What to do if the computer does not see the disk. The disk drive does not see the disk: what is the reason and what to do? The main reasons for the “disappearance” of a disk

Over time, the disk drive of a computer or laptop simply refuses to read discs. Sometimes it only concerns separate disks or media types (for example, the drive reads all discs except DVD-R or CD-RW), and sometimes absolutely all discs remain unread - the drive simply does not want to work with them. There may be several reasons for such a drive “strike”. Below are the most common problems and why and solutions.

First, you need to decide whether the drive has stopped working on a particular disk or is not reading everything you offer it. If it stubbornly refuses to read only one disc out of all those offered, check it for scratches, abrasions, etc. mechanical damage- perhaps the reason lies in the disk itself, and not the drive.

If the drive served you faithfully for several years and only then stopped working correctly, it may simply need cleaning of the optical lens, which is responsible for reading information from the media. In order to clean it, you can use it, but it is advisable to contact a specialist who will not only clean the lens by disassembling the drive, but also rid it of dust and other contaminants that have gotten inside the device during its operation.

However, sometimes it happens that a new or practically new drive refuses to work. Why doesn't the drive read discs in this case? Disk drive problems can occur for a variety of reasons. First you need to check whether the cable connecting the drive to the drive is damaged. motherboard. If damaged, this cable may become main reason problems. If no visible damage is found, you can still try connecting the drive to the motherboard using another cable.

If the drive refuses to respond to user commands at all, you can try removing the device from the system and installing it again. To do this, go to “System Properties”, select “Hardware” and, having found required device, delete it. After this, you need to restart the computer so that the system can again detect the drive and install everything on it necessary drivers. Most often, after this manipulation, the drive starts working. But there are other answers to the question why the drive does not read discs.

Sometimes the reason why a drive fails to function normally is the appearance in the system of so-called virtual disks ods using programs that help the system read disk images stored on the computer. If the drive stops working after installing one of these programs (for example, Virtual CD or Alcohol 120%), you can try completely removing it and see if it works after that.

Sometimes searching for an answer to the question of why the drive does not read discs can lead to a sad result - it turns out that the drive board has simply burned out. Therefore, even before purchasing of this device It is advisable to find out for yourself which drive is the best of all those offered on the market. To do this, you can consult with specialists or read specialized forums on the Internet.

In some cases for further work If the drive doesn't read, it's enough to reflash it. Detailed description This procedure, like the firmware itself, can also be found on the Internet. The main thing to remember is that after unsuccessful firmware the drive can simply be thrown away, so you should approach this process with all seriousness.

These are just the main points why the drive won't read discs. If your problem does not fit any of the points described above, it is best to seek help from a specialist.

Very often there are cases when you want to watch an important event in your life recorded on a disc or start a game, but you find that the drive refuses to read it. So what to do in such a situation and find out why the drive does not read discs.

The first thing you should pay attention to is the condition of the surface of the CD/DVD disc. If there are minor abrasions and scratches on the surface, the disc may not be readable. Insert another disc with a cleaner surface and see if it is readable or not. To dispel all doubts that the problem lies precisely in optical media information, check them on another computer. If you checked several drives and all of them were not detected, the problem is with the drive.

In most cases, the reason when the drive cannot read a CD or DVD lies in their problematic surface. That's where we'll start. If the CD/DVD media is very important to you, you can try restoring it. To do this, consider several ways:

Try wiping the disc gently with a dry, soft cloth. It is very important that you need to wipe across the paths, never in a circle. In this way, we clean the disk from dirt. If it is not badly scratched, this will be enough to transfer files to your computer.

If the drive still does not read it, we try to polish it. To do this, apply a polish containing wax to the scratches and rub well with a soft cloth. At least we will be able to open the disk once to extract information from it onto the computer.

Then install it on your computer special program, with which you can read a damaged disk, for example, free utility Unstoppable Copier. When copying, this program tries to count several times bad sectors and if it doesn’t work, he skips them. Thus, you can copy from a disk to a computer, although not all the information, but most of it.

It is also possible that when DVD recording RW has failed, causing the device to not read it. Most often, this situation can arise when incorrect installation recording parameters in the Alcohol 120% program. Try re-recording it or using another DVD media.

Problems at the software level

If the problem is in the drive, first let's determine what is preventing the operating system from recognizing it. If the drive has stopped reading discs, but was still working yesterday, remember what programs or games you installed. The fact is that virtual disk emulator programs, such as Daemon Tools and Alcohol 120% may cause problems with the drive. Also, failures in the disk drive driver may occur after installing some games that also create virtual disks.

If failures occur as a result of the above programs, we remove them. Then you need to return Windows to more early state using a system restore point.

If the drive still does not read discs, go to “Device Manager” and on the “DVD and CD-ROM drives» check for the presence of virtual disks. First, on the “View” tab, you need to check the box to view hidden devices. If there are virtual drives, delete them through the pop-up menu with the right mouse button.

To update the driver, it is advisable to remove the CD itself/ DVD drive from Device Manager. After restarting the computer, the operating system will automatically install it.

If the above steps do not solve the problem, in the “IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers” tab we look for the device that is responsible for the operation CD-DVD drive. To do this, right-click through properties and go to “ Extra options" The device type of the controller that is responsible for the drive will be marked “ATAPI CD Drive”. In this window, check the box next to “Enable DMA”.

Hardware problem

Perhaps the device does not read because after cleaning the computer, the contacts of the IDE cable or SATA cable came off motherboard or from the power supply. Check the connectors for tight contacts or reinstall them in another IDE/SATA slot. In rare cases, a break may occur in the cable itself as a result of bending.

If the device does not read all DVDs, the drive's laser head may have become clogged over time. Therefore, we recommend using a special cleaning disc to clean it.

Troubleshooting disk drive problems using the MicrosoftFixit.dvd.Run utility

To solve problems with the drive and DVD media, you can use the MicrosoftFixit.dvd.Run utility. It will automatically scan your device and fix problems.

You can download the utility to your computer from the official website by clicking on the “Run” button. During drive diagnostics, the program will ask you to insert a DVD. Make sure it is working. After testing is completed, the detected problems and the result of their elimination will be indicated.

Owners of computers with CD (DVD) drives may encounter a situation in which their drive does not see or read discs inserted into the drive. This dysfunction can be caused by a number of reasons, both hardware and software, and require direct user intervention to solve this problem. In this article I will tell you why the drive does not see the disk, I will list the reasons that cause this situation, and I’ll also tell you how to fix it.

If you are faced with the question of what to do if the drive does not read the disc, then, first of all, you need to determine the reasons why the drive does not recognize the disc. Let's divide the entire list of reasons into hardware and software.

Hardware reasons

The hardware reasons why your drive does not see the disk, I would include the following:


Software reasons

After we have sorted out the hardware reasons, let's decide on software reasons why the drive won't read the disc. I would give the following reasons:

  • Conflict with virtual disks (virtual disk manager programs such as Alchohol 120%, Nero, Daemon Tools and a number of analogues are installed on the computer);
  • Problem with drivers (incorrect operation of drivers, their outdated versions and so on);
  • The SD (DVD) drive is software disabled in the BIOS.

How to fix the problem when the drive does not see the disk

I suggest users to do the following actions when the drive is not working:


  • Check the tightness of the connections between the cables and connectors of the drive and the motherboard;
  • Try temporarily removing the virtual disk managers installed on your PC (Alcohol, Daemon Tools, Nero, etc.);
  • Reinstall the drivers hard drives. Click on “Start”, type devmgmt.msc in the search bar and press enter. In the list of Device Manager, find the item “DVD and CD-ROM drives”, expand it, click right key mouse on the name of your player, and in the menu that appears, select “Delete” (if there are several drives, delete them all in the same way). Then click on the Action button at the top and select Update Hardware Configuration. The system will update the configuration and reinstall your drives in Device Manager;

