CD-ROM drives vanish and then reappear

[dmw16]

I just upgraded my system(Epox 8KHA, 1800+ XP, 512DDR) and Im still using my CD-ROM drive(a month old 56x) and my 3 month old 12x Plextor and something isnt right. I was trying to install Alien Vs Predator 2 the other day and the system kept locking up, so I'd reboot and my BIOS would not detect either of my CD-ROM drives. So I powered down and then rebooted and they were back again. And then today I was doing a CD to CD copy in nero and nero stopped around 15% so again, I rebooted, not ROM drives. Im using windows xp pro if that makes any difference. Im still using the 300W Antec PS that I used on my last system and it's probably around a year old. Any ideas?
thanks,
-doug

 

[Jeff H]

dmw16, I've been compiling a running file of WinXP issues, and your predicament struck a note w/ me. I don't recall where I got this, but give it a try. As always, back up your registry before you attempt this fix.

Lost CD RW and DVD:

Open regedit, remove the Upperfilters and Lowerfilters values completely from the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
Restart your computer.

 

[bacillus]

Jeff H, if you read his post carefully, you will note that when this occurs, "my BIOS would not detect either of my CD-ROM drives" as opposed to XP alone not detecting the drives. this is clearly not a software only based problem!
have you tried changing the ide cable as a starter in troubleshooting?

 

[JonnyDuke]

Yes always check your cables and connections first before you start messing with things like the registry.

 

[Jeff H]

bacillus, thanks for pointing that out, really! That's what happens when one reads in haste. The other day I transferred a P233MMX system in my daugher's room from a crappy generic midtower case to an InWin case I had in the attic. All seemed to go well, except she said the CD-ROM drive wasn't there. I pulled the cover off, removed and replaced the drive cable (both ends) and the power cord, and all seems to be well. dmw16, give that a try, as suggested in the other replies.

 

[dmw16]

As some extra info that I forgot to mention(since I was late for work already as I was posting)is I got new rounded cables for my machine and this problem then began(hmmm...guess I should look into that, duh) and Nero always locks up at the same spot in the burn process...13%. I have been putting off going into my machine because I have stitches in the palm of my hand right now so working inside a case is difficult to say the least. If is the cables why does it not see the drives after a restart but it does after I power down a reboot?
thanks,
-doug