Read this for CD/DVD Drive with burning, missing drives, not seeing discs

Question

Seeing lots of the same posts with the same solutions being applied (mostly upper/lower control filters/MS Fixit)... so I thought I'd put this up for everyone.
*Update* If this helps, please click the kudos to the right as I'm trying to gauge how effective this is. If you have the time to help the community, please reply stating what did or did not work.
There are some helpful HP support articles that you may want to try before posting:
If your drive cannot burn discs... or you can burn CDs but not DVDs (or vise/versa)... read this...
Drive Cannot Write to Writable Discs (Windows 7)
Drive Cannot Write to Writable Discs (Windows Vista)
Drive Cannot Write to Writable Discs (Windows 98, ME, XP)
Summary:
1) Try different discs! Cheap discs can be hit or miss. Find a disc brand and type that works best.
2) Try burning at a slower speed (not the best option, but can often get the job done if the laser is fading).
3) Remove drive from Device Manager and remove upper/lower filters (see below).
4) Use MS System Restore to go back to a time when it was working.
5) Use PC-Doctor/HP Hardware Diagnostic software to check for a bad drive.
6) If the drive is not bad - save your files and use HP Recovery to put the system back to the beginning.
If your drive cannot read discs; CDs or DVDs or both...
Drive Cannot Read Discs in Windows 7
Drive Cannot Read Discs in Windows Vista
Drive Cannot Read Discs in Windows 98, ME, and XP  
Summary:
{restart the PC at least once to see if the drive shows up on boot}
1) See if the drive is listed in Device Manager (look for problems if it is).
2) Check autoplay (skip if you don't use).
3) Make sure a bad disc isn't knocking out the drive (an operating system mounts discs as drives and things can get screwed up).
4) Try reading the disc from a command prompt environment (outside of Windows).
5) Reinstall drive from Device Manager (if drive is listed). {I'd replace this with bigger process of remove upper/lower filters (see below)}.
6) Use MS System Restore to go back to a time when it was working.
7) Use PC-Doctor/HP Hardware Diagnostic software to check for a bad drive.
CD/DVD drive is missing (not in Windows Explorer or My Computer or in burning software)...
CD/DVD Drive is not Detected (Windows 7)
CD/DVD Drive is not Detected (Windows Vista)
CD or DVD Drive is not Detected (Windows 98, ME, or XP)
Summary:
1) See if the drive is listed in Device Manager (troubleshoot based on what you see).
2) Reset Power: Unplug power cord, press Power button for 10 seconds.
3) Check power and data cables attached to the drive and look in the BIOS for the drive name.
4) Remove upper/lower filters (see below).
5) Reinstall burning software
6) Get and CD/DVD drive firmware updates if available (to prevent missing drives in the future (I assume)).
7)  Use MS System Restore to go back to a time when it was working.
Stuck Drawer...
Opening a Stuck CD or DVD Drive Tray
Summary:
1) Press eject button on case, on drive, button on keyboard (if exists).
2) Right-click drive icon in Windows and select Eject.
3) Turn off PC and inert a straightened paper clip into the manual release hole on the drive.
4) Check the power cord on the back of the drive.
MS FIXit, Resetting Upper and lower Filters (XP, Vista and 7)
First... try to use the MS Fixit (for Vista) if you are on the computer having the problem)...
Microsoft Fix it Solution
Otherwise, here are the manual steps (overview):
1) Uninstall the CD/DVD drive in Device Manager and DO NOT RESTART the computer. 
2) Uninstall your CD burning software (make sure you have the installation disc or you can resinstall from Start, Programs, PC Help and Tools, Recovery Manager (or Driver/Application Recovery). If you don't have the installation discs, skip this step - it might still work).
3) Open the registry editor (Start -> Run -> enter Regedit) ... might want to make a backup of the registry at this point.
4) Open the following keys:
 + HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
 + SYSTEM
 + CurrentControlSet (or the current control set with lowest number if that is all that is listed)
 + Control
 + Class
5) Select 4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318. It has to be this exact key - make sure you can see the last numbers!!!
6) Delete the UpperFilter and or the LowerFilters value in the right window if either exists.
7) RESTART the computer - this step is important. Wait for Windows to find and install the CD/DVD drive you removed earlier.
8) Reinstall your burning software and restart the computer again.
Message Edited by GarenT on 10-07-2009 06:32 PM
Message Edited by RasterBlaster on 11-30-2009 03:51 PM
... an HP employee expressing his own opinion.
Please post rather than send me a Message. It's good for the community and I might not be able to get back quickly. - Thank you.

Answer 1

That's why you want to make a backup of the registry. If you didn't make a backup, use MS system restore to go back. The only values you should remove are UpperFilter or LowerFilter - one or both may be in there and can be removed. If neither value exists, then that is probably why you can't burn and Windows is not recognizing your drive as a writable drive.
... an HP employee expressing his own opinion.
Please post rather than send me a Message. It's good for the community and I might not be able to get back quickly. - Thank you.