  • Use DMA if possible. Go to the specified Device Manager again, find the IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers item and expand it. You can see items such as ATA channel 0, ATA channel 1, etc. Right-click on each of them, select “Properties”, go to “Advanced settings” and view the device type there. If the CD drive is listed there, then try checking the “Enable DMA” option (if it is, then, on the contrary, uncheck it). After that, reboot the system and see if your disk can be read;

    Check the box “Enable DMA”

  • Enter the BIOS and make sure that your drive is turned on, this may help in the issue where the drive does not recognize the disk;
  • Roll back to the previous point Windows recovery, at which the drive worked correctly. Click on the “Start” button, type rstrui in the search bar, find the previous stable restore point, and roll back to it.

  • Buy a new drive. If the service life of your device is calculated in years, then it could simply have exhausted its resource. Buy a new device, since their price on the market is not high.

Programs for solving problems with reading and writing disks with a disk drive

In the question of why the drive does not see the disk, special programs can also help us. I would mention Microsoft Fixit - a program for correcting various software errors in the Windows OS. And also Recuva, Unstoppable Copier, PhotoRec and Bad Copy - programs that will try to read the information you need from a damaged disk.

To update your drive drivers, you should also use programs such as DriverPack Solution, Driver Booster Free, Slim Drivers and others like them, which allow you to establish the most fresh drivers to your devices. Updating your disk drivers to the latest ones may help resolve the problem with your disk drive reading disks.

If you have Windows 10 on your PC and you also have a problem where the drive does not see the disk, then in addition to the tips I described above, try the following:

  • Run Command Prompt as administrator (press Win+X keys, select " Command line(administrator)"), and there enter:

reg.exe add "HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\atapi\Controller0" /f /v EnumDevice1 /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000001

Press enter and then reboot your system;

  • Use the DVD Drive (Icon) Repair program. Install this product, run it, click on the “Repair DVD Drive” button, wait for the result, and then restart your computer.

What to do if the drive does not detect disks [video]

In this material, I examined the problem of a disk drive when it does not see the disk, identified a list of reasons causing this dysfunction, and outlined ways to solve it. In most cases, hardware determinants are to blame for this problem - gradual failure of the drive, as well as physical damage disc surface (scratches, dust, etc.). To get rid of the “drive does not read discs” problem, try all the tips I listed, one of them may help you.

In contact with

Hello, friends. I decided to write an article on the topic: the computer does not see the DVD windows drive 7. The tips written below are also relevant for other versions of Windows.

Nowadays, probably few people use CD or DVD drives, but even if a breakdown occurs, do not rush to order a new drive. There are many reasons why it stops working. If the failure is in the drive, then you can solve the problem by knowing some secrets. I’ll say right away that the drive is not always the main problem. Next, you will learn about the main breakdowns and how to fix them. There is also a video at the end of the article with another solution to the problem.

Features of the problem

Try to identify the nature of the breakdown. Let's start by checking the disks. We take the disks and try to start them, if some of them start, then we begin to look for faults in the technical part. There is also a moment when a failure occurs during the operation of the operating system, then the disks are not readable at all. The same fate will affect disc recording.

How to solve the problem programmatically? Think about what programs were recently installed on your PC. Perhaps they were playing games. Sometimes, during installation, they arbitrarily install “their” virtual disks, and as a result they conflict and problems appear with the DVD drive. Another popular cause of “breakdown” is the Alcohol or Daemon Tools programs - as you understand, they are needed to mount these same virtual disks. All of this can affect the operation of the drive.

How can everything be checked?

The answer is simple: remove the programs listed above and try to start the drive. If everything starts up and works, then the answer is obvious. If you haven’t noticed any changes, you’ll have to dig further. Another popular problem is driver glitches. In this case, use Device Manager. Go to “Control Panel -> System” or for those who are used to working with the keyboard, press “Win ​​+ Pause”, then select “Device Manager” on the left side.

