DVD-RW drive not recognized under Windows XP

from WinCustomize Forums

I have decided to start a new thread about this issue rather than further derail the other thread where we were talking about this.

I recently received a new DVD-RW drive courtesy of a friend here. After turning off the computer I removed the old drive. The old drive was the only IDE device on the system. I installed the new drive. The new drive uses the SATA interface.

After powering on the computer I went into the BIOS settings. BIOS confirms the new drive is connected. I am also able to boot of the new drive to bootable CDs and DVDs.

The problem is that Windows XP no longer says I have a DVD-RW drive. I only lists my hard drive and that's all under "My Computer". The new drive is plugged in correctly and runs just fine when I boot up a live Linux DVD. So I assume there is something that can fix this?

103,855 views 46 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top

it is most likely the sata controller's driver that needs to be re-installed/updated, at least that is what I would try first

harpo

 

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Does it show up in device manager at all as a non functioning device, or problem device?

Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

If it was,you could maybe update from internet, might find what it needs. If not, I could send you xppro, but you will have seven and eight soon. Just offering suggestions anyway, luck .I don't know if doing an upgrade with your xp would help, but I thought you said you had a sata dvd before, maybe it was just the harddrive.

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting harpo99999, reply 1
it is most likely the sata controller's driver that needs to be re-installed/updated, at least that is what I would try first
End of harpo99999's quote

I doubt that is the problem. The SATA controller is working just fine. If it wasn't my hard drive would not work. The DVD-RW drive is plugged into the same controller.

Quoting doortech1, reply 2
Does it show up in device manager at all as a non functioning device, or problem device?
End of doortech1's quote

Neither. The DVD-RW drive does not show up at all even after a scan for new hardware. Funny thing is that the drive works fine under Linux so this has to be a Windows XP issue.

Quoting doortech1, reply 3
If it was,you could maybe update from internet, might find what it needs. If not, I could send you xppro, but you will have seven and eight soon. Just offering suggestions anyway, luck .I don't know if doing an upgrade with your xp would help, but I thought you said you had a sata dvd before, maybe it was just the harddrive.
End of doortech1's quote

I was hoping the DVD-RW drive would work for a game that I want to play that only works under XP. Thanks anyhow.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

look up mb drivers? with my old mb, win 7 didn't recognise a 2tb hdd (1 tb was ok) until i installed mb drivers from nvidia

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/13477579/Unhide_All_drives.reg  Try adding this reg key first, then reboot.

If that doesn't do it, try the second one. I have used these before to fix this problem on XP.

 Sorry it took me so long to remember where I put them.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/13477579/unhide.exe

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

How do I add a registry key?

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

simply double klicking the .reg file will do so.

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Roloccolor, reply 8
simply double klicking the .reg file will do so.
End of Roloccolor's quote
Oops, I should have mentioned that, thanks Roloccolor.

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

All I get when I click on your first link is a new Windows in Firefox that shows me the reg keys. No download.

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I just tried with iE and it gives me the save dialog. Try right clicking and save target as. I just tried that and it worked also.

 It is to my dropbox.

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

did you try....

right click my computer in the start menu

choose Manage

under Storage, choose Disk Management

find the drive in the list

right click and assign a drive letter

 

 

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Kona, go to WC in IE, just long enough to use Wiz's links.

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Lantec, reply 12
did you try....

right click my computer in the start menu

choose Manage

under Storage, choose Disk Management

find the drive in the list

right click and assign a drive letter

 

 
End of Lantec's quote

 

Yes, good idea. Also, while there, choose action, scan for new hardware at the top left.

 

Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

OK I used IE to download the registry files. Installed and rebooted. Checked and the DVD-RW drive still is not showing. I also tried the second fix with no success.

Quoting Lantec, reply 12
did you try....

right click my computer in the start menu

choose Manage

under Storage, choose Disk Management

find the drive in the list

right click and assign a drive letter
End of Lantec's quote

Disk Management does not show the DVD-RW drive, even after a scan for new hardware.

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Well, other than a re-install of XP, I'm out of ideas.

Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Well just for the heck of it I rebooted the machine into Ubuntu Linux. After boot I popped in an old game DVD that I have. Came right up on the system and allowed me to browse the contents of the drive. So this has to be an XP issue.

No sense in a re-install of XP if all I am going to do is install Windows 7 here shortly on the new rig.

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top

You may install 7 now.  Or,

 

PM Yrag, if you dare......

Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top

PM Yrag? No thanks. I am convinced that the guy doesn't like talking to me. :) On the other hand I bet he would know how to fix this.

Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting kona0197, reply 19
PM Yrag? No thanks. I am convinced that the guy doesn't like talking to me.
End of kona0197's quote

That's just Yrag's manner, he does it to everyone.  :D

Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Well I am sure he will be lurking. If he decides to chime in I would be grateful.

Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Make an ISO of the disc with imgburn and load it into a virtual drive using Daemon Tools.

Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Good suggestion. It would work if I had a working DVD-RW drive to read the disc with. Sadly the old DVD-RW drive will not read the disc.

Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting kona0197, reply 23
Good suggestion. It would work if I had a working DVD-RW drive to read the disc with. Sadly the old DVD-RW drive will not read the disc.
End of kona0197's quote

 

 

I thought your girlfriend had a laptop.

Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Yeah she does. Getting to use it is a different matter. :)