Thread: Invisible DVDs

The DVD writer in my computer has stopped working. It still opens and closes, but Windows does not respond to any discs and thinks that it is empty.

This problem is normally caused by uninstalling DVD writing software. The software does not remove information about itself in the Registry, leaving Windows unable to read discs.

This is simple to fix but does involve editing the Registry. As ever when making these changes, make sure all of your important files are backed up (see the feature on page 12) and run System Restore first.

Left-click on the Start button and then on Run. Type 'regedit' and press Enter. Click on the small plus icons next to HKEY _LOCAL_MACHINE, SYSTEM, CurrentControlSet, Control and then Class. Left-click on the folder called {4D36E965-E325-11 CE-BFC 1-08002BEI0318}. If there are any entries in the right-hand side of the window called LowerFilters or UpperFilters, they should be deleted. Right-click on each one in turn and then click on Delete. Close the Registry Editor by clicking on the red cross in the top right hand corner and then restart the computer. The drive should now work as normal.