If we remove the above software and open the device manager, we can still see virtual drives installed by the programs we mentioned above. You need to look at them in the “DVD and CD-ROM drives” branch. Now let's use the right mouse button, menu and delete them. Then restart your computer. See if any changes have occurred.

What other actions can be taken? We list below:

- click the “View” menu, select “Show hidden devices»;

— find the “SPTD” driver in the device tree (it is located in the “Non-plug and play device drivers” section);

Is there a positive result? If not, move on. Find among the 2 or 4 controller channels in the IDEATA/ATAPI controllers section the one to which the DVD drive is connected. As a rule, each such channel different name. Open each channel one by one and look at “Device Type”.

What we are looking for is "ATAPI CD-ROM drive". What to do next? You need to look at the “Enable DMA” checkbox. If it’s standing, then remove it, if not, then put it up. Then reboot, look at the result. When everything started working normally with the option disabled, check the box and reboot again. Leave the working version. For best, the “Enable DMA” feature should be enabled. Sometimes this condition It is considered the only possible one when Windows 7 is installed.

How else can you configure the drive?

Go to device manager and open the DVD drive there. Next, as in the picture, select your drive, click “Properties” and go to the “DVD Region” tab, see what region is indicated here. If the region is “Not selected,” then we leave it as it is and do not change anything. If the region shown is not yours, set yours. Please note that you can only change the region 5 times. Try additionally changing “Not Selected” to any other region. Reflashing will help you get everything back.

What to do next if there are no problems with the hardware?

  • The first thing we look at is the train. Maybe you did something recently on your PC that could have damaged it. Replace it - maybe you have a spare one, or you can borrow a replacement from one of your friends to check, or buy a new one. Next, look at the power plug.
  • Open the tray, blow out (as far as possible) the insides of the drive. Why is this needed? During operation, the DVD drive becomes covered with dust, this directly affects the operation of the laser. If there is a layer of dust on it, then the discs will not be readable or will be readable, but selectively.
  • If you have previously dealt with the repair of any equipment, then you can use this advice. Carefully disassemble the drive, soak an ear stick in alcohol and clean the laser eye with it.
  • For those who are not good at repairs. Not everyone can properly disassemble and reassemble a DVD drive. Tip: Use a cleaning disc that has brushes. If the drive recognizes the disk, it will spin it and the brushes will remove dust from the laser.
  • The second option is to flash the drive firmware. Try to find the firmware on the manufacturer's portal, download and follow the instructions for proper installation.

Also watch the video, it shows another solution to the problem

What to do if DVD ROM does not read discs? The computer freezes when a disc is inserted, or when copying a movie or music, an error appears. So what is the matter - a scratched disk or the disk drive is to blame. Let's look at the causes and methods of eliminating these computer malfunctions.

If previously the disks were read normally, but after the next reboot the computer cannot read more than one disk, then most likely the reason is in the software or, more simply, some installed program conflicts with the DVD drive.

If you're having problems with one drive but other drives are working fine, try these solutions. Please note that your console does not require repairs or updates to resolve this issue. Solution 1: Make sure the drive is clean and defective.

Clean the disc with a soft, clean, slightly damp cloth. Hold the disc by its edges without touching the top or bottom surface. Solution 2: Playing the disc on another console can help you determine if the problem is related to separate disk or the disc drive on the console. Try the disc on a friend's console or at a retail location that can test the disc.

If the computer does not read only some discs, then the problem is in the drive itself, but we will try to fix even this problem ourselves; we will discuss this below. First, let's see if it's possible that the problem lies in the operating system.

For reference, the problem may be not only with reading disks, but also with writing them. The instructions below may be equally effective in resolving both problems.

My disk boots but has not been installed

Solution 3: Previous section. In this article, we will show you how to solve the problem. After all, you want to get your data quickly. The main rule in this situation is to remain calm and act analytically. In most cases the cause is harmless. Our practical article shows what you can do in this case. Obviously nothing happens after connecting external media data, which can have many causes.

