the computer is rebooted. Your problem should be solved.
Method 5: Uninstalling IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers.
If method 4 didn’t work, then do the following: Note: Make sure you have followed Method 2 before following the steps given in this method.
After completely uninstalling all of these software programs and drivers, restart the computer. Windows will automatically configure the drivers, and your issue should be resolved afterward. Check to see if your DVD drive has returned. Note: If a restart didn’t help, try restarting again. Many users have confirmed that the problem was resolved on their second restart.
