Problem with DVD & CD Drives

[JesseJ1935]

I have two drives, a DVD and a CD. Neither Auto Runs anymore. The only way I can see what is on a disc in either is by clicking on there respective icons in My Computer, if it is a blank disc then it tells me no disc is in the drive. Device Manager shows both are working properly. In addition I am unable to write to either a DVD or CD. When I try I get the message that no disc is in the drive. Both were working perfectly a couple of weeks ago, to the best of my knowledge I haven't done anything to upset them.

I downloaded the Microsoft Auto Fix programme but it couldn't fix the problem. It produced the following logs:

AutoFix [V5.2.3790.67]

Time [2006-10-14 17:09:18]

Microsoft Windows Version [5.1 (Service Pack 2) <2600>]

Test [The Shell Hardware Detection service is running.] - Instance [N/A]:

Result [AutoStart Setting]: OK

Result [The Shell Hardware Detection service is running.]: OK

Test [Policies] - Instance [E:\, Drive Type: 5]:

Result [HKCU\...\Policies!NoDrives]: OK {Absent}

Result [HKCU\...\Policies!NoDriveAutorun]: OK {Absent}

Result [HKCU\...\Policies!NoDriveTypeAutorun]: OK {Present}

Result [HKLM\...\Policies!NoDrives]: OK {Absent}

Result [HKLM\...\Policies!NoDriveAutorun]: OK {Absent}

Result [HKLM\...\Policies!NoDriveTypeAutorun]: OK {Absent}

Result [Driver level policies]: OK {

HKLM\...\Services\cdrom!Autorun (Present) <Allows>

HKLM\...\Services\cdrom\Parameters!Autorun (Absent) <Allows>

HKLM\System\CCS\Enum\...!AlwaysEnable (Absent) <Not set>

HKLM\System\CCS\Enum\...!AlwaysDisable (Absent) <Not set> }

Test [Drive Notification] - Instance [E:\, Drive Type: 5]:

Result [Legacy Notification]: OK

Result [AutoPlay V2 Notification]: Problems {

Service (Fired)

Shell (Deaf) }

>> Repair << [Autoplay V2 Event]

Step: Deleting ShellHWDetection LaunchPermission (HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\{B1B9CBB2-B198-47E2-8260-9FD629A2B2EC}!LaunchPermission)

Result: The wizard ran into problems while trying to delete this registry value (HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\{B1B9CBB2-B198-47E2-8260-9FD629A2B2EC}!LaunchPermission).

>> Required action: The wizard found problems but cannot fix them -> None

AutoFix [V5.2.3790.67]

Time [2006-10-14 17:04:28]

Microsoft Windows Version [5.1 (Service Pack 2) <2600>]

Test [The Shell Hardware Detection service is running.] - Instance [N/A]:

Result [AutoStart Setting]: OK

Result [The Shell Hardware Detection service is running.]: OK

Test [Policies] - Instance [D:\, Drive Type: 5]:

Result [HKCU\...\Policies!NoDrives]: OK {Absent}

Result [HKCU\...\Policies!NoDriveAutorun]: OK {Absent}

Result [HKCU\...\Policies!NoDriveTypeAutorun]: OK {Present}

Result [HKLM\...\Policies!NoDrives]: OK {Absent}

Result [HKLM\...\Policies!NoDriveAutorun]: OK {Absent}

Result [HKLM\...\Policies!NoDriveTypeAutorun]: OK {Absent}

Result [Driver level policies]: OK {

HKLM\...\Services\cdrom!Autorun (Present) <Allows>

HKLM\...\Services\cdrom\Parameters!Autorun (Absent) <Allows>

HKLM\System\CCS\Enum\...!AlwaysEnable (Absent) <Not set>

HKLM\System\CCS\Enum\...!AlwaysDisable (Absent) <Not set> }

Test [Drive Notification] - Instance [D:\, Drive Type: 5]:

Result [Legacy Notification]: OK

Result [AutoPlay V2 Notification]: Problems {

Service (Fired)

Shell (Deaf) }

>> Repair << [Autoplay V2 Event]

Step: Deleting ShellHWDetection LaunchPermission (HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\{B1B9CBB2-B198-47E2-8260-9FD629A2B2EC}!LaunchPermission)

Result: The wizard ran into problems while trying to delete this registry value (HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\{B1B9CBB2-B198-47E2-8260-9FD629A2B2EC}!LaunchPermission).

>> Required action: The wizard found problems but cannot fix them -> None

I have also gone to Regedit, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\CDRom. The value under Data reads 0x00000001(1) which, I understand, means that Auto Run is enabled.

Don't know what else to do next and would very much appreciate some help on this one please.

I was thinking about trying System Restore, the only trouble with this is that I have no idea when the problem started so may have to go back a long way.

[-pops-]

I never rely on System Restore these days - I've known it let people down all too often.

Don't you have a backup that you can re-install from?

[JesseJ1935]

Thank you Pops.

Oh yes, I have plenty of back ups, I do incremental back ups every week with a full back up about every 3 months. Unfortunately I can't recall how long ago they were working properly so it looks like it could be a very long job.

[-pops-]

I suggest you save all of your important personal files and settings and re-install from a backup as far as you think is practical.

It could be a hardware problem, though.

[JesseJ1935]

Thank you pops.

I'm pleased to say that the matter has now been resolved. In an answer received from another forum of which I'm a member, it was suggested that I went into Device Manager and uninstalled both drives, reboot and let XP reinstall them. I tried it and it has worked, both drives are now working properly again.

[-pops-]

The action you described that worked would have normally been my response to your problem but with you posting all those ominous reports I thought there must be a lot more to it than that.

Pleased you're fixed up.

Don't stop making the backups though. :)

[JesseJ1935]

Quite frankly, so did I. I was thinking it was something a bit more serious than it was. Normal reaction though I suppose, think the worst and work back from that.

As for the back ups, I use Acronis True Image and have it scheduled to do incremental back ups every Saturday p.m. Maybe more often than is needed seeing as I don't do a great deal during a week but its got me out of trouble a couple of times so it can stay as it is. Just to be on the safe side, the full back up I do approx. every 3 months also goes onto a DVD, the incremental ones are saved in a partition on the hard drive.