Determining the reason why the drive does not read discs

In the worst case scenario, the hard drive is actually faulty and can no longer be used.

  • Connection problems, such as a mechanical problem.
  • The wrong driver is being used for access.
You must eliminate these sources of error one at a time. It is important to note in advance, however: active processes V background The system may be so loaded that it takes longer than usual. Before attempting to fix the problem, simply plug in the drive and wait a minute or two.

Software conflict

When software error, the drive stops reading discs immediately, rather than gradually getting worse and worse. This may be preceded by installed program or a toy. Programs for creating virtual drives often conflict with drivers installed on the computer for DVD-ROM drives. The most popular of these programs are Alcohol 120%, Daemon Tools and Nero. We simply remove these programs and undo the changes they made through System Restore. Let's go to Control Panel => Action Center => System Restore and select the date to which you should restore. Select a date when the drive was still working without problems.

Check your external hard drive connection

Each technician will also start working on the hardware while analyzing the hardware problem. If HDD detected, then most likely the first port of the computer is faulty. Especially with cheaper plates, their quality often leaves much to be desired. The cable may be broken and therefore a stable connection cannot be established. Be sure to connect the adapter alternating current. And make sure it's turned on. Check the indicators on the plate and power supply.

  • Get an alternative cable.
  • Many external hard drives are not the cause of the power cable.
Of course this won't work.

We look at the result; if the problems have disappeared, then the remote program is to blame; if not, we move on.

Driver error

The drive may not see the disks due to errors in the driver. By pressing the key combination “Win ​​+ Pause”, open the device manager from the menu on the left.

In the list of devices, we delete virtual drives, if this did not happen after uninstalling the programs that we met above. Right-click on virtual drive and select “delete” from the drop-down menu. For complete removal left traces, we need to find the driver " SPTD" and delete it. To display it, turn on the " Show hidden devices" on the menu " View" You will be able to view the changes after restarting your computer.

The control is simple. Bring up Computer Management, preferably by typing the term into the search bar. If the drive needs to be found here, but no drive letter is assigned, right-click the item.

  • From the Data Storage submenu, select.
  • Then all connected hard drives are displayed.
Select Disk Management from the Storage submenu. Communication between the operating system and the connected internal and external hardware requires some kind of translator. Drivers are very specific to the corresponding module.

If the problem does not disappear after rebooting, go to next step. In the task manager, go to "", and among the devices with the name " ATA Chanel"We need to find the one that is responsible for the CD-ROM. To do this, you need to open the controller properties and go to the “Advanced parameters” tab.

The line “Device type” should contain “”. See if there is a check mark next to the item “ Enable DMA", try starting the system both with the function enabled and disabled. This method often helps to get the drive to read discs in Windows 7.

If the wrong one is used, it leads to problems. Entry “Edit Environment Variables for this account" also appears as a hit.

  • Enter the entry " Environment" in the search box in the Start menu.
  • Click "Create".
In the second, the value is 1. Only now the system provides the user with access to outdated drivers or remote devices. Right-click the entry to open a context menu where you can update the driver or remove the device.
  • Open Device Manager.
  • In the View section, select.
  • Devices or drivers that are not activated will not be available.
  • Now find the model name of your entry.
Under View, select Show hidden devices.

If the drive does not read only video DVD discs, then perhaps the wrong region is selected in the drive settings. In order to change regional settings, go to the task manager and open the properties of the DVD-ROM. Go to the “DVD Region” tab and select your region, but if the “Current region” line is set to “Not selected,” then it’s better not to change anything.

The disk or file system is faulty

However, make sure that you only really remove the drivers that you know are no longer needed or are causing the problem. To ensure safety, restart the system and reconnect the external hard drive. Often the problem is fixed. If the drive is now recognized but you still can't access your files, you may have to face the truth that the drive is indeed faulty. Then we just reformat. The function is achieved by right-clicking on the disc entry in Explorer.

