My new Windows 7 computer stopped seeing my DVD/CD drive

[hvn_nbr_2]

My new Windows 7 Pro computer stopped seeing my DVD/CD drive, which is normally drive D.

If I insert a software installation CD, nothing happens, when it should go to the autorun install process. If I go to Windows Explorer --> Computer, it doesn't show a drive D.

In Windows Explorer --> Control Panel --> All Control Panel Items --> Device Manager --> DVD/CD-ROM drives, it lists two items:
ATAPI iHAS124 B ATA Device and
HP Virtual CD 4607 USB Device

I suspect the ATAPI... is the real device but I really don't know. I don't have any idea why there are two listed or what the other one is.

Double-click the ATAPI device and a new window comes up with four tabs:

1. On the "General" tab, it says the device status is: "A driver (service) for this device has been disabled. An alternate driver may be providing this functionality. (Code 32)"

2. On the "Volumes" tab, all fields are blank.

3. On the "Driver" tab are several buttons:
"Driver details": clicking it displays a list of two driver files in the Windows drivers folder.
"Update driver" offers to search my computer or search online for a driver file, but both say that my driver is the latest and best.
"Roll back driver" is grayed out because it's for backing up to a previous driver when you install a new one.
"Disable" button is active even though the "general" tab says the driver is disabled. I tried disabling and enabling: clicked "Disable" and the button changed to "Enable". Clicking "Enable" didn't bring the device back but it brought back the "Disable" button..
"Uninstall" button is active but I didn't try that. I wondered if uninstalling and re-installing the driver would help but I didn't want to try that without knowing what I'm doing and particularly knowing what files/driver IDs/whatever I'll need to know to re-install a driver.

4. "Details" tab has a long list of properties, most of which are meaningless to me. A couple potentially relevant ones are these:
"Device description" is "CD-ROM drive.
"Service" is "cdrom".


Any ideas or suggestions?

[Earth Bound Misfit]

1. Try this...

Your CD drive or DVD drive is missing or is not recognized by Windows or other programs http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060#win7fix

(instrux for Vista also apply to Seven, worked for me same problem after update to SP1)

[hvn_nbr_2]

3. That did it! Thanks.

I had actually gotten to that Microsoft support page, but I followed their instructions for Windows 7. That got me a troubleshooter software that found that there were problems but didn't tell me what or what to do.

Your tip to follow the instructions for Vista did it. I'll admit that I was hesitant--any time someone, even Microsoft, tells me to run regedit and delete something, I proceed very reluctantly and with trepidation.

After reboot, the drive shows up, as a "new" drive.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

6. Glad to hear it!

[HelloMissBetty]

7. This worked for Win 7!

Thanks! Found this via Google search and your instructions worked like a charm for my Win 7 computer as well.

[mike2k]

2. Hardware issue possibly

First things first. Turn on your computer and check to see if the BIOS recognizes the drive. It should show up as and IDE or SATA device. If you don't see it in the BIOS, check the cabling and/or replace the cable. Might even try a different ide or sata port on the system board. If the BIOS still fails to see the drive, then try a different drive.

[hvn_nbr_2]

4. Thanks for the suggestions

Apparently the hardware is all okay because Earth Bound Misfit's suggestion in the first reply to the OP fixed it. Good thing too, because I'd have had a significant learning/research project to know how to follow your suggestions. Glad I didn't have to, and thanks for your help.

[Mnpaul]

5. Did you recently update your flash player software?

I lost mine this weekend over an update. I used the automated utility in the above link. Works great and you can use it whenever this happens without going online. It works even when "filters" aren't the problem.