How to Solve the issue of CD-ROM, DVD, or Disc Drive not working in Windows

David Darlington

May 13, 2026 • Filed to: Windows Computer Solutions • Proven solutions

TL;DR:

To resolve a CD-ROM or DVD drive not working in Windows, you can run built-in system troubleshooters, reinstall the device drivers, or manually delete specific filter entries in the registry.
    ● Drive recognition errors frequently present as a yellow exclamation mark in the Device Manager on Windows 7 or earlier, commonly caused by OS upgrades or recent changes to CD/DVD recording programs.
    ● For standard fixes, run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter via the Control Panel or open Device Manager (devmgmt.msc) to uninstall the unrecognized DVD/CD-ROM drive and reboot to automatically reinstall its drivers.
    ● If basic methods fail, administrators can open Regedit, navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} registry subkey, and delete the UpperFilters and LowerFilters entries (without tampering with any .bak files) before restarting the system.

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Conventional users of the desktop system cannot forget the importance of CD-ROM. Although, the days when stacks and stacks of CD-ROMs used to occupy our space our gone, thanks to the rise in technology and bringing us external storage devices, even today, there is no dearth of users who like to work with CD-ROM and DVD. Often, it is about the media content that is required to be exchanged, and therefore, it is essential that your disk drive should be in order. So, in the following article, we shall the troubleshooting techniques when you encounter the issue of CD-Drive not working. While the issue of CD-ROM not working can be frustrating for the users, it can cause loss of data, disrupt normal work procedures, and so on. The knowledge to overcome the error of CD-ROM not working is helpful if one wishes to resolve the error in absolutely no time. In the given article, we shall look at multiple solutions to solve the issue of CD-Drive not working.

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Part 1: Yellow Exclamation Mark when CD-Drive not Working:

For the ones using Windows 7 or earlier variants, when the CD or DVD drive is not seen in the File Explorer, there is a yellow exclamation point along which the device is marked within the Device Manager. Alternatively, when users access the device’s Properties dialog box, one of the following errors can be seen in the ‘Device Status’ area. 

The above-listed errors can be due to the following reasons;

1. User must have upgraded the Windows Operating System
2. User must have installed or uninstalled CD or DVD Recording Programs
3. User must have installed Microsoft Digital Image

In the following sections, we shall look at solutions to solve the problem of CD-ROM not working.

Part 2: Using Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter:

This is the basic method to get rid of the problem of CD-Drive not working. With a few simple steps to follow, users can have their DVD and CD-ROM recognized by the system. Here are the steps:

1. Tap the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. You are then required to type ‘Control’ in the dialog box and then tap ‘Enter’.
3. In the Control Panel, find the search box, and type ‘Troubleshooter’, and then tap on ‘Troubleshooting’.
4. You have to click on the ‘Configure device’ that is listed under the Hardware and Sound Item. Users might be prompted to type in their passwords for confirmation.

If this doesn’t resolve the error, you can move on to the next solution.

Part 3: Using the Microsoft Fix it Center:

The next solution to help us encounter the problem of CD-Drive not working is to use the CD/DVD ‘Fix it’ Troubleshooter. To enable the troubleshooter, all one has to do is click ‘Run Now’ and follow the onscreen instructions that appear. This is more or less a conclusive step to eliminating the problem of CD-Drive not working. If it doesn’t get you through, you can move on to the next solution, which tends to get a little complicated for the user with no technical know-how.

Part 4: Manually Fixing Registries to solve the issue of ‘CD-Drive not working’:

The issue with registries can lead to the problem of ‘CD-ROM not working’, and therefore, in the following section, we help you with the mechanism that can get you through the troubleshooting process. However, this solution is recommended only for the advanced users as there is a need to perform the process as an administrator. Alongside, make sure that you create a backup of your registry.

Here are the steps to overcome the issue of ‘CD-Drive not working’:

1. Start with tapping the Windows logo key + R to open the ‘Run’ dialog box.
2. Type Regedit in the Run dialog box, and then press Enter. Users could be prompted to type in their system password for confirmation.
3. The following subkey is to be clicked once the users access the navigation pane.
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
4. Click ‘UpperFilters’ in the right pane.
   Users must note that they could see a UpperFilters.bak registry entry. Please note that the entry is not to be tampered with.
5. Once you reach the ‘Edit’ menu, click ‘Delete’.
6. Users would be prompted to confirm the deletion, for which they have to click ‘Yes’.
7. ‘LowerFilters’ is to be clicked in the right pane.
8. On the Edit menu, tap on Delete.
9. Tap ‘Yes’ when prompted to confirm the deletion.
10. You are now required to exit the registry editor.
11. Finish the process by restarting the computer.
12. On the Edit menu, tap on Delete.

If this doesn’t end the ‘CD-ROM not working’ issue, there is nothing to worry about as there is another solution to go for.

Part 5: Update or Reinstall the Drivers to solve the issue of ‘CD-Drive not working’:

Users are required to visit the manufacturer’s website in order to search for the drivers that can help resolve the issue of ‘CD-ROM not working’. The instructions for the same can be sought from the website.

1. Press the Windows logo key + R and access the Run dialog box.
2. Type devmgmt.msc in the Run dialog box, and then tap on the Enter key. Click on ‘Allow’ or type in your password when there is a prompt.
3. In Device Manager, expand DVD/CD-ROM drives, follow it with right-click the CD and DVD devices, and then tap on uninstall.
4. Give the confirmation when there is a prompt.
5. Finish the process by rebooting the system as that would install your drivers.

The problem of ‘CD-ROM’ not working, and through the above methods, we wish to help our readers with a conclusive method in order to overcome that error. If you have used any of the methods, let us know about your experience in the comments section.

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