Windows 11 doesn't recognize the LG optical drive, and the BIOS isn't detecting it either.
Windows 11 doesn't recognize the LG optical drive, and the BIOS isn't detecting it either.
Hey there, newcomer! Let’s get this sorted out. I started setting up my first PC in May, and it has a Fractal Pop Air case that fits an LG WH14NS40 optical drive inside. I’m running Windows 11, and everything seems to be working fine until I connected the DVD player. After plugging it in, I clicked eject, saw the blue LED light up, and the tray popped out. I put it back in and heard a whirring sound before it stopped. There was no disc inside, and no software to process its signal. From what I checked, the software is missing entirely—no entry in Device Manager, not even in the AIA/ATAPI section. In Disk Management, I see my main SSD, then disk 1 and disk 0, but nothing related to the DVD drive. When I booted into BIOS (MSI B650 Tomahawk), the only SATA connection listed was my SSD, not the one I connected for the DVD player. Trying to install the LG firmware triggered an error: “NO ATAPI DEVICE FOUND!!!”. Probably because the connection isn’t set up correctly. I’m pretty sure it’s not plugged in properly. If this persists, I’ll open the case and verify the linkage. If you see the same issue, maybe swapping the SATA cable helps. Any suggestions or forum contacts would be a huge help! Thanks!
The BIOS is the initial step to resolve issues. If the BIOS doesn't recognize the DVD SATA device, no actions are possible in Windows or firmware settings. The best approach would be to test various SATA ports on the motherboard, as some may be reserved for other functions. Otherwise, it could indicate a faulty DVD drive.
Sure thing, Allan! The DVD player seems to be functioning mechanically—it just isn’t showing up on my computer. It might be an issue with the SATA port not working properly. I’m still within the 1-year LG warranty, which gives me hope I can get another one. By the way, here’s a quick look at the BIOS: am I checking the right section?
It's getting power, but it's not plugged into the correct port. I think I should check the motherboard manual for instructions on connecting DVD drives... I'm sorry, I'm not really helping much, but it seems like it should be listed there. You mentioned earlier that if you can't see it in BIOS, it won't work. Also, look for a "legacy setting" if you see one.
Previously you relied on BIOS in AHCI mode, not RAID. Your screenshot indicates both AHCI and RAID are enabled, which is confusing. I haven't tested a DVD SATA device on an AM5 platform yet—I should check all SATA options. A quick search for B650 mentions needing to activate "Legacy SATA Mode." One person reported they couldn't enable it while using onboard graphics. Do you have a GPU installed? Since no other SATA devices appear, you can adjust the settings. Consider disabling AHCI/RAID mode and test hot-plugging (though DVD drives likely don’t support this). Also, try using the SATA "A" ports versus non-A ports—those might use a different chipset and could be incompatible with older devices. The standard A ports are linked to the B650 chipset, so you may want to explore both configurations.
Everyone, thank you really for your assistance! It was actually the SATA connection that caused the issue... I noticed it was slightly misaligned, so I pushed it back in, and it fixed the problem! Quite frustrating, I had to remove both panels, the front panel, and even the DVD drive itself. After reassembly, everything worked again. I checked Device Manager in Drives, under a brand new CD/DVD folder, and played both DVD and Bluray (after installing VLC and makemkv).
The strange part started the next day. When I turned on my PC, it vanished once more in the BIOS. I shut it down, disassembled everything again, and reinserted the SATA cable into the DVD drive as before, then restarted the BIOS. Now the drive appeared once more. Windows 11 also recovered.
Today I tried to boot up my PC. It disappeared again. I’m getting really annoyed 😠. I don’t understand why this keeps happening. It seems to reset itself overnight while I’m asleep. The machine stays still, no noise, just tight wires around the DVD drive area. Maybe over time, the cables shift slightly due to flexibility, eventually pulling the SATA cable out. But that wouldn’t last an entire night.
I watched a two-hour movie with the DVD drive working perfectly. If it were a gradual wire issue, it would take far less than two hours. It feels like something mechanical is at play. I’m wondering if it’s related to the software—since I can reset the cable connections offline. But I’m not sure.
Could someone suggest a solution? Should I get a new SATA cable right now? And @Kilrah, how do I replace the SATA port on the DVD drive? Is it possible the problem lies with the LG DVD drive itself rather than the cable? Thanks for all your help! I’m almost there...
I received two fresh SATA cables. Testing one didn’t connect the DVD player to BIOS—it wasn’t present anymore. I tried the other one again... it didn’t show up either. In previous attempts, the player would appear when I used the old cable. Now I’m ready to give up and reach out to LG (still under warranty). I decided to use the longer unopened cable and plug it into the side port instead of the bottom SATA slot. It functioned perfectly. It worked last night, this morning, and tonight too. I watched a documentary about it and it performed well. I’m relieved but still curious—could it be the motherboard port or both cables being faulty? Thanks for all the support! Hope you have a great week.