Issues with CD/DVD Rom device driver

[Guest]

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]

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]

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

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[SoCalCommie]

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