Windows 10: How to remove built-in DVD drive from 'Devices and Drives'?

My Dell 4650 has a built-in CD/DVD drive that works just fine, but the computer is on a shelf under a desk and facing the wrong way, so using the drive is awkward. So I bought a Toshiba 'external' drive that connects with a USB cable, and it works just as well and can be within easy reach. Both drives show up under 'This PC,' and I'm generally able to keep them straight, but is there a way to make the native Dell drive drop off the list short of disconnecting it? I'd want to be able to come back and reinstate it easily, without having to reinstall the driver or whatever. Can this be done easily, reversibly, and without hardware modification? Thanks!

:)

 

DVD Drive issues.

The games used to run, now apparently the disks don't even read.

Go to Device Manager and remove the DVD
Scan for hardware changes and update driver as OS suggests

Still not working?

1) Clean the heads.
2) Run a diagnostic program on the drive.

Nothing else has changed about your system aside from the OS?

Revert to XP Home, assuming you don't find the source of the problem in steps above.

 

Dvd drive not showing


Is this the HP 15r014tx in your system specs? If so, try the steps in this thread....
https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebo...r/td-p/6186456

It may be that your DVD drive has a hardware failure (as was suggested in that thread).

More HP support and diagnosis suggestions here in their Help pages....

HP PCs - CD/DVD Drive Is Not Detected (Windows 10, 8) | HP® Customer Support

 

DVD RW Drive

Hi Julia,

Welcome and thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

I understand that you are having a tough time working on the computer.

Please provide us the following information:

• 
  What is the make and model of the computer?
  
• 
  What is the exact\complete error message?
  

Step 1: Try updating the DVD\CD-ROM drives from device manager.

• Press Windows key + X and click on
  Device Manager.
• Expand DVD\CD-ROM drives .
• 
  Right click on the driver and select
  Update Driver Software.
  
• 
  Restart the computer.
  

Step 2: I suggest you to check and install if there is any latest firmware update for DVD drive from the computer manufacturer.

Hope it helps.

Do update us with the details, we are glad to assist you further.