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Two related problems. 1- I have a phantom CD Drive (E) that I cannot delete, remove or unregister.
2- I have a code 19 error on my windows 10 Lenovo Laptop. The error reads, "Windows cannot start this hardware device because its configuration information (in the registry) is incomplete or damaged. (Code 19)". I am using an external CD drive. When I plugged it into the laptop, I ruined that drive. Now nothing works with it. Bought a 2nd one. Same problem. Tried to use it on an older laptop. It was trashed there also. Would not work.
Steps I have taken. A- In the registry, I searched for and removed the Lower Filter content (elbyCDFL) for the cd drive that I deleted. Rebooted. Did nothing to remove the E drive or stop the problem. B- I do NOT have a restore point so I could not go back in time. C- Searched for hidden devices in the device manager. The E drive did not show up.
I know the registry is corrupted but don't know how to proceed. Need genius technical support.
Answer accepted by question author
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Well you have finally done it. The network drive has been disconnected. Finally the CD Drive (E) has been removed. I rebooted the computer and it is still gone. I can't thank you enough for your hard work and clear and concise instructions. Many Many thanks to you.
You're most welcome :) Glad to have helped.
If all is resolved, feel free to mark the answer for this thread. Otherwise, please let me know if there's anything else I can help you with.
Let's check if the phantom CD drive is caused by a third-party driver. Please share your Farbar scan logs for analysis.
FRST64.exe to FRST64English.exe.Note: If Microsoft Edge or Chrome mislabels the Farbar Scanner executable as PUA/malware, choose to keep it by tapping … in the bottom bar, choosing Keep, and then choosing Keep anyway in the dialog that appears. See this screenshot. It's a safe tool used in most antimalware forums.
Standard Disclaimer: There is a link to a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to provide accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.
FRST.txt Farbar Addition Scan.txt I am posting these two text files here. Also a new drive popped up. It is a G Drive with also no items in it. It also does not show up in Device manager. Can you help me get all this mess fixed? PS: Thank you for working with me. New and Old Disk Drives.pdf
Will check the logs.
By the way, the G drive is a network drive. You should be able to remove it by right-clicking on the drive and choosing Disconnect. Let me know if that works.
Also, uninstall UltraISO Premium V9.76 (Version: 9.76 - EZB Systems, Inc.)
UltraISO may have added the phantom CD drive.
Well you have finally done it. The network drive has been disconnected. Finally the CD Drive (E) has been removed. I rebooted the computer and it is still gone. I can't thank you enough for your hard work and clear and concise instructions. Many Many thanks to you.
I hate to bring this up BUT last week I bought an external cd/dvd player. When it connected to the laptop, it was assigned Drive D. At the same time it appeared in My Computer, The ghost cd/dvd drive E appeared. Luckily when I disconnected the D drive, the E drive disappeared again.
My problem now is that the external cd/dvd player is not being recognized by the computer. I don't see it appearing in the Device Manager. Could that problem be caused by the ghost drive again?
Here is the registry file response.
Second file you requested. I hope both of these files get posted. I keep trying.
Hi,
Please open Command Prompt and run the following commands to get the list of filter drivers from the registry:
reg query "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class" /f *erfilters* /s
Copy the output and post in in your reply.
Upload the following file in your next reply.:
C:\Windows\INF\Setupapi.dev.log
Per your request, please check out this file:
There is a LowerFilters registry value that has an empty value.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4d36e965-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}
LowerFilters REG_MULTI_SZ
Please delete that value after creating a System Restore Point.
Restart Windows and reinstall the DVD-ROM device. If the same error occurs, attach the following file:
C:\Windows\INF\Setupapi.dev.log
Here is the requested log file. I will try to post the other file next.
After deleting the LowerFilters registry value, restart Windows, remove and reinstall the DVD-ROM drivers.
If the Code 19 error still occurs, upload the latest setupapi.dev.log file.
I removed the filter and restarted Windows. I don't understand "remove and reinstall the DVD-ROM drivers. I don't have any DVD Rom Drivers or I don't know how to do it. The "E" drive is still there.
Attached is the requested log file #2. I will also show you what the My Computer screen shows now.setupapi.dev.log
Here is the screen shot showing all the Disks after after removing the two external hard drives.
I don't understand "remove and reinstall the DVD-ROM drivers.
I was referring to the external CD drive you're using.
If the phantom CD drive appears even after disconnecting your external drives, please open Command Prompt admin and run these commands:
mountvol /R
mountvol E: /d
pnputil /enum-devices /problem /ids
Copy the output and include it in your next reply.
Please also uninstall Virtual CloneDrive if it's installed on the computer.
I used Revo Uninstaller to uninstall the 64k and 32k Virtual CloneDrive. Then I checked if they appear in the "All Programs" list. They did not. I assume the logs were then blank.
For the Windows Command Prompt items, I did not get a response for the first two commands. Attached is the output. NOTE: After I did all of the above and rebooted the Laptop, the CD Drive (E) still appears. I assume I really did a terrible job on this computer. Oh yes, I forgot to mention the following.
After the problems started happening, I put in my old external CD drive. After inserting a disk, I tried to play it. The drive rattled and made noise. Finally it stopped and I was able to get the disk out. I disconnected the drive. Then tried it again. The drive was toast. Broken. I tried to play it with another laptop. The disk did not play on the second laptop.
Then I bought a new external CD Drive. When I connected it to the first laptop, inserted the disk and hit play. The CD Drive rattled and died. I pulled this drive out of the computer and moved it to the 2nd laptop. It rattled and nothing was recognized by this laptop. I did noticed that the drive showed up as CD Drive (E). I think it was because the 2nd laptop did have an internal CD drive. When I removed the broken CD Drive from the 2nd laptop and rebooted it, the CD Drive (E) did not appear again.Windows Command Results.txt
Thanks for the update. The commands ran fine. If the issue still remains on the original computer, please run this command from admin Command Prompt.
powershell -command "Get-PnpDevice | format-list"
Copy the output to a text file and include it in your reply.
Here is the results of the PowerShell Command Format List I do hope we can solve these two problems. A) the phantom disk and B) Not ruining another external CD Drive.PowerShell Command Results.txt
PnpUtil doesn't show any problem devices. Does Device Manager still show the Code 19 error for that device?
WOW. The NEW external CD Drive, that I bought, now shows up as Drive (D) and works properly. In addition, the phantom CD Drive still shows up as Drive (E). It does NOT show up anywhere except on the Computer screen. It still says to insert a disk. The broken external CD Drive had been connected to the computer when the disk did not want to come out. I just pulled the plug from the computer. That is when the error occurred. Now that CD External Drive is broken and I cannot put it back in. Any ideas on how to remove the phantom CD Drive (E) from the screen? Something said it has to do with the Bios but I don't know anything about it.
PS: No Code 19 error that I can find.