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The Daily Insight

What do you do if your CD-ROM is not working?

Author

David Jones

Published Mar 05, 2026

What do you do if your CD-ROM is not working?

If the CD-ROM works in Safe Mode but not in normal Windows, a running program is causing the issue, or the drivers are corrupt. Open Device Manager, highlight and remove the CD-ROM by pressing the delete key. After deleting the CD-ROM, reboot the computer. Windows should then detect the CD-ROM and reinstall it.

How do I fix my HP DVD drive?

Follow these steps to use the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter to check for problems:

  1. Click Start , and then click Control Panel.
  2. Under System and Security, click Find and fix problems.
  3. Under Hardware and Sound, click Configure a device.
  4. Click Next.
  5. Windows checks for problems.

How do I enable a CD-ROM on my computer?

1 Click Start, and then click Run. 2 In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK. 4 In the right pane, double-click Start. Then change the Value data box to 1 in order to enable the CD/DVD-ROM or to 4 to disable.

Why is my computer not playing cds?

The problem happens mostly because of bad drivers, but sometimes it occurs because of a dirty or scratched surface on your CD. Your operating system provides you with a tool to update drivers for your CD-ROM drive. Try the CD again. If it doesn’t work, just try another disk.

What causes CD ROM failure?

If the power supply is not providing enough power to the disc drive, it can cause the disc drive to not be able to function properly. The disc drive may not be able to read CD or DVD without enough power. You can check the power supply to determine if it’s not working correctly.

How do I open the CD drive on my HP computer?

The Eject key is usually located near the volume controls and is marked by a triangle pointing up with a line underneath. In Windows, search for and open File Explorer. In the Computer window, select the icon for the disc drive that is stuck, right-click the icon, and then click Eject. The disc tray should open.

How do I know if my CD ROM is working?

If not, refer to the Dell knowledgebase article Optical Drive is not recognized in Windows.

  1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. In the Run dialog box, type devmgmt. msc then press the Enter key.
  3. In the Device Manager window, expand DVD/CD-ROM drives. Verify that the optical disk drive is listed.

Why is my CD ROM not working on my computer?

If the CD-ROM works in Safe Mode but not in normal Windows, it’s likely another program is running that is causing the issue or that the drivers are corrupt. Open Device Manager, highlight and remove the CD-ROM currently installed by pressing the delete key.

How to fix hp CD / DVD drive not working?

Locate your CD/DVD drive in Device Manager and note the name (in case you need to continue on to Step 2), right click on it and select Uninstall

Where do I find the CD ROM on my computer?

Click or double-click the System icon. In Windows XP and earlier, click the Hardware tab and then the Device Manager button. In Windows Vista and later, click on the Device Manager link on the left side of the System window. Within Device Manager, verify the CD-ROM has no exclamation marks or red X’s.

What to do if your PC won’t recognize a CD drive?

Show Hidden CD/DVD Drives. Right click on the Start button. Choose Device Manager. Select View from the menu bar. Click Show hidden devices. Reinstall or Update Driver. Open Device Manager. Find DVD/CD-ROM drives and expand it. Right click on each DVD or CD drive listed here. Choose Uninstall. Restart your PC.

Why is my CD drive not working on my computer?

The most common cause of a CD-ROM drive to stop working is bad or corrupt drivers or a confliction between another running program. Often this issue is caused when your CD-ROM drivers are not loading properly into the computer or have been corrupted with other software. CD-ROM is not working in Windows.

Why is my laptop CD player not working?

A CD-ROM or other disc drive that is not working can be caused by a loose interface connection, drivers not loading properly, virus, or the drive or CD attempting to be read being dirty. The most common cause of a CD-ROM drive to stop working is bad or corrupt drivers or a confliction between another running program.

Why is my DVD drive not working on Windows 10?

  • See if the drive appears in BIOS
  • Check the drive name in Device Manager
  • Use the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter
  • Reset the computer power
  • Check drive cable connections (desktop tower computers only)
  • Clear the upper and lower registry filters
  • DVD drive failure

    Why is my CD not loading on Windows 10?

    The CD or DVD drive not recognized in Windows 10 issue could occurs if the configuration information is incomplete or damaged. You could run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter to get it fixed. To open the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter, follow these steps: