Issues with CD/DVD Rom device driver

Caro · External Since: Mar 19, 2007 Posts: 1

I purchased a new laptop that comes with Windows Vista and, after setting it
up, I installed a printer software and my camera software. Apparently both
are not compatible with Vista but eventually it let me install and use them.
Everything was ok and I also watched a movie.
The next day I inserted a CD to see some pictures and the autoplay didn't
pop up, then I inserted another DVD with same problem. When I searched for
the drive in "Devices w/removable storage", the following message appeared:
"Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be
corrupted or missing".
After that, I reboot the PC and when I searched for the drive again, it had
disappeared ! I cannot see that driver anymore!
Does it has anything to do with the fact that the software I installed was
not compatible? could this software have damaged this device?

Don · External Since: Mar 05, 2007 Posts: 515

Caro wrote:
> I purchased a new laptop that comes with Windows Vista and, after setting it
> up, I installed a printer software and my camera software. Apparently both
> are not compatible with Vista but eventually it let me install and use them.
> Everything was ok and I also watched a movie.
> The next day I inserted a CD to see some pictures and the autoplay didn't
> pop up, then I inserted another DVD with same problem. When I searched for
> the drive in "Devices w/removable storage", the following message appeared:
> "Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be
> corrupted or missing".
> After that, I reboot the PC and when I searched for the drive again, it had
> disappeared ! I cannot see that driver anymore!
> Does it has anything to do with the fact that the software I installed was
> not compatible? could this software have damaged this device?

Disappearing CD/DVD devices is a well-known glitch in Vista. Someone
with a better memory than mine will post a link to the MS technical
bulletin for you.

Meanwhile, just for my curiosity, would you try this simple test for me?
I saw this hint in 'Windows Vista Inside Out':
> ---------------------------------
> To view devices that were once installed but are no longer
> attached to the computer, open a Command Prompt window using
> the Run As Administrator option and enter the command
> SET DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES=1.
>
> Then, from the same command prompt, type devmgmt.msc to open Device
> Manager. Choose View, Show Hidden Devices. The new instance of Device
> Manager now shows "ghosted" entries for devices that were once present.
>
> This technique is especially useful for fixing problems caused by
> leftover drivers after replacing a network card or video card —
> just delete the ghosted device.
> ---------------------------------

I'd be interested if your missing device shows up there.

Rick Rogers · External Since: Aug 19, 2006 Posts: 3018

Hi,

No, the software should not have damaged the device, try the steps outlined
here in method 1 (I know it states this is for the beta version, but the fix
is the same):
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320553

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

"Caro" <Caro DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:9E033213-3C80-4E8B-A8EB-A42A1002D155@microsoft.com...
>I purchased a new laptop that comes with Windows Vista and, after setting
>it
> up, I installed a printer software and my camera software. Apparently both
> are not compatible with Vista but eventually it let me install and use
> them.
> Everything was ok and I also watched a movie.
> The next day I inserted a CD to see some pictures and the autoplay didn't
> pop up, then I inserted another DVD with same problem. When I searched for
> the drive in "Devices w/removable storage", the following message
> appeared:
> "Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may
> be
> corrupted or missing".
> After that, I reboot the PC and when I searched for the drive again, it
> had
> disappeared ! I cannot see that driver anymore!
> Does it has anything to do with the fact that the software I installed was
> not compatible? could this software have damaged this device?
>

SoCalCommie · External Since: Mar 03, 2007 Posts: 3

You can make that permanent by creating a new system variable of the same
name (works with XP and 2K as well).

SoCalCommie

"Behind every great fortune is a crime." - Honore de Balzac

"Don" <don195702 DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:OipOvKkaHHA.2076@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Meanwhile, just for my curiosity, would you try this simple test for me?
> I saw this hint in 'Windows Vista Inside Out':
> > ---------------------------------
> > To view devices that were once installed but are no longer
> > attached to the computer, open a Command Prompt window using
> > the Run As Administrator option and enter the command
> > SET DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES=1.
> >
> > Then, from the same command prompt, type devmgmt.msc to open Device
> > Manager. Choose View, Show Hidden Devices. The new instance of Device
> > Manager now shows "ghosted" entries for devices that were once present.
> >
> > This technique is especially useful for fixing problems caused by
> > leftover drivers after replacing a network card or video card -
> > just delete the ghosted device.
> > ---------------------------------
>
> I'd be interested if your missing device shows up there.