Solved Explorer not displaying optical drive letters in nav pane

[desertdad]

Win8.1/64, Dell XPS 8700, optical drive letters don't show up in the Explorer navigation pane (This PC) unless media in the drives (2). Drive letters do show up in the details pane even with no media. MS Fixit says problems found and fixed. Didn't fix the problem. Explorer++ shows drive letters in navigation pane with no media. Two optical drives, both Samsung, Both respond correctly to Samsung diagnostic. Both drives work as advertised with multiple CDs and DVDs. Both drives have drive letters in Drive Information. Only one user, admin. All Updates applied.

 

[Brink]

Hello desertdad,

Double check to see if you have set to show empty drives to see if that may be what this is.

Drives - Hide or Show Empty Drives in Computer Folder - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[desertdad]

Unchecked the option to hide empty removable drives, cold start, did not fix the problem.
Did not download the registry fixes.
Checked the registry manually, entry already set to 0
Thanks for trying.

 

[Brink]

Hmm, this does the same on my system as well. I'll look and see what else I may be able to find.

 

[Brink]

Solved it. Once you set not to hide empty drives, you'll also need to set to show all folders in the navigation pane of Windows Explorer.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/8551-navigation-pane-show-all-folders-turn-off.html

 

[desertdad]

Got it! Funny how little things like that are like a rock in your shoe. Thanks.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.