CD/DVD or Disk Problems? How to Fix Problems Caused by Filters
Updated 4/18/10

>> If you'd like to skip the explanation of filters and symptoms, feel free to jump directly to the How to Fix Filter Problems section below

Filter drivers (simply called "filters") are device driver "add-on" parts (they're like "plug-ins" for drivers)
> 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

• A filter may come from Microsoft or get installed by a 3rd party product. Examples: Disk backup and CD/DVD burning products sometimes install filters to help support their functionality
• 3rd party filters
  • Don't always work well with existing device drivers and hardware
  • Don't always work well with other 3rd party filters
• Plus
  > Filters sometimes get corrupted
  > Filters sometimes don't get removed correctly when the product that installed it is uninstalled

As a result:

• Corrupt or missing filter files may interfere with device driver functionality
• Bad filters may be the underlying cause of a driver error code
• Bad filters may result in strange/faulty device behavior

If you'd like to learn more about Windows filters, also see these two links

• Also see "Tutorial: Understanding Device Drivers and Filters" (should you want a more detailed explanation of filters)
• Also see "How to View CD/DVD and Disk Filter Drivers" (should you want to graphiclly view the disk and CD/DVD filters on your computer)

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
The steps below include automated tools some of which will check for and try to fix more then just filters. So try each approach listed below for your OS

Some important things to note:

• Reboot after each step before you re-test
• After removing filters, you may need to reinstall 3rd party disk and CD/DVD products if they no longer function correctly
  > The instructions below may 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

For XP

• See Your CD or DVD drive cannot read or write media
• See Your CD drive or DVD drive is missing or is not recognized by Windows or other programs
• See XP CD-DVD-Fix Tool

For Vista and Windows 7

• See Your CD or DVD drive cannot read or write media
• See Your CD drive or DVD drive is missing or is not recognized by Windows or other programs
• See "How to Manually Remove Filters from the Registry" below
  > Remove upper and lower filters for class= CDROM

Methods to fix Disk Filter Problems

For XP

• See A computer that is running Windows XP cannot detect a USB flash drive, an Apple iPod, or an external hard disk drive
• See "How to Manually Remove Filters from the Registry" below
  > Remove upper and lower filters for class= DiskDrive

For Vista and Windows 7

• See "How to Manually Remove Filters from the Registry" below
  > Remove upper and lower filters for class= DiskDrive

How to Manually 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 find 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. Create a System Restore point before you proceed!! (so you have one just in case you should need it)
   > For XP: See How to create a system restore point manually in XP
   > For Vista and Windows 7: Create a Restore Point for Windows 7 or Vista’s System Restore
2. We'll use the Regjump tool to help you navigate to the correct registry key
   > Download Regjump
   > Unzip it and save the files in C:\Windows\system32
3. Open a command prompt window
   > For XP, click Start->Run, enter: cmd
   > For Vista and Windows 7, you must open an elevated command prompt for Regjump to work. (For instructions click here)
4. Copy / paste one of the following regjump command lines into the command prompt window
   > 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}

5. If you see subkeys named: UpperFilters or LowerFilters, rt click to delete them
   ==> If you don't see the subkeys, then no filters exist
6. Exit the Registry Editor and reboot

I nominate this for a sticky. Great stuff LookinAround.

Exactly fabulous work learned few things with that for sure; also I'd suggest have this thread locked so it doesn't get cluttered !!

Really nice and helpful post, thanks alot!