Running vista home premium for almost 2 years. cd/dvd drive has previously worked fine. Now: "Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing. (Code 39)". Help!!!!! Tried a driver update online, but no luck.

Hi sparkleban,

You could try this. Create a restore point first.

This problem is caused by two Windows registry entries that have become corrupted. To fix the problem, you have to use Registry Editor to delete the corrupted Registry entries. To use this method, you must be logged on to Windows as an administrator.


Microsoft Windows Vista

1. Click Start, and then click All Programs.

2. Click Accessories, and then click Run.

3. Type regedit, and then click OK.
If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.

4. In the navigation pane, locate and then click the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

5. In the right pane, click UpperFilters.

Note You may also see an UpperFilters.bak registry entry. You do not have to remove that entry. Click UpperFilters only. If you do not see the UpperFilters registry entry, you still might have
to remove the LowerFilters registry entry. To do this, go to step 8.

6. On the Edit menu, click Delete.

7. When you are prompted to confirm the deletion, click Yes.

8. In the right pane, click LowerFilters.

Note If you do not see the LowerFilters registry entry, unfortunately this content cannot help you any further.
Go to the "Next Steps" section for information about how you can find more solutions or more help on the
Microsoft Web site.

9. On the Edit menu, click Delete.

10. When you are prompted to confirm the deletion, click Yes.

11. Exit Registry Editor.

12. Restart the computer.

Your CD drive or DVD drive is missing or is not recognized by Windows or other programs

Hope it helps

Thanks heaps. I will try this later today and let you know if it works.

Hi SIW2.

This worked!!!!!!!!! Thanks so much. You're brilliant. Enjoy your Easter break.

Hi Sparkleban,

Thanks for reporting the results.

Glad it worked for you.

Hope you have a great Easter too.

Dear All,

I have a HP Laptop with Vista Home premium -32 bit OS and last week i had the same problem with my laptop showing that " Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing. (Code 39)"and Blue ray/DVD was not showing in my computer so and I try to restore with my Norton 360 Antivirus software and now the Mouse is not working (but my Bluray/ DVD is appearing in my computer)(even the mouse pad (Synaptics Pointing device ) and I tried it with external USB Mouse and that too is not working and i checked the Device Manager and it shows in Mice and other pointing device that Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing. (Code 39)" please help.......