Windows cannot start this hardware device because its configuration information (in the registry) is incomplete or damaged. (Code 19)
A client of mine recently had 2 CDRom drives that weren’t showing in My Computer. In the device manager, they showed up with exclamation points. Double-clicking them told me that the driver was installed properly but:
“Windows cannot start this hardware device because its configuration information (in the registry) is incomplete or damaged. (Code 19)”
After some research, the solution I found was to remove the LowFilter and UpperFilter entries from this registry area:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
Note that you may have several identical keys like this (4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318). The one you are looking for will list DVD/CD Rom Drives as the very first entry.
Reboot after making changes.
April 13th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Thanks i’ve been having the same problem over a week,on mines only the LowFilter showed up so i deleted that and it works now..BIG THANK YOU TRACY
May 13th, 2008 at 10:02 am
This problem was IDENTICAL to mine. I followed your steps exactly not even being 100% sure what the steps meant but it completely resolved my problem! Thank you so very much!!
January 7th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Thanks, I have the same problem and I followed exactly the steps. It works!!! Thanks again for your useful help!
January 9th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
This issue was resolved by following your instructions. Thank you for posting this information!
January 19th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Its really, working in windows vista in my dell laptop this problem occured. I dont know when this started. I found only lowfilter but when once i delete it. now my drive is back and is working perfectly… thanks a lot buddy ….
January 23rd, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Awesomeness….thanks!
And to think some solutions I saw for this issue were: “Re-install Windows XP”, “Physically remove and reinstall the DVD drive”….
This solution was much better!
January 24th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Thanks! This solved my problem as well with my Sony Vaio laptop and Vista Ultimate!
February 9th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Thanks a lot.I browsed a lot to find a solution for this problem,but the best solution is the one which u have given.It works 100% for me and now now i am able to access my drives
February 11th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Quick, easy, and effective.
Thank You
February 18th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Well done! I am an MCP / MVP and was dubious when I first read this post, but it worked just as published.
March 6th, 2009 at 4:17 am
Worked like a charm. Although, in my case, I only had the lowFilter key, no upperFilter. Thanks for posting such a useful tidbit!
March 8th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU…I have been trying to figure this out and finally found your blog. IT WORKED!!! I too did not know what I was doing, but IT WORKED!!!
March 12th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
This was an awesome problem solution site! I have been struggling with my DVD drive for a month now, researching Windows help sites, performing internal computer diagnostics, looking for system restore solutions….etc.etc.etc. This solution worked 100% and I am grateful to the person who put this information online. It saved me a lot of money…because my next step was bringing the computer in for repair. Thank you so much!! Angela
March 15th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
This worked on my wife’s vaio laptop. I was downgrading from the installed copy of Vista to XP Pro and somewhere in the process the CD drive disappeared from the O/S. Your solution seems to be correct. Please take an attaboy out of petty cash.
Here are some keywords that Google will hopefully pickup on
sony vaio VGN-CS215J matshita matshita uj880as CD DVD problem not found
April 14th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
I was referred to this site, but the makers of my registry cleaning program, I was told it might help fix the problem that my HP laptop was having with not recognizing the dvd/cd drive. I was at wits end, with “possible solutions”. I followed the steps, as limited as they are, combined with my somewhat limited detailed computer knowledge and PRESTO, the drive works perfectly. Great solution! Anyone can use these instructions and make this fix.
May 1st, 2009 at 10:30 am
Hey, thank you very much, i’ve been never commented blogs, but your solution helped me, thanks again!
June 5th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Many, many thanks. Your instructions are spot on. I had recently run a registry cleaner programme and after that both this message and one about ISATAP #2 appeared with yellow exclaimation marks. The CD one is restored to full health. Just have to find someone equally brill to help with ISATAP. Once again. Many thanks. God bless.
July 2nd, 2009 at 4:16 am
Yes sir, i did to my friend`s notebook dell vista home basic, it`s work.
very very big and big thank you sir.
July 9th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
i have an hp a6040n i followed these steps, deleted upper and lower key and it did not fix my problem would like to hears some more about this problem and some more potential fixes
July 28th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Worked perfectly! Thanks alot!
August 5th, 2009 at 7:23 am
as i dont have much of knoledge about all that, i have the same problem, but how can i go to registry to make the changes, thanks
September 13th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Thanks, this also worked 100% on HP ProBook 4510s - DVD not shown after several Windows Updates. Removed the 2 entries from the registry, restarted and now it is working. Tx again.
October 6th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
it definitively didn`t work for me, but this one sure did http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314060
November 12th, 2009 at 2:57 am
Great, worked a charm, thanks!
December 17th, 2009 at 3:38 am
God bless you man! This worked. i wasn’t expecting it to and though my computer was gonna crash when i reseted it but it worked! Your the best! Thanks a a million times because none of Windows automatic “Fix it” bots worked. THANK YOU!
January 14th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Excellent tip - thanks a lot for publishing this. It not only fixed my CD/DVD in the Sony Vaio, but also a USB drive!
Only ‘problem’ I found was that my registry entry was ‘lowerfilter’, not ‘lowfilter’.
Also I renamed the registry entry to ‘oldlowerfilter’ rather than deleting it - this always makes it easier to find and restore individual entries if necessary.
January 14th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
Some excellent info on your site. I bookmarked your site.
February 11th, 2010 at 11:03 am
You are the master! It totally worked, not even a second to waste and you saved my day!!!! I will definately drop a buck or 5!
March 17th, 2010 at 10:04 pm
Bravo..great solution..it work on my sony vaio… you’re the man dude
April 10th, 2010 at 8:18 am
Great fix, was getting nowhere till I followed your fix. One question that hasn’t been asked: what caused the error to appear in the registry in the first place? Anyone any ideas? I can only point at Norton 360 Backup utility as the laptop was a completely clean restore to factory settings.
Many thanks
May 24th, 2010 at 4:48 am
Thanks for the short and easy to follow fix to the problem!
June 5th, 2010 at 5:26 am
Rock on! This fixed my blu-ray disk drive on my Sony Vaio with Windows 7! Thanks so much for posting it!
July 5th, 2010 at 6:29 pm
This worked for me as well. Song Vaio with Win 7.
July 8th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
F’n awesome dude. Searched for this FOREVER and I didn’t even need an account to get the fix. If you’re ever in New Orleans, I’ll buy you a drink or 9.