Can't explore expand or open dvd drive as a folder

u27dd · 04-10-2009, 11:34 AM

Hi
I'm having a bit of a problem. when I right click on my DVDrw Drive I can't view or explore the drive as a folder. i have tried to use the open , or open in a new window from the drop down right click menu but nothing the my computer folder flashes once and no new folder is opened. when i try to expand the dvd drive in explorer by right clicking it, the expand option is greyed out.
I thought It might be a hardware issue but the drive will still play dvd's cd's etc and run executables through autoplay. it just wont let me explore the drive as a folder
I'm running Windows7. my dvd drive is relativly new panasonic.
Please Help!!

**blah789** · 04-11-2009, 03:43 PM

This workaround won't resolve your problem, but you can try it in the interim.
Have you tried typing the letter of the drive in the address bar? For example you'd type C: where you normally see "My Computer", but instead type the letter of your DVD drive (D: E: F: or whatever).

u27dd · 04-12-2009, 10:40 AM

Yes I tried that but It's still won't let me explore the drive or if i click start and enter the drive letter that way it won't let me explore the drive either.

usasma · 04-12-2009, 11:23 AM

Have you tried the Upper and Lower Filters fix here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060

u27dd · 04-13-2009, 11:03 AM

Hi
thanks for that but it didn't work, the autofix didn't work and when i tried it manually there are no upper and lower filters registry entry.

joeten · 04-13-2009, 05:50 PM

hi you could try uninstalling the device from device manager then reboot

u27dd · 04-14-2009, 10:17 AM

Hi
yeah I already tried that and no avail

u27dd · 04-14-2009, 11:59 AM

Hi
just a quick up date I removed my dvd drive and tried another one and it's still exactly the same problem!!!

afari emmanuel · 04-14-2009, 01:56 PM

my dvd rom(optiarc)does not read any disc i insert

joeten · 04-14-2009, 04:28 PM

afari emmanuel please start your own thread you will have more chance of help that way cheers joeten

joeten · 04-14-2009, 04:31 PM

u27dd if there is only one filter remove that this was the case with my sons and when we removed the only filter there it worked so it is worth trying

u27dd · 04-14-2009, 08:29 PM

thats the thing there are no filter's
I've attached a screen capture so you can see the registry entries- no upper or lower filters key

u27dd · 05-01-2009, 11:15 AM

just a an update on this problem
I went into device manager and removed ide controlers atachannel0 atachannel0 and atachannel1. this worked-for about 10 minutes then the drive started doing the same again

qisback · 08-07-2009, 07:01 PM

came across this thread whilst googling the problem.

Even though I don't have a permanent solution I do have one that gets the drive working again (normally untill reboot)

Right click "My Computer"
Select "Manage"
Select "Storage" -> "Disk Management"
Right click on the cd/dvd drive in question
Select "Change drive letter and paths"
Click "Change"
Change the "Assign the following drive letter" value
Confirm the change

It will warn that programs might be using it etc etc, just confirm.

The drive letter will change and you will be able to open and explore the drive etc.

I hope this works.

I still continue my search for a perminant solution if any one knows of one.

-={Q}=-

lose_the_grimm · 11-11-2009, 05:41 PM

I was having the same issue with Vista. Autorun will load, double-clicking will run autorun as normal. However, any attempt to explore the disk through explorer does *nothing*. I attempted the registry fix mentioned earlier in the thread to no avail. The only suggestion that has worked is qisback's solution in the previous post. He mentions it's temporary, I can't confirm this yet as I've only just tried it. It does work for the time being though.

Has anyone found a reason for this happening? I've actually had this happen on both my laptop and my desktop, both running Vista. Thanks!

Edit: I should mention that burning also did not work.

04-10-2009, 11:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
u27dd Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 11 OS: xp	Can't explore expand or open dvd drive as a folder Hi I'm having a bit of a problem. when I right click on my DVDrw Drive I can't view or explore the drive as a folder. i have tried to use the open , or open in a new window from the drop down right click menu but nothing the my computer folder flashes once and no new folder is opened. when i try to expand the dvd drive in explorer by right clicking it, the expand option is greyed out. I thought It might be a hardware issue but the drive will still play dvd's cd's etc and run executables through autoplay. it just wont let me explore the drive as a folder I'm running Windows7. my dvd drive is relativly new panasonic. Please Help!!

