Recently, I just realised that my CDROM and DVDROM did not appear on “my computer” window and this circumstance really annoyed me as I was not able to even use Daemon tools to create virtual drive. Since my computer is quite old, it’s hard to find the CDROM driver on the internet (probably no longer available). As I kept looking for the driver for quite some time, I reached at this page and find the solution.
Missing cdrom icon
First step: Check CDROM physical connection
Before going into the registry thingy, one thing you need to check first is the physical connection of CDROM. You need to make sure that it is well connected otherwise it would be a waste time trying to delve into registry stuff whilst the connection is severed or badly connected.
1. From your desktop or from your start menu, right click on “My Computer > Properties”. Once System Properties window is prompted, choose the Hardware tab, then click on the Device Manager link.
2. Click on the “plus” sign right next to DVD/CD-ROM Drives. There should at least one entry under this heading if the device is properly connected. As far as my PC is concerned, I got entries under the heading but with the yellow sign (driver is corrupted).
If none is shown, you need to open your PC casing and check the wiring of your CDROM device.
Second step: Software related problem
Ok, from this point on, if we have confirmed that it’s not related the physical connection, the problem should be in the software or driver and this is the thing you need to fix. The possible cause of this problem is due to incomplete un-installation process of certain CD burning software which somehow conflicting with Windows access to the CDROM device.
The issue can resolved by downloading the CDROM driver and get it re-installed on your PC. Another way of getting back the missing CDROM drive from “My Computer” is through restoring the whole system to a previous working point. Up to this point, if none of the suggested solution works, you may try the following steps.
1. Click “Start menu > Run…” and key in REGEDIT to access Registry Editor
2. Navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Control/Class entry
3. Under the Class entry, click on {4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
4. From the right pane, click ONCE to select the UpperFilters entry
5. Be sure the UpperFilters entry is selected before hitting Delete and confirm your action taken.
6. Again, from the right pane, click ONCE to select the LowerFilters entry
7. Be sure the LowerFilters entry is selected before hitting Delete and confirm your action taken.
8. Exit Registry Editor and restart your PC.
Walla, now the missing CDROM drive should make a comeback.
