Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing.
So the other day I started to get this error for my DVD-R drive “Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing. (Code 39)”, I was so confuzed because I didn’t do anything that would had cause such an error, and after trying to let windows automatically detect and re-install the driver, it still gave the same error, even using the driver that came with the DVD Drive and still came with that error, I figure for sure that my DVD drive ROM memory got corrupted somehow, I even try doing a firmware upgrade but didn’t work since my OS could not talk to the DVD Drive, so I figure it is a bad one, so I send it back to the store that I got it from and they send me a new one, same brand and model, I plugged it in an didn’t work either.
I got the same error message, that’s where I figure … it must a OS software issues, after a few minutes of searching and searching I found KB article that had the solution to my problem.
I hope that if you are having the same problem, this would work for you too.
I had this same problem, but I did remove the lower and upper filters (I only had lower filters to remove) but after reboot, still said same thing. You might have to select each device under device manager under the section “DVD/CD-ROM drives” (after you’ve removed filters and rebooted) and uninstall them. Then Click on your computer name on the top of the list (right click) and click refresh. This will make it redetect the devices you just deleted and this time, they will reinstall without error.
Worked for me after many many days of scouraging the internet. Just a side note, I do know how my problem started. I tried installing a 3rd party safedisc emulation utility, and hasty me, I didn’t think that maybe it was trying to install a optical driver or overlay utility that wasn’t compatible with Vista, or x64 for that matter. Problem happened as soon as I rebooted after install it.
Craig
Windows Vista x64 Ultimate
Thanks for your great input Craig, I fixed my problem, and its good to know that you fixed it a diferent way in case it happens to me again and so that other people know that might be more than one way/combination of ways to fix this issues, It happened to me about 2 or 3 times already, I highly suspect it was due to windows update, but i have no way to confirm it, I do remember that it happend after my pc applying updates then the dvd drive was gone, so search the internet and somewhere it hint me windows update so i went and uninstalled the updates from the previous day and it worked too, but then the new updates got it broken.
sounds familiar?