CD/DVD or Disk Problems? How to Fix Problems Caused by Filters

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
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

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)
Create a System Restore point before you proceed!! (so you have one just in case you should need it)
> For XP:
Step 1: Click on Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and click on System Restore.
Step 2: Click on the Create a restore point radio button and then click Next.
create system restore point
Step 3: Now give your restore point a description so that you know exactly what you installed afterwards, i.e. “Before installing driver”, etc.
> For Vista and Windows 7: Create a Restore Point for Windows 7 or Vista’s System Restore
Open up the Start Menu and right-click on “Computer”, and then select “Properties”.
This will take you into the System area of Control Panel. Click on the “System Protection”.
Now select the “System Protection” tab to get to the System Restore section.
Click the “Create” button to create a new restore point. You’ll be prompted for a name, and you might want to give it a useful name that you’ll be able to easily identify later.
Click the Create button, and then the system will create the restore point.
When it’s all finished, you’ll get a message saying it’s completed successfully.
Now if your application blows up Windows, you can restore your computer using System Restore.

How to navigate to your registry
Click your menu then locate your run command then in your Run command box type Regedit to take you to your Registry Editor
then click on your HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
                        
[*]If you see subkeys named: UpperFilters or LowerFilters, rt click to delete them
==> If you don't see the subkeys, then no filters exist
[*]Exit the Registry Editor and reboot