i too recently lost my cdrw/dvd player, think it had to
do with installing highmat update from microsoft. I also
got the error 39 but was able to get rid of it by doing
the following:
using regedit in run command removed:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\
{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} Highlight the
CDRom Drive Key(s), delete the Values "UpperFilters"
and/or "LowerFilters" Open Device Manager and Remove the
entry for the cd device(s), then restart.
that then fixed the error 39 message says device is
working properly but when i access a burned or retail cd
says no media is in the drive. very frustrating
situation. short of reinstalling 98 or ME by fdisk and
reformating, i am at a loss to how to restore my ability
to access and read my cd /dvd drive. A major error using
a microsoft update that i feel they should issue a fix
for. it seems to be in epidemic proportion from the
newsgroups i've been too but to date no fix for the
problem. I've been in bios, told the puter to boot only
from cd rom it overides that and starts windows with a
defunct cd drive. You cannot reinstall XP cause you have
no cd at boot up or in windows......HELP PLEASE!