FIX: DVD drive not working in Windows 10

Milan Stanojevic
by Milan Stanojevic
Deputy Editor
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  • DVD drives are an excellent way through which users can burn data onto their DVD and CD disks.
  • Unfortunately, various system issues can cause the DVD Drive to not be detected by the Windows OS, and when that happens you will need to follow the steps written in the guide below.
  • Our dedicated hub for troubleshooting System Errors is full of such articles, so make sure you check that out as well, since you may find other helpful information.
  • For more hardware-related fixes, check out our Laptop and PC troubleshooting page.
can't detect dvd drive

7. Load BIOS defaults

  1. Enter the BIOS settings of your computer (if you’re not sure how, Google your laptop or PC model).
  2. Navigate to Exit tab and select Optimal Defaultscd problems windows 10
  3. Press Enter
  4. Now press F10 to save the changes and start your computer again

It’s also possible that your BIOS simply doesn’t recognize the DVD drive. So, the right solution, in this case, would be to simply load the BIOS defaults.

Disaster strikes and your PC won’t exit BIOS? Don’t worry, you can tackle the issue head on with the help of this guide!

8. Run the SFC scan

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
  2. Type in the following command, and press Enter: sfc/scannowWindows 10 DVD drive not reading discs  DVD/CD-ROM drive not in device manager Windows 10 
  3. Wait for the process to finish (it can be a lengthy one).
  4. Restart your computer

If none of the solutions listed above managed to resolve the problem, we’re going to try with a set of built-in troubleshooting tools. The first thing we’re going to try is the SFC scan. The SFC scan is an under the hood troubleshooting tool that can resolve various system problems.

scannow command has stopped before the process finished? Don’t worry, we’ve got an easy fix for you.

9. Use DISM

  1. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
  2. In the command line, copy-paste these lines one by one and press Enter after each:
    • DISM /online /Cleanup-Image / ScanHealthDVD drive not showing in Windows 8 
    • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  3. Wait until the procedure ends (it might take up to 10 minutes).
  4. Restart your PC.

Similarly to the SFC scan, the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) is also a troubleshooting tool, but a more powerful one. So, if the SFC scan didn’t get the job done, maybe we’ll have more luck with the DISM.

It seems that everything is lost when DISM fails on Windows? Check out this quick guide and get rid of the worries.

Missing DVD drives in Windows 10 can be a big problem, but you can easily fix it by using one of our solutions.

If you have any other suggestions or questions, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below and we’ll be sure to take a look.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in April 2018 and has been since revamped and updated in April 2020 for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published in July 2016 and was revamped and updated in August 2020 for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.
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  • I checked this solution “@5. Remove Virtual Drive Software” ….
    I didn’t have to remove Virtual Drive Software. Problem has been solved when I opened my Virtual Drive Software.
    It automatically had found and added to list of drives my new physical dvd/cd/rw drive. After that this drive had become visible in windows file explorer and operational.

    Reply