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Article Number: 000134006

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Optical Disk Drive is not recognized in Microsoft Windows or other applications

Summary: Learn how to troubleshoot a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or BD-ROM drive that is not seen by Windows.

This article may have been automatically translated. If you have any feedback regarding its quality, please let us know using the form at the bottom of this page.

Article Content

Symptoms

Affected Operating Systems:

Microsoft Windows 11
Microsoft Windows 10
Microsoft Windows 8 or 8.1
Microsoft Windows 7
Microsoft Windows Vista
Microsoft Windows XP

This article has information about how to troubleshoot issues that are related to the CD, DVD, or Blu-Ray drive on your Dell Desktop or Laptop computer. The instructions below help you diagnose and resolve issues if your CD, DVD, or Blu-Ray drive is not being recognized in Microsoft Windows or other applications.

Cause

There could be several reasons why a CD, DVD, or Blu-Ray drive is not detected or recognized by Microsoft Windows or other applications. Below are some instructions that might help you resolve the problem in some instances if the drive has not failed completely.

Use the troubleshooting instructions below if your CD, DVD, or Blu-Ray drive is not seen in File Explorer or My Computer (it was called Windows Explorer in Microsoft Windows 7 and earlier versions of Microsoft Windows), and the drive is marked with a yellow exclamation point in Device Manager. In Device Manager, you may also notice one of the following errors is listed in the Device status area under the Properties tab. To view Device Manager: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type devmgmt.msc in the Run dialog box, then press Enter key to view Device Manager.

  • Windows cannot start this hardware device because its configuration information (in the registry) is incomplete or damaged. (Code 19)
  • The device is not working properly because Windows cannot load the drivers that are required for this device. (Code 31)
  • A driver (service) for this device has been disabled. An alternate driver may be providing this functionality. (Code 32)
  • Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing. (Code 39)
  • Windows successfully loaded the device driver for this hardware but cannot find the hardware device. (Code 41)

The instructions below can be used for both internal and external CD, DVD or Blu-Ray drives but some of the fundamentals might be a little different.

Note: The instructions below applies to the following Microsoft Windows Operating Systems, however some instructions may slightly vary with older version of Microsoft Windows (Windows Vista or Windows XP):
  • Microsoft Windows 11
  • Microsoft Windows 10
  • Microsoft Windows 8 or 8.1
  • Microsoft Windows 7
  • Microsoft Windows Vista
  • Microsoft Windows XP

Resolution

Troubleshooting Steps

Click the troubleshooting steps below for more instructions. If the issue is not resolved, go to the next troubleshooting step.

Ensure that the drive is recognized in the BIOS/System Setup. This step is applicable for computers with internal drives only.

  1. Restart your computer and tap the F2 key while it is restarting.
  2. Verify if the drive is detected in BIOS (Figure 1, 2 & 3). If yes, go to the next step.
    For more information, reference the Dell knowledgebase article Instructions to Download and View Manuals.
    SLN148709_en_US__1I_ODD_BIOS-1_TM_V1
    Figure 1: Optical Drive in BIOS

    SLN148709_en_US__2I_ODD_BIOS-2_TM_V1
    Figure 2: Optical Drive in BIOS

    SLN148709_en_US__3I_ODD_BIOS-3_TM_V1
    Figure 3: Optical Drive in BIOS
 
  • If the drive is not detected in BIOS, you must disconnect and reconnect the drive on your computer.
    For more instructions on how to disconnect and reconnect the CD, DVD, or Blu-Ray drive, reference the Dell knowledgebase article Instructions to Download and View Manuals.
  • If the drive is still not detected, contact Dell Technical Support for In-Warranty repair options.

The optical drive diagnostic may require you to have certain types of optical media available, such as a CD-RW, DVD-RW, or Blu-Ray disk. Before beginning the diagnostic, ensure you have the proper media that you want to troubleshoot.

To run a Diagnostic on your CD, DVD, or Blu-ray drive, browse to the Optical Drive Diagnostic and follow the instructions.

Note: It is required that you click the above link on the Dell computer that you are having trouble with. Dell System Detect and Dell SupportAssist application are installed to run a diagnostic on the devices of your computer. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation if the applications are not available on your Dell computer.

You can run the Windows Hardware and Devices troubleshooter which is built in to Microsoft Windows. The Hardware and Devices troubleshooter is available in Microsoft Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 10 only.
To run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter:

  1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. In the Run dialog box, type control then press the Enter key.
  3. On the top-right corner, in the Search box of Control Panel, type troubleshooter, and then click Troubleshooting.
  4. Under the Hardware and Sound item, click Configure a device.
    Note: You must log in to Windows with an account with administrator privileges. If you get any prompts from User Account Control while running the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter, click Yes.

Microsoft Fix it is a diagnostic software that is developed by Microsoft which allows detecting potential troubles which may affect a computer running on Microsoft Windows.

To automatically fix common issues with CD or DVD drives, click the Run now link below, and then follow the on-screen instructions.

Windows 10 and Windows 11

  1. Click Start.
  2. Open Settings
  3. Click Updates & Security, and then click Troubleshooting.
  4. Click Hardware & devices, and go to Run the troubleshooter.
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions to run the troubleshooter.

Windows 8.1, 8, or 7

  1. Press the Windows logo key + R to open the Run dialog box.

  2. Type control in the Run dialog box, then press Enter.
  3. In the Search box in Control Panel, type troubleshooter, and then click Troubleshooting.
  4. Under the Hardware and Sound, click Configure a device. If you are prompted to enter an administrator password or provide confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Drivers for your CD, DVD, or Blu-Ray drive is included within the Operating System and hence does not require you to install a specific driver. Uninstalling the driver and restarting the computer reinstall the driver which resolves most issues that are related to the device driver.

To uninstall and reinstall the driver, follow the instructions below:

  1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type devmgmt.msc in the Run dialog box, then press Enter key.
    Note: You must log in to Windows with an account with administrator privileges. If you get any prompts from User Account Control while running the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter, click Yes.
  3. In the Device Manager window, expand DVD/CD-ROM drives. Right-click the CD/DVD/Blu-Ray drive that is listed, and then click Uninstall.
  4. Click OK to confirm that you want to remove the device.
  5. Restart your computer (Once the restart is complete, the Operating System automatically installs the required drivers).

For any other issue with the CD, DVD or Blu-ray drive on your computer, reference the Dell knowledgebase article Troubleshooting CD/DVD or Blu-Ray Drive Problems in Microsoft Windows.

Article Properties

Affected Product

Alienware, Inspiron, Latitude, Vostro, XPS, Retired Models, Fixed Workstations

Last Published Date

29 Apr 2022

Version

6

Article Type

Solution