ASUS K53T - BIOS detects DVD Drive, Windows doesn't?


  1. Posts : 292
    Windows 10 Professional 64-bit
       #1

    ASUS K53T - BIOS detects DVD Drive, Windows doesn't?


    Hi all - I have an ASUS K53T laptop that I am setting up for somebody. The DVD drive in it was bad, so I replaced the DVD drive with another known-good drive.

    I can see the DVD drive listed in the BIOS on the laptop, and I can boot from the DVD drive and all works fine (I tested the DVD drive by booting from it to a Linux LiveDVD and all was well).

    BUT....Windows 10 does not detect the drive at all? It's a fresh install of Windows 10 that all I have done is install the basic software I like (LibreOffice, browsers, etc) and update it (I think it has 21H1 on it at the moment?)

    I DID originally do the install on a mechanical HDD and then clone it to a 256GB SSD, but that's the only major change to Windows I've done and that shouldn't affect my DVD drive at all? Windows is functioning perfectly otherwise and is activated with the MS servers.

    The drive doesn't show up under the drive listings in 'This PC', it doesn't show up in the Disk Manager, and it doesn't show up in the Device Manager either....BUT....if I eject the drive and put a disk in, I see the cursor change to the Windows 'working' cursor for a moment as the DVD drive first reads the disk......but the drive just isn't visible or accessible in Windows...?

    Any ideas what is going on here and how to get the DVD drive working again?
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 21,421
    19044.1586 - 21H2 Pro x64
       #2

    K53TA - Support
    Install Asus Live Update and see if it finds drivers, BIOS, etc to update.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 292
    Windows 10 Professional 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    steve108 said:
    K53TA - Support
    Install Asus Live Update and see if it finds drivers, BIOS, etc to update.
    Everything is up to date according to Windows, no missing drivers in the Device Manager.

    I installed ASUS Live Update and it finds no updates to install.

    I even tried doing a repair-install by plugging in my Win10 Install USB and running the setup from that and the DVD drive still isn't showing up under Windows or the disk manager?
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  4. Posts : 13,898
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #4

    One thing I've had to help clients with is the setting to hide or show empty drives, another is to test with a CD or DVD disc in the drive when doing that checking. Also in Disk Management there is a drive letter assigned, again with a disc in the drive to assure the drive is seen.
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  5. Posts : 4,453
    Win 11 Pro 22000.708
       #5

    At a guess, you have the classic Windows Registry corruption, as you've narrowed it down to being a Windows issue.

    How to Delete the UpperFilters and LowerFilters Values
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  6.   My Computer


  7. Posts : 6,247
    Windows 11 Pro - Windows 7 HP - Lubuntu
       #7

    Open Disk Manager. Does it show as a drive? If it does, does it has a drive letter?
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  8. TV2
    Posts : 2,221
    W10 Pro 22H2
       #8

    A few random thoughts:
    Have you tried Safe Mode yet?
    Use a Linux distro (Ubuntu, etc) and see if the drive is recognized there.

    One key comment: "The DVD drive in it was bad, so I replaced the DVD drive with another known-good drive."
    The drive could have been bad, but there could also be a problem with the SATA interface. That is an old laptop and that kind of thing does happen. Try the old "bad drive" in a known good laptop.

    "Banging on the side of the case":
    Shut down, remove the battery, press and hold the power button for about 20 seconds, replace the battery, start up and test.
    Alternate: Shut down > remove the battery > press and hold the power button for about 20 seconds > remove the drive and leave it out > replace the battery > start up > Go to Device Manager > "Scan for Hardware Changes > shut down > reinstall the drive > start up > test.

    Let's see if that shakes anything loose.
    BTW: I recently gave up trying to keep a K53SD alive - too many problems coming too fast.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 292
    Windows 10 Professional 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Megahertz said:
    Open Disk Manager. Does it show as a drive? If it does, does it has a drive letter?
    It doesn't show up in Disk manager, no.

    - - - Updated - - -

    TV2 said:
    A few random thoughts:
    Have you tried Safe Mode yet?
    Use a Linux distro (Ubuntu, etc) and see if the drive is recognized there.

    One key comment: "The DVD drive in it was bad, so I replaced the DVD drive with another known-good drive."
    The drive could have been bad, but there could also be a problem with the SATA interface. That is an old laptop and that kind of thing does happen. Try the old "bad drive" in a known good laptop.

    "Banging on the side of the case":
    Shut down, remove the battery, press and hold the power button for about 20 seconds, replace the battery, start up and test.
    Alternate: Shut down > remove the battery > press and hold the power button for about 20 seconds > remove the drive and leave it out > replace the battery > start up > Go to Device Manager > "Scan for Hardware Changes > shut down > reinstall the drive > start up > test.

    Let's see if that shakes anything loose.
    BTW: I recently gave up trying to keep a K53SD alive - too many problems coming too fast.
    Already tried the drive on the same laptop with a LinuxLiveUSB as mentioned in my first post - drive worked fine, I even tried a LinuxLiveDVD and it booted from that to. The issue is Windows specifically not recognizing the drive.

    I know the drive is good and the SATA interface is good as the BIOS sees the drive and it works fine in Linux, just not in Windows.
      My Computers


  10. TV2
    Posts : 2,221
    W10 Pro 22H2
       #10

    Have you tried the UpperFilters solution from Bobkn's post yet?

    Have you checked in Device Manager to see if there is any device that could be misread as the optical drive?
    When you do this switch to "Show hidden devices" under the View menu.
    If you see anything odd you could post a screen shot.
      My Computers


 

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