dvd writer keeps disappearing

running vista beta 2 (5384)
I have an LG-4167b dvdram drive installed as master and a Pioneer 109
dvdwriter installed as a slave
each time i reboot my machine the Lg drive disappears from both device
manager and is as you can imagine not visible in My computer if i search for
hardware changes within device manager it appears again!!!
Any ideas????

There could be a number of reasons, but by far the most common cause of this
symptom is found in software in the equation conferring some upper and lower
filter values that need to be nuked (not all of them are always there but it
only takes one) per this article:

CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive appears to be missing after you install
Windows XP or Windows Vista Beta 2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320553/en-us

To back up your registry in seconds: File>Export>Radio button on lower left
(whole registry)>save to desktop>tuck in your favorite place folder, ect.

Method 1: Remove the registry entry
Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly
by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might
require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee
that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.
Note If you had installed multiple CD-writing software products on your
computer, you need to uninstall the software products before you remove the
registry keys. 1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
3. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/System/CurrentControlSet/Control/Class/{4d36e965-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}
4. On the File menu, click Export.
5. In the File name box, type savedkey, and then click Save.
6. Click the REG_MULTI_SZ data type UpperFilters, and then click
Delete on the Edit menu. When you are prompted to confirm the deletion,
click Yes.

Note If this data type is missing, go to Method 2.
7. Click the REG_MULTI_SZ data type LowerFilters, and then click
Delete on the Edit menu. When you are prompted to confirm the deletion,
click Yes.

Quit Registry Editor, and then restart the computer

There are other MSKBs that are the remedy for problems much less
common and this is one:

CD-R drive or CD-RW drive is not recognized as a recordable device
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316529/en-us

First one should do it.

Methinks baloney. Methinks yon Sith should joust a little
http://support.microsoft.com action and type in the words "dvd not
recognized" and try each of the six or some MSKBs. It ain't got didly squat
to do with LG.

It might seem a bit off the wall, but if your DVD drive goes missing, try
putting your desktop to sleep and then waking up again.

This works for me.

Thanks for this, at first I thought you was pulling my leg! Lol but as my DVD
writer keeps disappearing and I have tried everything else on here I gave it
a go and it worked! But there must be a better fix then putting the desktop
to sleep, I can't believe I’m going to say this but I Love Vista its the best
windows out since 95 and until I read your reply I was about to format and go
back to XP which I don’t want to do. So I hope someone can find a better fix
for us to keep enjoying Vista.

[carlosmdo]

This worked for me, but it wasn't clear to me what exactly was meant by the instructions above, but before I do I would just like to express how disgusted I am with the Microsoft Windows experience. This thread is from 2006 and MS hasn't implemented a solution in one of it's infamous service packs. I have to search the internet for solutions to problems with THEIR product.

I mean who doesn't want their dvd rom to stop disappearing. I running hardware that isn't even a year old. Vista sucks.

I couldn't find anything labeled "filters" but I just deleted the line that contained "REG_MULTI_SZ" anyway and now my dvd rom doesn't disappear.

Thanks.........I hope I haven't spoken to soon.

Not too soon, but in a vacuum.

You failed to quote the information you are responding to, and it doesn't
exist on the Microsoft server, so no one here has any idea what you're
talking about.