The easiest resolution, which will be covered in this document, is to run the Microsoft Fix-it tool, which will resolve most of the general issues in this area. Click on the Run Now button to proceed. This guide walks you through proven steps to troubleshoot and fix optical drive issues on any modern Windows system. To run the troubleshooter, follow these steps: Click on "System" and then select "Troubleshooting" from the left-hand menu. Under "Find and fix other problems", locate and run the "Hardware and Devices". The instructions below help you diagnose and resolve issues if your CD, DVD, or Blu-Ray drive is not being recognized in Microsoft Windows or other applications. There could be several reasons why Microsoft Windows or other applications do not see or do not detect a CD, DVD, or Blu-Ray drive. Below. After unplugging most of my drives to force my PC to boot from a USB drive (that's a different problem that I fixed) and some other changes that I don't remember the drive worked again for about another week. After ripping some discs, it stopped. I suspect that a Windows Update screwed up the drivers to my DVD drive and although the drive is recognized in the BIOS and Device Manager, it is. There are many factors that can cause the optical drive to fail to read discs or for the computer to not recognize the optical drive, you can refer to this article for troubleshooting.