Question Win 11 File Explorer can see CD/DVD player but does not detect CD in drive

[B1charles]

New computer build.Installed Windows 11, upgraded. Now at 22H2 OS build 1945.6131 . I can see the CD/DVD player with File Explorer. I load a disc but it isn't detected. I can use "eject" and the tray comes out. I've reloaded the driver for the player. No change. I saw a couple of posts on the net about registry changes which say they might fix the problem but I am not all that knowledgeable and am reluctant to try something like that. So the question is how to proceed.

 

[USAFRet]

Does this happen with multiple CDs?

 

[ex_bubblehead]

Never rule out a faulty CDROM drive or data cable, they do fail from time to time.

 

[Ralston18]

@B1charles

Any error codes, warnings, or informational events in Reliabillity History/Monitor and/or Event Viewer?

Look for entries logged just before or at the times that discs were loaded and CD/DVD detection failed.

 

[mikemid]

if not showing means, enable removable device in bios, also try to Run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter also Run the Microsoft CD/DVD Fix it troubleshooter.

 

[B1charles]

There are no error codes. It happens with any CD. The device is listed in BIOS, and I ran the troubleshooter with no result. I removed the river and re installed it. Seems to me the point is the drive itself is recognized by the OS but loading a CD does nothing.

 

[joeldf]

It's been a few days, but which kind of discs are you trying to read?
Audio CDs?
DVDs?
Data CDs?
Any kind of disc? Or just certain types?

Either way, it could just be a bad drive. A failure of the laser pickup. The drive board electronics may be fine which is why the PC can see it. But a failure of the laser mechanism would just keep it from reading anything.

Do you hear it at least spin up? If not, it could be the motor is dead.

If it's any of those issues, there's nothing you can do through the PC or Windows itself - a bad drive is a bad drive. If you just bought this drive, it sounds like a return for a refund is in your future. If this is an old drive you are trying to use, you just need a new one.

I've had decent luck with Plextor drives - using one now in my build from 2021

 

[B1charles]

It's been a few days, but which kind of discs are you trying to read?
Audio CDs?
DVDs?
Data CDs?
Any kind of disc? Or just certain types?

Either way, it could just be a bad drive. A failure of the laser pickup. The drive board electronics may be fine which is why the PC can see it. But a failure of the laser mechanism would just keep it from reading anything.

Do you hear it at least spin up? If not, it could be the motor is dead.

If it's any of those issues, there's nothing you can do through the PC or Windows itself - a bad drive is a bad drive. If you just bought this drive, it sounds like a return for a refund is in your future. If this is an old drive you are trying to use, you just need a new one.

I've had decent luck with Plextor drives - using one now in my build from 2021

 

[B1charles]

It is a brand new CD drive. It spins up. It reads no type of CD: Music, Software install or a collection of photos. I have switched the data cable twice and it acts the same. How do I look at events in Reliability History/ Monitor and/or Event Viewer? I'm happy to check for entries logged in at the times that discs were loaded. I didn't know there were logs kept as described by a Rolston18.

And finally is there a setting to send me a email when there is a new post. I've only been notified once.

Thanks.

 

[onespeedbiker]

How is the optical drive attached? Internal or external? Make sure you have the most current bios. Have you tried using the Windows Media Player with audio CDs?

 

[B1charles]

How is the optical drive attached? Internal or external? Make sure you have the most current bios. Have you tried using the Windows Media Player with audio CDs?

It is an internal drive, the connection is SATA. I have tried 3 different cables with the same result. Windows Media Player shows nothing with audio CD's,

 

[onespeedbiker]

I'm pretty old school, bring up the Device Manager, you probably have to so a search, and check under optical devices and see if the driver is properly installed.

 

[KingLoki]

Something simple, have you plugged in to various sata connectors on the motherboard to test.

 

[onespeedbiker]

This really sounds like a Driver issue.I would first go to the motherboard, optical drive, or prebuilt manufacturer and see if either have a Window 11 driver.

Here are a few good suggestions (doesn't have to be a Dell, unless it is 😊) https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...see-disk/e9a62ebd-8ca0-4ee2-9f78-d55e0c503d89. You can skip editing the registry if it something you would prefer not to do, because yes you can really mess up your OS install if you make a mistake.