My Acer laptop computer, running Windows XP, has suddenly stopped recognising the CD/DVD drive after I removed a virus. When I open Device Manager, there is a yellow exclamation mark beside the CD/DVD drive that says: "Successfully loaded device driver but cannot find hardware (Code 41)". I uninstalled the CD/DVD drive by right-clicking on its entry under DVD/CD-ROM drives and rebooted. Windows reinstalled it, but the same problem still exists.

Answer

That error and a number of other error codes can be reported for a DVD or CD writer if something has damaged one of the filter drivers, which are called Upper Filter and Lower Filter drivers in the Windows Registry. They can be installed by CD/DVD-writing software such as Roxio Easy CD [Roxio Creator 2009 was the latest version at the time of writing], or by DVD players such as PowerDVD, or by programs such as Musicmatch Jukebox.

Microsoft describes the problem in MS Knowledge Base article 314060. -

You can no longer access the CD drive or the DVD drive, or you receive an error message after you remove a CD recording program or a DVD recording program in Windows XP: "error code 31" at http://support.microsoft.com/?id=314060

The article applies to Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional. The error can occur with any type of CD-writing or DVD software. Error messages that may occur when you try to access your CD or DVD drive include:

1. - Windows cannot start this hardware device because its configuration information (in the Registry) is incomplete or damaged. (Code 19)

2. - This device is not working properly because Windows cannot load the drivers required for this device. (Code 31)

3. - A driver (service) for this device has been disabled. An alternate driver may be providing this functionality. (Code 32)

4. - Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing. (Code 39)

5. - Windows successfully loaded the device driver for this hardware but cannot find the hardware device. (Code 41)

However, there are other causes for these and similar messages. The solution provided below applies mainly to CD or DVD drives.

For other explanations, read this MS Knowledge Base article - Explanation of error codes generated by Device Manager in Windows XP Professional - http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310123. The information also applies to Windows XP Home Edition.

Uninstalling and then reinstalling CD-writing and DVD software (using its own uninstall option or via Add or Remove Programs in the Control Panel) may cure the problem, but in other cases, such as yours, the Windows Registry has to be edited in order to fix it. Making erroneous changes to the Registry can render a computer unbootable, so before you edit it, use Windows XP's System Restore to create a restore point that will allow you to restore it in Safe Mode, or export the keys from the Registry editor by using its File => Export feature. For more information, enter the word Registry in the Search box of Start => Help and Support.

Enter regedit in the Start => Run box to run the Registry Editor and click on the + signs to expand and highlight the following keys:

H_KEY _LOCALMACHINE => SYSTEM => CurrentControlSet => Control => Class => {4D36E965E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE 1 0318}

There should be many keys called {4D36E965E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE 1 0318}

If you want to export a copy of the values, select File => Export and enter a suitable filename, which will be saved as a .reg file that can be restored just by clicking on it. When you select a particular key, in the right window, for some of them, you should see keys called UpperFilters and LowerFilters. Select each such entry in turn, right-click with the mouse on it, and click Delete. After closing the Registry Editor, you should be able to use the CD/DVD drive again. However, you may have to reinstall software that accesses the drive, such as CD/DVD writer and DVD player software.

CD/DVD/Blue-ray drive/writer Problem 2 - CD/DVD drive won't work after removing Roxio/Nero CD/DVD writing software

I found the following anonymous information on a computer forum. It might work for you if you have a similar problem. Remember, you should have a restorable backup of your computer's system before you attempt to edit the Windows Registry in case it miscarries and renders the computer unbootable.

"I removed Roxio (correctly through the control panel) and lost the DVD/CD drive in my Toshiba Satellite laptop. After a week of frustration, I found a site that had the info I needed. I got my drive back in just a few minutes. Here's the fix: Go to the Windows START menu. Click on RUN and enter: regedit FOLLOW THIS TREE: Registry Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class In the CLASS folder, look for: Key Name: {4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} Value Data: [Delete All Value Data from UpperFilters and LowerFilters] You will see the upper and lower filters folders once you get to the end of the tree… *\*\*\control\class Delete all the data in these two folders (and if you see a backup folder for either the upper or lower filters, delete all the data in them as well). Note: Do not delete the Key or the Multi-String Values. Delete only the data values. Exit Registry and Reboot.

Computer diagnostics: How to solve or fix common desktop and laptop PC problems

To diagnose and troubleshoot specific and general problems with Microsoft's software (Windows 95, 98, Me, XP, Vista, Internet Explorer, and Outlook Express) using the MS Knowledge Base, visit the Diagnostics page on this site.

