None of my CD-ROM/RW Devices are working

KingTrav1

Member
Apr 27, 2002
27
0
0
I went to burn a CD for a friend and when I tried to burn it, EZ CD Creator said that it could not detect any cd-rw drives on my computer. So I went to Device Manager and it said this..

Windows successfully loaded the device driver for this hardware but cannot find the hardware device. (Code 41)

So I removed the device and restarted to see if I could get windows to reinstall it or something. Got the same error. I thought maybe my burner took a crap on me so I took it out and put in my another CD-ROM drive and it did the same thing. It was working just like a week ago, and I can't recall any changes that I've made to cause this. I should also note that not even the device that Daemon Tools creates is working (for virtual CDs), same error. Hard drive on the same IDE channel is working fine as well.

Anyone know of a way to fix this nice and quickly without a format? (yes, I made sure everything was connected) Thanks in advance.

Specs:
MSI KT133 Pro2-A
Tbird 1.1ghz
512 PC133
WinXP Pro (no SP1)
Mitsumi CR-4802TE (RW Drive)
Creative CD5223E (52x CDROM)
 

NNakhleh

Junior Member
Jul 5, 2001
14
0
0
Hey, I've seen this before. In fact, a friend of mine called me from the other coast, as a desperation measure, right before formatting his drive. He owes me a coke, but I'll provide the same info to you for free... :D

Based on two facts that you mentioned, namely:

1) ALL CD-type drives are missing, including a virtual one
2) An HD on the same IDE channel is visible (btw, separate issue, but typically you want to have HDs and
CD drives on separate channels for performance reasons)

it seems exceedingly unlikely that it's a hardware problem. If it was a drive problem, you'd lose just that device. If an IDE problem, you'd lose the channel.

Moreover, based on one fact that you mentioned, namely:

1) You're using EZ CD Creator

I can probably point you in the right direction. Never have I encountered such a buggy piece of software. After seeing this problem occur in no fewer than 3 separate ways, all caused by Roxio's "flagship", I switched to Nero, and couldn't be happier. Here are some ways in which I've seen this occur:

1) Installing, upgrading, or uninstalling Windows Media Player 7, when you use EZ CD Creator. Here's a link, it's not the best one, but the only one I could find quickly: http://www.roxio.com/en/support/plugins/wmp.html
Basically, something about the Roxio CD burning plug-in combined with WMP clobbers your system so Windows can't see the drives.

2) Upgrading EZ CD Creator versions. I had a problem like this going to version 5 from version 4, shortly before I ditched it.

3) (Ironically) Uninstalling EZ CD Creator under Win2K (or Win XP, I think). Here's one description of the issue: http://www.theregus.com/content/archive/18803.html, there are plenty of others.

My friend's problem came when he let Windows Update work its "magic" (i.e. he hit case 1). I'd recommend reading about problem #3, taking the steps they advise there to avoid trashing your system in the process of removing EZ CD Creator, and then going forth with an uninstall. You should hopefully get your drives back. What you'd like to do with CD Creator after that is up to you...

-Nadim
 

KingTrav1

Member
Apr 27, 2002
27
0
0
When you say 'missing' do you mean missing in Device manager? or in My Computer? The devices are visable in device manager (w/ exclimation mark by it) but not in My Computer. Either way, I'll give it a try later on tonight when I get back from the movies.
 

optimistic

Diamond Member
Apr 29, 2001
3,006
0
0
You running WINXP?

And assuming you have

IDE1 -> Hard Drive
IDE2 -> 52x CDROM -> CDRW


Try deleting your IDE2 (Secondary IDE Channel) then restart windows. On startup it will reinstall again. Try that.
 

cheetoden

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
1,578
0
0
had the same problem. Really pissed me off that I couldn't fix it. Fially found the fix today.

Here is the link to the fix. Hope you know your way around your registry a little.



only delete the value for the upper and lower filters

Fix