How to Fix DVD/CD Drive Not Working In Windows

Windows 10 has gradually being thrown away by times and market (since more and more people watch movies online) and Windows 10 also gradually put down support for this hardware, the rest of users wouldn’t be happy about it. But don’t worry, you’re not alone, there’re ways to help you fix your problem.

• Your CD/DVD drive could not read Discs
• Your CD/DVD is not detected

Your CD/DVD drive could not read Discs

Before you start, you need to make sure whether the disc is the cause.
How: Check your disc is clean and complete. Put the disc in another device, if it could be read, the disc would not the reason. Or use a disc which you’re sure the disc has no problem.
If your CD/DVD driver could not read it, it’s clearly something wrong with it.

Fix: Clean your CD/DVD drive

The dust is the common reason for your DVD drive could not read discs. So open the DVD tray, hold one clean cotton swab or a lens cleaning wipe to clean the lens gently.

Then put a disc and close the tray to check. It should be work properly.

If you are familiar with computer construction and confident in your hand-on ability, you could go further by taking out the DVD drive, opening it and use an air blower to clean the dust inside the drive.

Furthermore, the transporter could be jammed. When the transport moves out of its position, your DVD drive couldn’t read discs. You can solve the problem by using a small object (e.g. paperclip) to move it back carefully. Your DVD drive should read discs properly.

Your CD/DVD is not detected

If your CD/DVD is not detected in the Windows system which means it’s not shown in File Explorer, the reason could be various. There are a few fixes you could try to solve it.

1. Run Windows troubleshooter
2. Update the driver
3. Reinstall the driver
4. Delete corrupted registry entries
5. Check drive in BIOS

Fix 1: Run Windows troubleshooter

Windows has its inside troubleshooter to fix some common problems. When you meet issues you could run it for certain help.

1. Press the Windows logo key + I (the’i’ key) together.
2. Click Update & Security.
   
3. Click Troubleshoot in the left pane then find Video Playback and click Run the troubleshooter.
   
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process.
5. Reboot your computer and check the problem is solved or not.

Fix 2: Update the driver

One of the most common causes of this error is corrupted or outdated device drivers. So you should definitely try updating your drivers before trying anything more complicated. You can do this manually, if you like, by visiting each manufacturer’s download page, finding the right drivers, etc. But that takes time and computer skills. If you’re not comfortable playing with device drivers, we recommend using Driver Easy. It’s a tool that detects, downloads and installs any driver updates your computer needs.

1. Download and install Driver Easy.
2. Run Driver Easy and click the Scan Now button. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.
   
3. Click the Update button next to the flagged driver to automatically download the correct version of that driver, then you can manually install it (you can do this with the FREE version). 
   Or click Update All to automatically download and install the correct version of all the drivers that are missing or out of date on your system. (This requires the Pro version which comes with full support and a 30-day money back guarantee. You’ll be prompted to upgrade when you click Update All.)   
   
4. Reboot your computer and check your CD/DVD drive.

Fix 3: Reinstall the driver

If updating the driver doesn’t work, you may need to do a clean uninstall. It could be the corrupted files that cause the error message. Here’s how:

1. Press the Windows logo key + R to evoke the Run box.
2. Type devmgmt.msc and press the Enter key.
   
3. Click DVD/CD-ROM drives, right-click on the CD and DVD devices then click Uninstall device.
   
4. After finishing the process, reboot your computer and check the drive.

If the problem is fixed, you can use Fix 2 to update your drivers for better user experience.

Fix 4: Delete corrupted registry entries

If your computer has corrupted registry entries, your CD/DVD drive may not be detected in Windows. To fix it, you need to delete these registry entries.
But you need to back up important files before doing this, cause if you did it in a wrong way you could crash your computer.

1. Press the Windows logo key + R to evoke the Run box.
2. Type regedit and press the Enter key.
   
3. Copy and paste the below text in the address bar, then press the Enter key.
   

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlClass {4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} 

   
4. Find UpperFilters and LowerFilters in the right panel and delete them.
5. Reboot your computer and check the result.

Fix 5: Check drive in BIOS

The reason for your missing DVD drive could relate to BIOS. The BIOS is the basic intern system that controls hardware components and your operating system. You need to check whether the CD/DVD driver could be recognized in BIOS.

1. Turn off your computer completely.
2. Press the power button then press the certain key to enter BIOS. (Different brands use different keys, you have to search online before doing this.)
3. When you in BIOS, navigate to the Storage tab.
4. Use the arrow keys to select Device Configuration, then press Enter.
5. Look for a CD/DVD drive entry in the Device Configuration sub-screen.
6. Press the Esc key to exit Device Configuration.
7. Press the Esc key again, press Enter, then press Enter again to Ignore Changes and Exit BIOS.

If you couldn’t find your CD/DVD drive in BIOS, it should be a hardware issue. You can change it with a new one or repair it by contacting customer service.

Hopefully this article has helped you resolve the “DVD/CD drive not working in windows” error. If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave a comment below, and we’ll do our best to help.

• Windows