04-11-2009, 03:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
blah789 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,329 OS: Windows 2000 SP4 and Windows XP SP3	Re: Can't explore expand or open dvd drive as a folder This workaround won't resolve your problem, but you can try it in the interim. Have you tried typing the letter of the drive in the address bar? For example you'd type C: where you normally see "My Computer", but instead type the letter of your DVD drive (D: E: F: or whatever).

04-12-2009, 10:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
u27dd Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 11 OS: xp	Re: Can't explore expand or open dvd drive as a folder Yes I tried that but It's still won't let me explore the drive or if i click start and enter the drive letter that way it won't let me explore the drive either.

04-12-2009, 11:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
usasma Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Southeastern CT, USA Posts: 1,665 OS: Vista (x64); Win7 (x32 & x64)	Re: Can't explore expand or open dvd drive as a folder Have you tried the Upper and Lower Filters fix here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060

04-13-2009, 11:03 AM	#5 (permalink)
u27dd Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 11 OS: xp	Re: Can't explore expand or open dvd drive as a folder Hi thanks for that but it didn't work, the autofix didn't work and when i tried it manually there are no upper and lower filters registry entry.

04-13-2009, 05:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
joeten Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 3,206 OS: vista	Re: Can't explore expand or open dvd drive as a folder hi you could try uninstalling the device from device manager then reboot __________________

04-14-2009, 10:17 AM	#7 (permalink)
u27dd Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 11 OS: xp	Re: Can't explore expand or open dvd drive as a folder Hi yeah I already tried that and no avail

04-14-2009, 11:59 AM	#8 (permalink)
u27dd Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 11 OS: xp	Re: Can't explore expand or open dvd drive as a folder Hi just a quick up date I removed my dvd drive and tried another one and it's still exactly the same problem!!!

04-14-2009, 01:56 PM	#9 (permalink)
afari emmanuel Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 1 OS: vista	Re: Can't explore expand or open dvd drive as a folder my dvd rom(optiarc)does not read any disc i insert

04-14-2009, 04:28 PM	#10 (permalink)
joeten Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 3,206 OS: vista	Re: Can't explore expand or open dvd drive as a folder afari emmanuel please start your own thread you will have more chance of help that way cheers joeten __________________

04-14-2009, 04:31 PM	#11 (permalink)
joeten Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 3,206 OS: vista	Re: Can't explore expand or open dvd drive as a folder u27dd if there is only one filter remove that this was the case with my sons and when we removed the only filter there it worked so it is worth trying __________________

05-01-2009, 11:15 AM	#13 (permalink)
u27dd Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 11 OS: xp	Re: Can't explore expand or open dvd drive as a folder just a an update on this problem I went into device manager and removed ide controlers atachannel0 atachannel0 and atachannel1. this worked-for about 10 minutes then the drive started doing the same again

08-07-2009, 07:01 PM	#14 (permalink)
qisback Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1 OS: Vista SP2, Gentoo	Re: Can't explore expand or open dvd drive as a folder came across this thread whilst googling the problem. Even though I don't have a permanent solution I do have one that gets the drive working again (normally untill reboot) Right click "My Computer" Select "Manage" Select "Storage" -> "Disk Management" Right click on the cd/dvd drive in question Select "Change drive letter and paths" Click "Change" Change the "Assign the following drive letter" value Confirm the change It will warn that programs might be using it etc etc, just confirm. The drive letter will change and you will be able to open and explore the drive etc. I hope this works. I still continue my search for a perminant solution if any one knows of one. -={Q}=-

11-11-2009, 05:41 PM	#15 (permalink)
lose_the_grimm Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1 OS: Windows Vista	Re: Can't explore expand or open dvd drive as a folder I was having the same issue with Vista. Autorun will load, double-clicking will run autorun as normal. However, any attempt to explore the disk through explorer does nothing. I attempted the registry fix mentioned earlier in the thread to no avail. The only suggestion that has worked is qisback's solution in the previous post. He mentions it's temporary, I can't confirm this yet as I've only just tried it. It does work for the time being though. Has anyone found a reason for this happening? I've actually had this happen on both my laptop and my desktop, both running Vista. Thanks! Edit: I should mention that burning also did not work.