CD drive problem

All DIY drive repairs come down to replacing the IDE or SATA cable from the drive to the motherboard. You can also try connecting a different power connector; usually the power supply has a couple of free connectors. And the last thing that remains for us is to clean the disk drive laser.

To clean the laser head, remove the drive cover and very gently wipe the laser with a cotton swab.

If the drive still doesn't show up in Device Manager, the drive may also be mechanically faulty. In this case, you have no choice but to buy a new record. Before troubleshooting, first make sure that the drives you are using work with your computer. Inserting a disc custom size or form into an actuator not designed to accommodate it may damage the actuator.

Standard round disc 120 mm

Examples of non-standard or formatted drives that are not supported

Troubleshooting. Here are some of the symptoms that may occur. Follow the steps for the corresponding symptom to verify that the problem is coming from or within the disk. Be sure to inspect the discs before using them to ensure they are not cracked, scratched, or damaged. The inspection should include inner ring disk, which should be smooth and without roughness. A failed drive may become pinched or damage the drive.

Do not use acetone, alcohol or other aggressive liquids. Instead of the expected result, you will lose the drive forever. Optimal choice There will be water or, as a last resort, high-quality gasoline for lighters.

If you don't want to risk disassembling the drive, you can purchase a special cleaning CD that will also effectively clean the laser eye of accumulated dust.

Accepts discs, but discs are not readable or are automatically ejected

If the disc is curved on both sides or in the center, do not use it as it may get caught in the drive. If you have difficulty inserting the disc into the device, or if the disc stops in the middle of the disc, look closely at the disc for marks that may be interfering with the disc. If you can't find the bright shortcuts on the disc, try loading it a few more times. Try inserting a different drive to see if the problem is caused by a specific drive. Make sure you insert enough of the disc to engage the drive mechanism. You have to insert almost the entire disk to activate the disk and remove it. If you do not insert the disc completely, the device will operate in reverse order and eject the disc. Give the drive a second or two to accept the drive when it is fully inserted. Reset.

Do not eject discs or discs are ejected slowly

If the disc ejects slowly or is difficult, insert and remove the disc several times. Make sure there is a label or other material stuck to the disc that may increase its thickness. If the disc does not eject, try dragging the disc icon to the Trash. If the disc still does not eject, try holding down the trackpad or mouse button after restarting your computer. Please note that because optical drives operate by spinning the dial quickly, it is normal for them to vibrate or emit noise. If you find that the drive is making more noise than usual when inserting or removing disks, try inserting and removing the disk several times to correct the problem. Try using other drives to see if the problem is with just one drive or drive type, or if the problem is specific to the drive. If the disk has uneven distribution weight, this may cause additional noise and vibration when the disk rotates in the device. Vibrations resulting from using an optical drive can be exacerbated by using the system on a surface that is neither rigid nor flat. Make sure that all of the laptop's feet are present, as the lack of this support can create an uneven surface. Please note that the device must only be operated in horizontal position and may make more noise if it is tilted. If you lift or move the unit while reading a disc, it may become unbalanced. Any damages incurred by the device or disc as a result of using it in accordance with the above conditions will not be covered by the product warranty. Although some noises and vibrations are predictable, if you find that the noise or vibration generated by the device is not normal.
  • Check the disc to make sure it is flat.
  • You can do this by placing the disc upside down on a flat surface.
  • Do not use discs with objects attached or suspended.
  • Make sure the device is not turned upside down.
  • Select System Information from the menu.
  • Remove the label if possible.
  • If the disc does not eject, try pressing the eject key on your keyboard.
Insert the disc into the optical drive of the shared computer.

To understand the reasons why the laptop does not read disks, it is necessary to analyze the situation - how exactly did the malfunction occur? What events preceded the problem?

If the computer has been in use for a long time, it is logical to assume that the power of the laser beam has decreased significantly over time. In this case, the drive usually first stops writing information to discs, and after a few months it becomes impossible to play back.

