CD/DVD or Disk Problems? How to Fix Problems Caused by Filters
Think of filter drivers (more simply called "filters") as device driver "add-on" parts
> Filters are intended to work with and augment device driver functionality
> Filters intercept (and can alter) the I/O data stream between a Windows application and a hardware device

• Filters are sometimes provided by 3rd party vendors to support their products (such as disk backup and CD/DVD burning products)
• Filter providers may be someone other then Microsoft or your CD/DVD / disk drive hardware vendor
• As a result, 3rd party filters
  • Don't always work well with all existing device drivers and hardware
  • Don't always work well with each other
    > i.e. they may not work right with the other 3rd party filters running on the computer
• Plus
  > Filters sometimes get corrupted
  > Filters sometimes don't get removed when the product (that installed it) is, itself, uninstalled

To learn more about filters

• To learn more about filters see "Tutorial: Understanding Device Drivers and Filters"
• To easily view and get info about disk and CD/DVD filters on your computer, use "Filter Driver Load Order" tool (click here)

Symptoms
Fact is, most people aren't aware of filters so they're easily over-looked as a problem source. Possible symptoms of filter related problems include:

• Devices (such as disks and CD/DVDs) that appear in Device Manager but not in My Computer or Explorer
• Computer can't detect a CD/DVD or can't write to writable media
• USB devices (such as iPods and Disks) that don't seem to get detected
  > Note there are still many other reasons for undetected USB devices
  > So try fixing filters but don't get hung up on filters as "must be" the cause
• A persistent driver error code equal to: 10, 19, 31, 32 or 39
  > To see the error code in Device Manager, rt click the device and look on the General tab

How to Fix Filter Problems
Instructions below for how to remove filters. Some important things to note:

• You must reboot before re-testing
• After removing filters, you may need to reinstall 3rd party disk and CD/DVD products if they no longer function correctly
  > The instructions below can remove all your 3rd party filters
  > Removing all filters can remove a faulty filter and fix your problem BUT
  > Removing all filters may also remove a filter still needed by a disk or CD/DVD product to work correctly
  > If you find a disk or CD/DVD product not working after removing filters, uninstall then reinstall the product

Methods to fix CD/DVD Filter Problems
> Try these methods (based on your OS)

• For XP or Vista: Try the Microsoft Fix-It tool you'll find in this link Your CD or DVD drive cannot read or write media
• For XP only: Run XP CD-DVD-Fix Tool
• For Vista: See "How to Remove Filters from the Registry" below
  > Remove upper and lower filters for class= CDROM

Methods to fix Disk Filter Problems
> Try these methods (based on your OS)

• For XP only: Try the Microsoft Fix-It tool you'll find in this link
  A computer that is running Windows XP cannot detect a USB flash drive, an Apple iPod, or an external hard disk drive
• For Vista or XP: See "How to Remove Filters from the Registry" below
  > Remove upper and lower filters for class= DiskDrive

How to Remove Filters from the Registry
This method explains how to look for and delete UpperFilters and LowerFilters in the registry. Note
> Use this method to view registry data for class=CDROM or class= DiskDrive
> Choose the class based on whether it's CD/DVDs or disks with the problem
> If you see subkeys named: UpperFilters or LowerFilters, rt click to delete them (example below)

1. We'll use the Regjump tool to help you navigate to the correct registry key
   > Download Regjump
   > Unzip it and save the unpacked files in C:\Windows\system32
2. Open a command prompt window
   > For XP, click Start->Run, enter: cmd
   > For Vista, you must open an elevated command prompt for Regjump to work. (For instructions click here)
3. Copy / paste one of the following commands after the command prompt
   > The registry editor (regedit) should open and take you directly to the key
   > Check the class to verify you are looking at the right key (see example below)

   Code:

   To check for disk filters (where class= DiskDrive)
       regjump HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E967-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
   
   To check for CD/DVD filters (where class= CDROM)
       regjump HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

4. If you see subkeys named: UpperFilters or LowerFilters, rt click to delete them
   • If you don't see the subkeys, then no filters exist
   • If you see UpperFilters.bak or LowerFilters.bak you don't need to remove them
5. Exit the Registry Editor and reboot

I nominate this for a sticky. Great stuff LookinAround.