Cannot see DVD/CD files in Explorer

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bernard
  • Start date Start date
B

Bernard

I have an IBM ThinkPad R52, 2 GB RAm and running XP SP2 with all the latest
Microsoft and other fixes. This is a new system rebuilt only a month or two
ago. Everything worked fine until about a week ago.

Now whenever I put a CD or DVD into the DVD/CD Combo burner drive I cannot
see any files when using Explorer. In the left hand pane of Explorer I see
"DVD-RAM (D:)" as normal but nothing in the right hand pane. If I right click
on the above I get the properties Window up and it says type = CD Drive, File
System = unknown and 0 bytes for used and free space. If I then click on th
ehardware tab, select the drive and select properties at the bottom I get the
hardware properties Window which says the drive is working OK. If I then
select the Volumes Tab and populate I see the correct Type and capacity
information for whatever disc is in the drive. There are no errors in the
Event Log as far as I can see.

I believe the drive is working OK because I can boot Linux from it natively
and from within VMWare!!

I have seen a number of similar sounding problems in the forums but nothing
that seems to be exactly the same so I have not yet tried the various
suggestions about uninstlaa/reinstall the drive and hacking the Registry.

This is really strange - its like having a ghost drive - there, but not ther!

Any suggestions please?
--
Bernard
 
The driver for the CD drive is proobably corrupt.
--
helpful? click "Yes" button. Voting helps the web interface.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...g=microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
Mark L. Ferguson



"Bernard" wrote:

> I have an IBM ThinkPad R52, 2 GB RAm and running XP SP2 with all the latest
> Microsoft and other fixes. This is a new system rebuilt only a month or two
> ago. Everything worked fine until about a week ago.
>
> Now whenever I put a CD or DVD into the DVD/CD Combo burner drive I cannot
> see any files when using Explorer. In the left hand pane of Explorer I see
> "DVD-RAM (D:)" as normal but nothing in the right hand pane. If I right click
> on the above I get the properties Window up and it says type = CD Drive, File
> System = unknown and 0 bytes for used and free space. If I then click on th
> ehardware tab, select the drive and select properties at the bottom I get the
> hardware properties Window which says the drive is working OK. If I then
> select the Volumes Tab and populate I see the correct Type and capacity
> information for whatever disc is in the drive. There are no errors in the
> Event Log as far as I can see.
>
> I believe the drive is working OK because I can boot Linux from it natively
> and from within VMWare!!
>
> I have seen a number of similar sounding problems in the forums but nothing
> that seems to be exactly the same so I have not yet tried the various
> suggestions about uninstlaa/reinstall the drive and hacking the Registry.
>
> This is really strange - its like having a ghost drive - there, but not ther!
>
> Any suggestions please?
> --
> Bernard
 
I think the driver for DVD/CD drives comes with XP doesn't it? If so any idea
how I would go about repairing it please?
--
Bernard


"Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:

> The driver for the CD drive is proobably corrupt.
> --
> helpful? click "Yes" button. Voting helps the web interface.
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...g=microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
> Mark L. Ferguson
>
>
>
> "Bernard" wrote:
>
> > I have an IBM ThinkPad R52, 2 GB RAm and running XP SP2 with all the latest
> > Microsoft and other fixes. This is a new system rebuilt only a month or two
> > ago. Everything worked fine until about a week ago.
> >
> > Now whenever I put a CD or DVD into the DVD/CD Combo burner drive I cannot
> > see any files when using Explorer. In the left hand pane of Explorer I see
> > "DVD-RAM (D:)" as normal but nothing in the right hand pane. If I right click
> > on the above I get the properties Window up and it says type = CD Drive, File
> > System = unknown and 0 bytes for used and free space. If I then click on th
> > ehardware tab, select the drive and select properties at the bottom I get the
> > hardware properties Window which says the drive is working OK. If I then
> > select the Volumes Tab and populate I see the correct Type and capacity
> > information for whatever disc is in the drive. There are no errors in the
> > Event Log as far as I can see.
> >
> > I believe the drive is working OK because I can boot Linux from it natively
> > and from within VMWare!!
> >
> > I have seen a number of similar sounding problems in the forums but nothing
> > that seems to be exactly the same so I have not yet tried the various
> > suggestions about uninstlaa/reinstall the drive and hacking the Registry.
> >
> > This is really strange - its like having a ghost drive - there, but not ther!
> >
> > Any suggestions please?
> > --
> > Bernard
 
