How to Repair a Lost E Drive in Windows XP

A missing E drive can prevent you from playing CDs.

A missing E drive can make it impossible to play CDs or DVDs when running the Windows XP operating system on your PC. Your missing CD/DVD drive could be caused by recent downloads or software upgrades. You can repair the missing E drive yourself, though you will be making changes to your computer's registry. Alterations to the registry could result in other problems with your computer, so the inexperienced computer user should consider getting help when repairing the E drive.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Windows XP Operating System

Instructions

1. Select the "Start" button from your desktop and click "Run". Type "regedit" in the "Open" box that appears and select "OK". This will open the Registry Editor. You will see several registry names in the navigation menu.

2. Click the registry named:

   "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}." Selecting the improper registry could result in problems later on, so you should double-check the registry name.

3. Click "UpperFilters" from the pane on the right side of the window. If you cannot find this option, first click "LowerFilters" and then click "UpperFilters" once it appears. Click "Delete", which is listed under the "Edit" menu. Click "Yes" when the delete pop-up dialog appears to delete both filters.

4. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer. Insert a disc into your disc drive and see if the computer responds. If the drive still does not recognize discs, contact a computer repair professional for assistance. You can also contact Microsoft Support online by visiting: http://support.microsoft.com/contactus#tab0 .

Tips & Warnings

• If you are unable to locate the LowerFilter, you will need to contact Microsoft Support for assistance.

• If you have recently upgraded to Windows Vista, you can repair your E drive using the same directions as Windows XP.

• Check for Error Codes 31, 32, 19, or 41 after you attempt to repair the E drive. If these error codes continue to pop up, your E drive is still damaged or missing.

• Use caution when deleting items from your computer registry. Deleting certain parts of your registry could make it impossible to load the Windows Operating System. Seek assistance from Microsoft Support or a computer professional if you do not know how to repair your lost E drive.

References

• Microsoft:"Your CD drive or DVD is missing or is not recognized by Windows or other programs"