# CD/DVD drives not working in XP **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 23, 2004, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-dvd-drives-not-working-in-xp/276263 "2004-11-23T13:00:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bauble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@bauble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bauble)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-dvd-drives-not-working-in-xp/276263/1 "2004-11-23T13:00:36Z")
I’ve got XP sp1 and recently both my CD and my DVD drives stopped working under windows. They work fine from a DOS boot disk and will boot a bootable CD, so the problem seems to be with XP somewhere. Here’s the error that’s listed in Device Manager when I check out the drives there: > [@](#): > > Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing. (Code 39) I’m running sp1 (I tried SP2 for a while, but it screws with my connection to City of Heroes, even with the securit settings turned off, so I removed it). I’ve tried re-loading SP1, but that didn’t change anything. I’ve also tried booting to the XP CD and running an automated repair (again:no change). I’ve disabled the System Restore, so that’s not an option. I’ve tried installing an IDE card and attaching the drives to it, but still no drives in Windows and the same error message in Device Manager. Can anybody offer advice/help ? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-dvd-drives-not-working-in-xp/276263/2 "2004-11-23T14:51:27Z")
I’m sure the dopers here will take good care of you. I would also recommend the forums over at [DSL reports](http://www.dslreports.com), if you want to double your pleasure. I personally don’t have a clue what your problem could be. ---
**Author:** ![Daizy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daizy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daizy)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-dvd-drives-not-working-in-xp/276263/3 "2004-11-23T16:59:38Z")
How comfortable ar eyou with the registry? You might want to try [this](http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;q314060&) ? ---
**Author:** ![Sevo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sevo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevo)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-dvd-drives-not-working-in-xp/276263/4 "2004-11-23T17:06:17Z")
Actually, it sounds like SP1 did something to your device drivers (maybe tried to replace them?). Did you try reloading them? That’s the first thing I’d do: Open your device manager, double click on your CD/DVD drive. Find the tab that has the “device driver” and try updating that. If you have a CD or disk for the drive that’d be ideal, if not you can probably download a driver from the manufacturer’s website, or even a new generic driver. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-dvd-drives-not-working-in-xp/276263/5 "2004-11-23T17:13:51Z")
> [@bauble](#): > > I’ve got XP sp1 and recently both my CD and my DVD drives stopped working under windows. They work fine from a DOS boot disk and will boot a bootable CD, so the problem seems to be with XP somewhere. > > Here’s the error that’s listed in Device Manager when I check out the drives there: > > I’m running sp1 (I tried SP2 for a while, but it screws with my connection to City of Heroes, even with the securit settings turned off, so I removed it). > > I’ve tried re-loading SP1, but that didn’t change anything. I’ve also tried booting to the XP CD and running an automated repair (again:no change). > > I’ve disabled the System Restore, so that’s not an option. > > I’ve tried installing an IDE card and attaching the drives to it, but still no drives in Windows and the same error message in Device Manager. > > Can anybody offer advice/help ? > > Thanks. Does the drive still appear on your computer? ---
**Author:** ![bauble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@bauble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bauble)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-dvd-drives-not-working-in-xp/276263/6 "2004-11-23T17:26:13Z")
> [@Sevo](#): > > Actually, it sounds like SP1 did something to your device drivers (maybe tried to replace them?). Did you try reloading them? That’s the first thing I’d do: > > Open your device manager, double click on your CD/DVD drive. Find the tab that has the “device driver” and try updating that. If you have a CD or disk for the drive that’d be ideal, if not you can probably download a driver from the manufacturer’s website, or even a new generic driver. Sorry - I guess I left out a little bit - I’ve been running SP1 for some time. The problem started with a lockup/crash. I rebooted and didn’t have the CD drives. I’ve tried updating the drivers, but I don’t know of any sites that have the requisite files. They seem to be assuming that XP has the drivers natively. If you know of any place that has generic drivers, I’m willing to test and see if that works. ---
**Author:** ![bauble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@bauble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bauble)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-dvd-drives-not-working-in-xp/276263/7 "2004-11-23T17:27:46Z")
> [@ouryL](#): > > Does the drive still appear on your computer? Yes, if you’re asking if they show up under Device Manager. They don’t appear under My Computer or Windows Explorer. ---
**Author:** ![bauble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@bauble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bauble)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-dvd-drives-not-working-in-xp/276263/8 "2004-11-23T18:09:26Z")
> [@Daizy](#): > > How comfortable ar eyou with the registry? > You might want to try [this](http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;q314060&) ? I’ve got no problems with editing the registry. I’ll try that as soon as I get back home to my pc. ---
**Author:** ![bauble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@bauble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bauble)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-dvd-drives-not-working-in-xp/276263/9 "2004-11-24T04:45:57Z")
> [@Daizy](#): > > How comfortable ar eyou with the registry? > You might want to try [this](http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;q314060&) ? **Daizy** , you’re my new hero! My PC is now happily chugging away with both of its optical drives workings smoothly! Many, many thank you’s to you! ---
**Author:** ![Daizy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daizy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daizy)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-dvd-drives-not-working-in-xp/276263/10 "2004-11-24T15:39:06Z")
That’s fabulous news **bauble**! Congratulations on getting it all sorted!