Go to Start/Run, and type DEVMGMT.MSC , highlight the CD device, Action menu,
"Uninstall", then restart Windows, to find the device drivers again
automatically.
--
helpful? click "Yes" button. Voting helps the web interface.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...g=microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
Mark L. Ferguson



"Bernard" wrote:

> I think the driver for DVD/CD drives comes with XP doesn't it? If so any idea
> how I would go about repairing it please?
> --
> Bernard
>
>
> "Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:
>
> > The driver for the CD drive is proobably corrupt.
> > --
> > helpful? click "Yes" button. Voting helps the web interface.
> > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...g=microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
> > Mark L. Ferguson
> >
> >
> >
> > "Bernard" wrote:
> >
> > > I have an IBM ThinkPad R52, 2 GB RAm and running XP SP2 with all the latest
> > > Microsoft and other fixes. This is a new system rebuilt only a month or two
> > > ago. Everything worked fine until about a week ago.
> > >
> > > Now whenever I put a CD or DVD into the DVD/CD Combo burner drive I cannot
> > > see any files when using Explorer. In the left hand pane of Explorer I see
> > > "DVD-RAM (D:)" as normal but nothing in the right hand pane. If I right click
> > > on the above I get the properties Window up and it says type = CD Drive, File
> > > System = unknown and 0 bytes for used and free space. If I then click on th
> > > ehardware tab, select the drive and select properties at the bottom I get the
> > > hardware properties Window which says the drive is working OK. If I then
> > > select the Volumes Tab and populate I see the correct Type and capacity
> > > information for whatever disc is in the drive. There are no errors in the
> > > Event Log as far as I can see.
> > >
> > > I believe the drive is working OK because I can boot Linux from it natively
> > > and from within VMWare!!
> > >
> > > I have seen a number of similar sounding problems in the forums but nothing
> > > that seems to be exactly the same so I have not yet tried the various
> > > suggestions about uninstlaa/reinstall the drive and hacking the Registry.
> > >
> > > This is really strange - its like having a ghost drive - there, but not ther!
> > >
> > > Any suggestions please?
> > > --
> > > Bernard
 
That does not seem to make any difference Mark, I did as you suggested and
the behaviour is still exactly the same. Do you think I should try the
Registry hack for Upper/LowerFilters, or do you think a context handler
problem is more likely to be at the root of it?
--
Bernard


"Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:

> Go to Start/Run, and type DEVMGMT.MSC , highlight the CD device, Action menu,
> "Uninstall", then restart Windows, to find the device drivers again
> automatically.
> --
> helpful? click "Yes" button. Voting helps the web interface.
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...g=microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
> Mark L. Ferguson
>
>
>
> "Bernard" wrote:
>
> > I think the driver for DVD/CD drives comes with XP doesn't it? If so any idea
> > how I would go about repairing it please?
> > --
> > Bernard
> >
> >
> > "Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:
> >
> > > The driver for the CD drive is proobably corrupt.
> > > --
> > > helpful? click "Yes" button. Voting helps the web interface.
> > > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...g=microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
> > > Mark L. Ferguson
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > "Bernard" wrote:
> > >
> > > > I have an IBM ThinkPad R52, 2 GB RAm and running XP SP2 with all the latest
> > > > Microsoft and other fixes. This is a new system rebuilt only a month or two
> > > > ago. Everything worked fine until about a week ago.
> > > >
> > > > Now whenever I put a CD or DVD into the DVD/CD Combo burner drive I cannot
> > > > see any files when using Explorer. In the left hand pane of Explorer I see
> > > > "DVD-RAM (D:)" as normal but nothing in the right hand pane. If I right click
> > > > on the above I get the properties Window up and it says type = CD Drive, File
> > > > System = unknown and 0 bytes for used and free space. If I then click on th
> > > > ehardware tab, select the drive and select properties at the bottom I get the
> > > > hardware properties Window which says the drive is working OK. If I then
> > > > select the Volumes Tab and populate I see the correct Type and capacity
> > > > information for whatever disc is in the drive. There are no errors in the
> > > > Event Log as far as I can see.
> > > >
> > > > I believe the drive is working OK because I can boot Linux from it natively
> > > > and from within VMWare!!
> > > >
> > > > I have seen a number of similar sounding problems in the forums but nothing
> > > > that seems to be exactly the same so I have not yet tried the various
> > > > suggestions about uninstlaa/reinstall the drive and hacking the Registry.
> > > >
> > > > This is really strange - its like having a ghost drive - there, but not ther!
> > > >
> > > > Any suggestions please?
> > > > --
> > > > Bernard
 
