I know this error is infuriating—you've got a disc in the tray, Windows Media Player says it can't burn because the device isn't there, and you're left staring at a coaster you didn't ask for. Let's get you burning again.
The Quick Fix: Update the Drive's Registry Key
Nine times out of ten, this error isn't a hardware problem. Your burner is fine. The issue is that Windows lost the UpperFilters or LowerFilters registry values for your optical drive—often after a Windows update or when you install disc-burning software like Nero or older versions of Roxio. When those values get corrupted or go missing, Windows stops recognizing the drive as a burnable device, even though it still shows up in File Explorer.
Here's the fix, step by step:
- Press Windows Key + R, type
regedit, and hit Enter. - Navigate to this key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4d36e965-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}That long string is the class GUID for CD and DVD drives. Don't worry about memorizing it—just copy and paste.
- In the right-hand panel, look for two values called UpperFilters and LowerFilters. They might not both be there—that's normal.
- Right-click each one and select Delete. Yes, delete them. I know it feels counterintuitive, but those are the troublemakers.
- Close the Registry Editor and restart your PC.
After the reboot, Windows will rebuild those values cleanly. Open Windows Media Player, try burning again, and you should be back in business.
Why This Works
Those registry values are filters—little software hooks that third-party burning apps install so they can intercept disc-writing commands. When they get corrupted, Windows' own burning API (IMAPI) gets confused. It looks for a device that the filters are hiding, can't find it, and throws the error NS_E_WMP_IMAPI_DEVICE_NOTPRESENT.
Deleting them removes the broken hook. Windows doesn't need those filters for basic burning—it has its own built-in IMAPI support that works fine without them. So you're not losing any functionality, you're just cleaning up a mess that the filters created.
Less Common Variations
Sometimes the registry fix alone doesn't do it. Here's what else to check if you're still seeing the error after a reboot:
1. The Drive Is Actually Disabled in Device Manager
Open Device Manager (right-click the Start button), expand DVD/CD-ROM drives. If your drive has a down arrow icon, right-click it and select Enable device. This happens more than you'd think, especially after a Windows update that messes with power management.
2. The Drive Letter Vanished
If your drive doesn't appear in File Explorer at all, the letter might have been taken over by a USB stick or network drive. Open Disk Management (right-click Start → Disk Management), find your optical drive (it'll show as a CD-ROM with no media), right-click it, and choose Change Drive Letter and Paths. Assign any free letter, like Z:.
3. Your Disc Is the Real Problem
Yes, that happens too. If you're using a rewritable disc (CD-RW, DVD-RW) that's been formatted by another program—especially Mac software—Windows Media Player sometimes refuses to see it as writable. Try a fresh, brand-new CD-R or DVD-R. If that works, you've found your culprit.
Preventing This From Happening Again
The registry corruption usually comes from software conflicts. So, a few habits that'll keep this error from creeping back:
- Uninstall old burning suites properly. If you're not using that 2015 version of Nero anymore, don't just delete the folder—use Settings → Apps to uninstall it fully. Leftover drivers are what corrupt those registry keys.
- Let Windows handle the updates. When a Windows feature update rolls out, don't manually remove or change anything in Device Manager for your optical drive. Let the update finish, then test.
- Run the registry fix proactively. If you ever install a new burning tool and then uninstall it, do the
UpperFilters/LowerFiltersdeletion before you even burn again. It takes two minutes and saves you the headache later.
That's it. You're not dealing with a dead drive, and you're not stuck with Windows Media Player's cryptic error. Delete those two registry values, restart, and you'll be burning discs again before your coffee goes cold.