If you can't use a shared drive

If you enabled the option to request permission before using the drive, click Accept on the computer that is sharing its optical drive. Summary: External hard drive not recognized or appears on your computer or drive?

Hard drive overview is not displayed or is not recognized

This problem occurs frequently and can ultimately lead to a data loss disaster. While a hard drive problem that doesn't show up has caused problems for large number users.

Some types of disk drives have an option to increase laser power. For this purpose, there is a special adjustment screw on the body. The problem is that laser amplification will force the equipment to work in a forced mode and this will soon lead to the final destruction of the laser source.

If the discs are not only unreadable, but the tray does not open at all, it can be assumed that there is no power to the device. There could be several reasons for this.

Make sure your external hard drive appears under Disk Management

When you find that external hard drive is not showing up on your computer, you first need to open the Disk Management tool and make sure it shows up in Disk Management. This will help you determine why your hard drive is not recognized and find correct solution to display or locate the missing disk.

Make the hard drive recognized and appear on the computer in different cases

When the hard drive appears in Disk Management. If you see your external drive listed in the Disk Management window, this means that the drive is not showing up in your computer window because it does not contain partitions. To backup or restore data to an external hard drive is not recognized.

  • The contact in the connecting wires is broken. You need to turn off the computer, perform an external inspection, disconnect and reconnect the power and data cables.
  • Malfunction of the motherboard or south bridge.
  • The tracks on laptop boards are very thin and often burn out. Short circuit most often occurs after liquid gets on the laptop keyboard. Burnt tracks and contacts can be detected visual inspection. Some advanced users even repair gaps in tracks on the motherboard themselves.
  • If the laptop has not been charged for a long time, the battery may not have enough power to normal operation some power-consuming computer devices. To check this version you just need to connect Charger to the laptop and wait a while.

The disk drive could break, and not only at the laser level. The test is usually carried out by installing a known-good analogue or installing the problematic unit in another computer.

Software problems

Sometimes a situation where the laptop does not read discs is caused by the operation of certain applications, such as Nero. If any virtual disks were previously created on the computer, the system could switch to them, and the physical disk drive would seem to disappear from general list connected equipment.

To find out if the drive is connected, you need to open Control Panel and view the list of connected devices. If the problem is with your disk management software, the physical drive may not be listed in the hardware list, but virtual disks will be shown.

To begin with, you can try simply removing the virtual disks and turning on the physical drive. Possibly after reboot DVD reading and CD media will be restored.

Next probable cause consists of incorrect operation device drivers. How can you reinstall the drivers if the drive does not read and use the set of files from the installation Windows distribution impossible? All that remains is to look for the necessary drivers on the Internet. The best way is to go to the official website of the manufacturer of the type of drive that is installed on your computer.

If you are not sure which drivers are required, you can go to other, more in a simple way. Download and install a special program from the Internet that automatically analyzes the computer system and checks the availability and relevance of drivers.

The utility itself will check the availability and functionality of drivers and then automatically find and install them. As an option, you can run the Windows OS automatic update system in general process Fresh drivers for the optical drive will also be installed.

Problem with BIOS settings

For some reason, the laser drive was disabled at the basic BIOS settings level. Go to CMOS settings and check. If it says that the drive is unavailable, you just need to re-enable it by selecting Enable instead of Disable from the drop-down menu. Then restart Windows. Even easier is to reset the BIOS settings to default. If you did not do anything special with the BIOS settings, such an operation will not harm the performance of your computer.


The computer is infected with viruses

If you active user Internet, like to visit little-known sites, often install new programs, follow links to emails, the probability that the computer will receive a portion harmful viruses very large.

First you need to check the system. Turn on antivirus scanning. After removing infections, the antivirus usually prompts you to restart the operating system for a final repair.

If after an overload the disks are still not readable, it could very well turn out that your digital horse got a really serious illness that greatly destroyed operating system. Viruses often destroy important system files and disguise themselves as their names.