You can look for the filter entries, but I doubt they are there, since you
see the drive. The failure to see a file system indicates some lack in the
driver software. Thinkpads may need some special driver you can only get from
IBM. I would surf over to the thinkpad support site and look around.
On a different tack, you have jst rebuilt the system, so there is always the
possibility that the install failed in some way. I would try a Repair
install, if that is available to you.
How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

You have so much time invested so far, that I think hesitating to 'start
over' should be reconsidered.
--
helpful? click "Yes" button. Voting helps the web interface.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...g=microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
Mark L. Ferguson



"Bernard" wrote:

> That does not seem to make any difference Mark, I did as you suggested and
> the behaviour is still exactly the same. Do you think I should try the
> Registry hack for Upper/LowerFilters, or do you think a context handler
> problem is more likely to be at the root of it?
> --
> Bernard
>
>
> "Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:
>
> > Go to Start/Run, and type DEVMGMT.MSC , highlight the CD device, Action menu,
> > "Uninstall", then restart Windows, to find the device drivers again
> > automatically.
> > --
> > helpful? click "Yes" button. Voting helps the web interface.
> > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...g=microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
> > Mark L. Ferguson
> >
> >
> >
> > "Bernard" wrote:
> >
> > > I think the driver for DVD/CD drives comes with XP doesn't it? If so any idea
> > > how I would go about repairing it please?
> > > --
> > > Bernard
> > >
> > >
> > > "Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:
> > >
> > > > The driver for the CD drive is proobably corrupt.
> > > > --
> > > > helpful? click "Yes" button. Voting helps the web interface.
> > > > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...g=microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
> > > > Mark L. Ferguson
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Bernard" wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > I have an IBM ThinkPad R52, 2 GB RAm and running XP SP2 with all the latest
> > > > > Microsoft and other fixes. This is a new system rebuilt only a month or two
> > > > > ago. Everything worked fine until about a week ago.
> > > > >
> > > > > Now whenever I put a CD or DVD into the DVD/CD Combo burner drive I cannot
> > > > > see any files when using Explorer. In the left hand pane of Explorer I see
> > > > > "DVD-RAM (D:)" as normal but nothing in the right hand pane. If I right click
> > > > > on the above I get the properties Window up and it says type = CD Drive, File
> > > > > System = unknown and 0 bytes for used and free space. If I then click on th
> > > > > ehardware tab, select the drive and select properties at the bottom I get the
> > > > > hardware properties Window which says the drive is working OK. If I then
> > > > > select the Volumes Tab and populate I see the correct Type and capacity
> > > > > information for whatever disc is in the drive. There are no errors in the
> > > > > Event Log as far as I can see.
> > > > >
> > > > > I believe the drive is working OK because I can boot Linux from it natively
> > > > > and from within VMWare!!
> > > > >
> > > > > I have seen a number of similar sounding problems in the forums but nothing
> > > > > that seems to be exactly the same so I have not yet tried the various
> > > > > suggestions about uninstlaa/reinstall the drive and hacking the Registry.
> > > > >
> > > > > This is really strange - its like having a ghost drive - there, but not ther!
> > > > >
> > > > > Any suggestions please?
> > > > > --
> > > > > Bernard
 
