Regarding the “Windows can’t read the disc in drive E:\” error, the number one suspect is the DVD/CD-ROM driver so you should consider updating the driver. Other solutions that you should keep in mind include running the hardware and device troubleshooter, enabling Autoplay, tweaking Windows Registry and making use of System Restore. Take a look at this article and learn how to put an end to the disc reading issue.
Insights
Drivers
Communication between DVD/CD-ROM drives and Windows computers could only be possible if the DVD/CD-ROM driver works as expected. If the driver becomes obsolete, gets corrupted and so on, the “Windows can’t read the disc in drive E:\” error is one of the consequences. On the bright side, if driver is responsible for the disc reading issue, there is no need to do much.
Windows Registry
In layman’s terms, Windows Registry stores settings that the operating system as well applications use to run. For most of the time, Registry requires little attention from Windows users but if it runs into issues, things would go haywire in mere moments. You have a hard time getting your PC to read discs? In that case. You should give Windows Registry some thought.
How To Address The Issue
Update The Driver
- Step 1: Go to Search bar, type devmgmt.msc then press Enter to open Device Manager.
- Step 2: Expand DVD/CD-ROM drives, right-click your drive and pick Update driver.
- Step 3: Follow onscreen instructions to update the driver.
- Step 4: Restart your computer.
- Step 5: When the screen comes back on, insert a disc into your computer and see how things turn out.
Note: You recently updated the driver of your DVD/CD-ROM drive? Then it’s strongly recommended that you roll back the driver to a previous version.
- Step 1: Go to Search bar, type devmgmt.msc then press Enter to open Device Manager.
- Step 2: Expand DVD/CD-ROM drives, right-click your drive and pick Properties.
- Step 3: Go to the Driver tab, hit Roll Back Driver and follow onscreen instructions.
- Step 4: After you finish, restart your computer.
Run Hardware And Devices Troubleshooter
- Step 1: Go to Search bar, type Control Panel and press Enter.
- Step 2: In Control Panel, change View by to Small icons, select Troubleshooting and choose click View all.
- Step 3: Click Hardware and Devices, pick Next and follow onscreen instructions.
Enable Autoplay
- Step 1: Go to Search bar, type Control Panel and press Enter.
- Step 2: In Control Panel, change View by to Small icons.
- Step 3: Choose Hardware and SoundAutoPlay and select Use AutoPlay for all media and devices.
- Step 4: Click the dropdown menu of each item i.e DVD, Blu-ray, and CD then pick Ask me every time.
- Step 5: Hit Save, restart your computer and see how things turn out.
Use The Registry Editor
- Step 1: Go to Search bar, type Regedit and press Enter to open Windows Registry. It’s wise to create a backup in case you mess up while using Registry Editor. To do so, click File, pick Export and save the backup in a secured location.
- Step 2: Hit the arrow next HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE then navigate to the directory: SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
- Step 3: Select UpperFilters then go to the Edit Menu.
- Step 4: Choose Delete and click Yes to confirm your action.
- Step 5: Select LowerFilters then go to the Edit Menu.
- Step 6: Choose Delete and click Yes to confirm your action.
- Step 7: Close Registry Editor then restart your computer.
System Restore
- Step 1: Go to Search bar, type System Restore and press Enter.
- Step 2: Select System Restore, choose a restore point and initiate the restoration.
- Step 3: The moment the process completes, test out your DVD/CD-ROM drive.
Guidelines
- While burning files to your disc, you should use the Burn feature in the Windows Media Player.
- Every time you run into issues that involve discs, it won’t hurt to uninstall all third-party disc readers on your device and restart Windows.
- Use suggested storage measures while storing your discs.
What Must Be Done To Update The BIOS Of My PC?
- Step 1: Go to Search bar, type msinfo32 and press Enter to open System information.
- Step 2: Navigate to BIOS Version/Date then note down your current BIOS version.
- Step 3: Open your web browser, visit your motherboard manufacturer’s website and navigate to the Downloads page.
- Step 4: Go through the list of available versions while cross-checking with the version on your device. If you deem an update necessary, download the latest BIOS version available.
- Step 5: Once the download concludes, transfer the BIOS setup files to a USB drive.
- Step 6: Press Windows + L to open the sign-in screen then hit the Power icon.
- Step 7: Press and hold Shift while selecting Restart.
- Step 8: In the Advanced Recovery Environment, pick Troubleshoot, then choose Advanced Options.
- Step 9: Choose UEFI Firmware Settings then use the UEFI utility to set the new firmware image you saved on the USB drive.
- Step 10: Follow onscreen instructions.
How Long Do Discs Last?
All in all, quite a few factors influence the lifespan of discs. Still, if you take good care of your discs, they should last for decades.
