My CD/DVD drive just dissappeared from "My Computer" all of a sudden

[Cristatus]

I don't know what happened, but all of a sudden my SONY DVD RW DW-D56A combo drive dissappeared from "My Computer".

I tried installing the device again by un-installing it, and then re-installing it. I get the following error after re-installing it:

"A problem occured during hardware installation. Your new hardware might not work properly"

I also get the following error in device manager:

"Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing. (Code 39)"

I am getting seriously pissed of by this now, and don't know what to do. I have tried so many different searches trying to find the driver for the device, but I can not seem to find them anywhere. Help?

TIA

 

[bacillus]

Assuming that you are using either Windows 2000 or XP then you will need to do this:

Open regedit and go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-B
C1-08002BE10318}

Now delete the keys:
LowerFilters and UpperFilters in the right pane.
NB only one key may be present but still delete it.

Now reboot and your optical drive should function again.

NOTE: After you remove the Upperfilters value and the Lowerfilters value, if you notice lost functionality in a particular program, such as CD recording software, you may need to reinstall that software.

 

[Cristatus]

Open regedit and go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-B
FC1-08002BE10318}

I sure hope you mean the above registry key.
And what do you mean only one key may be present?

edit: I did what you said sbove as best as I understood it, and the drive appeared in "My Computer". I will test this in a bit, whether it works or not. Thanks.

edit 2: it worked. I'd hug you and kiss you dude. I've had this dillema since three days. Thanks.