The system has worked fine for 6 weeks or so since I rebuilt it including the
DVD/CD drive so I don't think there is a problem with the build. Also there
are no special drivers needed for this laptop - I checked the IBM site the
other night and I don't believe there are any special drivers required - at
least I ihave never seen any mention of them. PC Doctor 5 for Windows says
the drive passes all its tests when I insert a RW DVD in it. I did take a
look at the Registry and there are Upper/LowerFilter key entries with values
in them - do you htink it would do any harm to try deleting these as I think
some forum entries recommend?
--
Bernard


"Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:

> You can look for the filter entries, but I doubt they are there, since you
> see the drive. The failure to see a file system indicates some lack in the
> driver software. Thinkpads may need some special driver you can only get from
> IBM. I would surf over to the thinkpad support site and look around.
> On a different tack, you have jst rebuilt the system, so there is always the
> possibility that the install failed in some way. I would try a Repair
> install, if that is available to you.
> How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install:
> http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
>
> You have so much time invested so far, that I think hesitating to 'start
> over' should be reconsidered.
> --
> helpful? click "Yes" button. Voting helps the web interface.
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...g=microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
> Mark L. Ferguson
>
>
>
> "Bernard" wrote:
>
> > That does not seem to make any difference Mark, I did as you suggested and
> > the behaviour is still exactly the same. Do you think I should try the
> > Registry hack for Upper/LowerFilters, or do you think a context handler
> > problem is more likely to be at the root of it?
> > --
> > Bernard
> >
> >
> > "Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:
> >
> > > Go to Start/Run, and type DEVMGMT.MSC , highlight the CD device, Action menu,
> > > "Uninstall", then restart Windows, to find the device drivers again
> > > automatically.
> > > --
> > > helpful? click "Yes" button. Voting helps the web interface.
> > > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...g=microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
> > > Mark L. Ferguson
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > "Bernard" wrote:
> > >
> > > > I think the driver for DVD/CD drives comes with XP doesn't it? If so any idea
> > > > how I would go about repairing it please?
> > > > --
> > > > Bernard
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > The driver for the CD drive is proobably corrupt.
> > > > > --
> > > > > helpful? click "Yes" button. Voting helps the web interface.
> > > > > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...g=microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
> > > > > Mark L. Ferguson
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > "Bernard" wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > I have an IBM ThinkPad R52, 2 GB RAm and running XP SP2 with all the latest
> > > > > > Microsoft and other fixes. This is a new system rebuilt only a month or two
> > > > > > ago. Everything worked fine until about a week ago.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Now whenever I put a CD or DVD into the DVD/CD Combo burner drive I cannot
> > > > > > see any files when using Explorer. In the left hand pane of Explorer I see
> > > > > > "DVD-RAM (D:)" as normal but nothing in the right hand pane. If I right click
> > > > > > on the above I get the properties Window up and it says type = CD Drive, File
> > > > > > System = unknown and 0 bytes for used and free space. If I then click on th
> > > > > > ehardware tab, select the drive and select properties at the bottom I get the
> > > > > > hardware properties Window which says the drive is working OK. If I then
> > > > > > select the Volumes Tab and populate I see the correct Type and capacity
> > > > > > information for whatever disc is in the drive. There are no errors in the
> > > > > > Event Log as far as I can see.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I believe the drive is working OK because I can boot Linux from it natively
> > > > > > and from within VMWare!!
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I have seen a number of similar sounding problems in the forums but nothing
> > > > > > that seems to be exactly the same so I have not yet tried the various
> > > > > > suggestions about uninstlaa/reinstall the drive and hacking the Registry.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > This is really strange - its like having a ghost drive - there, but not ther!
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Any suggestions please?
> > > > > > --
> > > > > > Bernard
 
You can export any registry Key by rigghtclicking it. This creates a *.reg
file, which, when run, restores the data as exported.
--
helpful? click "Yes" button. Voting helps the web interface.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...g=microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
Mark L. Ferguson



