Dvd drive unable to read discs

Just upgraded my laptop a few days ago. I have now noticed that whatever disc I put in the Dvd/Cd drive, it does not recognize it. The laptop is only a couple of months old and the drive was working fine before the upgrade. Has anyone got any ideas on what could be wrong?

Hi jazq, welcome to the forums, can you check the Device manager and see whether you have a yellow triangle by DVD.
Right click Computer, Manage, Device manager.

As I understand it Windows 8 doesn't come with the capability to play DVDs. The way to do it is either use third party software or download the Windows Media Center add-on. That will cost extra but right now it's free. Until January I think.

Just enter your email address on this page and they send you a product key, it can be installed from within Windows itself. I didn't test before but I installed it myself and right now it plays DVD's just fine.
Add features - Microsoft Windows

Hi guys thanks for replys. I checked with the Device manager and all seems to be okay there no yellow triangle and it says (This device is working properly).


I had noticed the free Windows media center add-on, I downloaded and installed this. When I put a Dvd in the drive it just says windows media center cannot detect a video Dvd in the Dvd-rom drive, insert a video Dvd into the drive.


It's very frustrating, I am starting to wonder it the laser has failed already or if there is something about win8 that has messed it up. I would have thought microsoft would have encountered this problem in there testing, unless its unique to my Dvd drive.


If you can think of anything else it would be much appreciated.
Cheers Jazq

Try this (1):

Your CD drive or DVD drive is missing or is not recognized by Windows or other programs

Fix problems with CD or DVD drives that can

The CD drive or the DVD drive does not work as expected on a computer that is running Windows Vista

Try this(2):
1) Shut down PC.
2) Physically disconnect the CD/DVD Drive.
3) Reboot to Windows with NO DVD drive.
4) Shut down PC.
5) Physically reconnect the CD/DVD Drive.
6) Reboot to Windows with DVD drive.
7) Check Device status.

You could also try installing these codecs and see.
Shark007.net - Windows 8 Codecs - WMP12 Codecs

Thanks for your additional help tried all of above still no joy. I'll keep trying and let you now when it's resolved.

Sorry for undigging...
I have exactly the same problem, the DVD-rom was working well and then it stopped reading CD/DVD... I tried everything... Change the driver, uninstall all additional drivers, uninstall reinstall driver, registry edit of the device itself, disabled/enable autorun, disable/enabled burning feature of Windows, Googled a lot, Scanned the computer agains Malware, Against Virus with different software and of course wasted number of hours on this problem... The worst is the fact that if I plug a USB CD/DVD Rom it's the same, impossible to read a disc ! I also tried with a virtual CD/DVD rom drive... Again the same... I created a virtual linux Machine Within Virtual box and the CD/DVD Rom reads drive normally... For the moment I run a Virtual Machine with linux with a Samba Share on the CD/DVD Rom so I can use my CD/DVD Rom by making a network drive... This is crazy and this is very frustrating... I'm an It Professionnal since 20 years and it's the first time I encounter such problem that I'm unable to resolve... Recently another computer running windows 7 was "infected" by the same problem... I could reinstall Windows but I really don't like when I can't find a solution to a problem ! Thanks in advance

I have the same problem right after upgrading to win 8.1

Well check the registry and delete the upper and lower filters
might solve ur prob.

if not try using a bit of rubbing alcohol on a q tip and wipe dirt of the laser.

if these don't work then ur dvd drive might be 2.5yrs+ and might have like performance expired :

oops sry dint see the posts were more than a yr old!

i Have The Same Problem

the laptop is new, i have to find my reciept to see about warranty.

I've got the same problem and nothing seems to work, I'm almost thinking window 8.1 pro is partly junk, they should not make it where you cannot use dvd/cd's in your computer, mines a desktop, they always worked before with windows 7 but not with windows 8.1 Pro,