Click a relevant link below to visit the information it describes on this website:

1. - Recovering and repairing Windows XP when a computer crashes or fails to boot

2. - Recovering and repairing Windows Vista when a computer crashes or fails to boot

3. - Windows Vista problems: How to fix problems with Windows Vista

4. - Recover, restore and repair Windows 7 (Win7) when a computer crashes or fails to boot

5. - Windows 7 problems: How to diagnose and fix problems with Windows 7

6. - Windows XP: How to troubleshoot and fix shutdown, restart (reboot), and startup problems

7. - Typical DLL (Dynamic Link Library) device driver problems

8. - Software problems: How to fix problems with Windows, programs, and utilities

Also visit the Software pages on this site for more information on specific software-related information and problems.

9. - Motherboard and power supply problems: How to fix common problems with faulty motherboards (mainboards) and power supplies (PSUs)

10. - RAM memory problems: How to fix problems with the Random Access Memory

11. - Hard disk drive problems: How to fix computer hard disk drive (HDD) problems

12. - CD/DVD drive problems: How to fix problems with CD and DVD drives and discs

13. - Processor problems: How fix common processor (CPU) problems

14. - Video/graphics card problems: How fix common computer video and graphics problems

15. - USB and FireWire problems: - How to fix common USB and FireWire problems

16. - Network problems: How to fix common wired and wireless networking and internet problems

17. - Laptop/notebook problems: How to address or fix the most common laptop/notebook problems

How to fix problems with device drivers in Windows XP and Windows Vista and Windows 7

Although the information on the following page is specific to Windows XP, much of the advice is relevant to the earlier versions of Windows. Click here! to read Troubleshoot Device Driver Problems. Click h ere! to go to Tips for fixing common driver problems in Windows Vista. Those tips should also be applicable to Windows 7.

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Visit the Build a PC page for information on how to build a desktop PC and solve self-build problems, and visit the other pages, such as the Video/Graphics, Sound, Motherboards, and Monitors pages for more problem-solving information, all of which can be accessed via the menu items and jump menu on the orange navigation bar, or via the site search engine at the top of each of the main pages.

The Tips & Tricks pages of this site contain additional useful tips, tricks, and problem-solving advice.

The safest way to upgrade RAM memory: Use the UK and US Crucial Memory Advisors

Paul Mullen, who was the highly-respected computer guru of the Helpfile at ComputerShopper.co.uk - "I have recently been buying my memory only from Crucial Technology. I would rather pay the extra cost than waste time trying to track down the obscure program faults that bad memory can cause."

The best way to choose RAM memory for a brand-name desktop or laptop computer, or memory for a particular make/model of PC motherboard is to make use of the Crucial Memory Advisors (provided under the brief guideline on the minimum memory requirements for Windws XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7). If the Crucial memory you receive does not work, you are guaranteed a refund and standard shipping is free.

The memory requirements of the versions of Windows Vista and Windows 7

Most of the versions of Windows Vista require more RAM memory to run optimally on a computer that doesn't use memory-hungry applications than Windows XP. A video-editing application is an example of memory-intensive software. Only Windows Vista Home Basic has a recommended minimum amount of memory of 512MB, which is the same amount recommended for Windows XP. Windows Vista Home Premium, the most popular version, and Windows Vista Ultimate require a recommended minimum of 1GB (1024MB) of memory, which is twice the amount of minimum memory recommended to run Windows XP. Note that if you are using a 64-bit version of Windows, up to 4.0GB, it requires twice the amount of memory as a 32-bit version, which can only use a maximum of about 3.5GB. For more information on computer memory, read the RAM pages of this site, which includes information on the lower memory requirements of Windows 7.

UK - Crucial Memory Advisor - UK

USA - Crucial Memory Advisor - USA

How to Use the Crucial Memory Advisor

For example, if your computer has an Asus motherboard, open the menu, scroll down to ASUS, and click GO. If, say, you have a Dell computer, scroll down to DELL, and do likewise. You will be taken to the relevant information on Crucial's website.

If you don't know the make and model of the motherboard installed in your computer, here is a good free utility - Belarc Advisor - that creates an analysis of the hardware and software on a personal computer. Look under FREE DOWNLOAD - http://www.belarc.com/. Another utility that also provides detailed information on the memory itself is CPU-Z.

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