"Bernard" wrote:

> The system has worked fine for 6 weeks or so since I rebuilt it including the
> DVD/CD drive so I don't think there is a problem with the build. Also there
> are no special drivers needed for this laptop - I checked the IBM site the
> other night and I don't believe there are any special drivers required - at
> least I ihave never seen any mention of them. PC Doctor 5 for Windows says
> the drive passes all its tests when I insert a RW DVD in it. I did take a
> look at the Registry and there are Upper/LowerFilter key entries with values
> in them - do you htink it would do any harm to try deleting these as I think
> some forum entries recommend?
> --
> Bernard
>
>
> "Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:
>
> > You can look for the filter entries, but I doubt they are there, since you
> > see the drive. The failure to see a file system indicates some lack in the
> > driver software. Thinkpads may need some special driver you can only get from
> > IBM. I would surf over to the thinkpad support site and look around.
> > On a different tack, you have jst rebuilt the system, so there is always the
> > possibility that the install failed in some way. I would try a Repair
> > install, if that is available to you.
> > How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install:
> > http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
> >
> > You have so much time invested so far, that I think hesitating to 'start
> > over' should be reconsidered.
> > --
> > helpful? click "Yes" button. Voting helps the web interface.
> > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...g=microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
> > Mark L. Ferguson
> >
> >
> >
> > "Bernard" wrote:
> >
> > > That does not seem to make any difference Mark, I did as you suggested and
> > > the behaviour is still exactly the same. Do you think I should try the
> > > Registry hack for Upper/LowerFilters, or do you think a context handler
> > > problem is more likely to be at the root of it?
> > > --
> > > Bernard
> > >
> > >
> > > "Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:
> > >
> > > > Go to Start/Run, and type DEVMGMT.MSC , highlight the CD device, Action menu,
> > > > "Uninstall", then restart Windows, to find the device drivers again
> > > > automatically.
> > > > --
> > > > helpful? click "Yes" button. Voting helps the web interface.
> > > > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...g=microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
> > > > Mark L. Ferguson
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Bernard" wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > I think the driver for DVD/CD drives comes with XP doesn't it? If so any idea
> > > > > how I would go about repairing it please?
> > > > > --
> > > > > Bernard
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > "Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > The driver for the CD drive is proobably corrupt.
> > > > > > --
> > > > > > helpful? click "Yes" button. Voting helps the web interface.
> > > > > > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...g=microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
> > > > > > Mark L. Ferguson
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "Bernard" wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > I have an IBM ThinkPad R52, 2 GB RAm and running XP SP2 with all the latest
> > > > > > > Microsoft and other fixes. This is a new system rebuilt only a month or two
> > > > > > > ago. Everything worked fine until about a week ago.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Now whenever I put a CD or DVD into the DVD/CD Combo burner drive I cannot
> > > > > > > see any files when using Explorer. In the left hand pane of Explorer I see
> > > > > > > "DVD-RAM (D:)" as normal but nothing in the right hand pane. If I right click
> > > > > > > on the above I get the properties Window up and it says type = CD Drive, File
> > > > > > > System = unknown and 0 bytes for used and free space. If I then click on th
> > > > > > > ehardware tab, select the drive and select properties at the bottom I get the
> > > > > > > hardware properties Window which says the drive is working OK. If I then
> > > > > > > select the Volumes Tab and populate I see the correct Type and capacity
> > > > > > > information for whatever disc is in the drive. There are no errors in the
> > > > > > > Event Log as far as I can see.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I believe the drive is working OK because I can boot Linux from it natively
> > > > > > > and from within VMWare!!
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I have seen a number of similar sounding problems in the forums but nothing
> > > > > > > that seems to be exactly the same so I have not yet tried the various
> > > > > > > suggestions about uninstlaa/reinstall the drive and hacking the Registry.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > This is really strange - its like having a ghost drive - there, but not ther!
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Any suggestions please?
> > > > > > > --
> > > > > > > Bernard
 
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