After malware removal: DVD writer recognizes writable DVDs as CDs

iironage · Aug 16, 2009

Good evening all,

I have been trying to find help with this issue, but can not seem to resolve it, so I am turning to the experts on here. I am using Windows XP, with service pack 3. My PC was recently attacked by the phony microsoft security suite spyware program, so I downloaded Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware program to get rid of it. It seemed to help, but now I have run into a couple more issues. The first is that I can not seem to run the "system restore" utility that I used in the past to reset the computer to an earlier date and time. The program doesnt execute when clicking on the "next" button to restart the computer. So there is that, and the other issue that has me really frustrated, which is that my DVDRW does not seem to recognize blank writable DVDs anymore. It will play CD's and DVD's still, but it reads blank DVDs as CDs now. Under the "My Computer" window, the drive reads as "DVD-RW Drive" when no disc is inserted. When a writable DVD is inserted in the drive, it reads: "CD Drive". I am using an NEC DVDRW ND-2510A drive. I have tried to reinstall the drive but it doesnt get rid of the issue, and there doesnt seem to be any driver upgrade for it. When either using Windows Media Player or NERO to try burning a DVD, neither program recognizes the DVD burner anymore. Instead, it gives me something called Image Writer, which, as far as I can tell, does nothing more than burn an image to the hard drive, which is not at all what I want to do.

I suspect that either while the spyware was attacking the PC, or when I removed it using the Anti-Malware utility, some code or a file or something that allows the DVD to have write functions, got deleted from the system registry. I wonder if anyone on here has any idea what files or code should be in the registry for the DVD writer, or maybe there is some easier method that I have not tried that would rectify this issue. I appreciate any help that anyone can provide here, as dealing with this issue has really been a frustrating and time consuming endeavor. Thank you for your time and help.

iironage · Aug 18, 2009

really? no one has any idea what could be going on? well, i think i have it pinpointed to the fact that my 2nd primary IDE channel is not recognizing the dvd writer. i just dont know what the code or file could be that is missing from the registry and not allowing the drive to communicate. i noticed that in "Safe Mode", the drive is displayed as a CD Drive, whether it has a disc in it or not. i fear ultimately that i may have to just reformat the hard drive, but i have to wait until i can get another one to back my files up, so i guess i have some time to try other solutions.

TimW · Aug 21, 2009

Welcome to Major Geeks!

Please follow the instructions in the READ & RUN ME FIRST link given futher down and attach the requested logs when you finish these instructions.

If you have problems where no tools seem to run, please try following the steps given in the below and then continue on no matter what you find. You only need to try the TDSSserv steps if having problems getting scans in the Read & Run Me First. If TDSSserv is not found, just continue on with the READ & RUN ME.

TDSSserv Non-Plug & Play Driver Disable

READ & RUN ME FIRST. Malware Removal Guide

If something does not run, write down the info to explain to us later but keep on going.

Do not assume that because one step does not work that they all will not.

After completing the READ & RUN ME and attaching your logs, make sure that you tell us what problems still remain ( if any still do )!

Helpful Notes:

If you run into problems trying to run the READ & RUN ME or any of the scans in normal boot mode, you can run the steps in safe boot mode but make sure you tell us what you did later when you post logs. See the below if you do not know how to boot in safe mode:

Starting your computer in Safe mode

If you have problems downloading on the problem PC, download the tools and the manual updates for SUPERAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes and Spybot ( links are given in the READ & RUN ME) onto another PC and then burn to a CD. Then copy them to the problem PC. You will have to skip getting updates if (and only if) your internet connection does not work. Yes you could use a flash drive too but flash drives are writeable and infections can spread to them.

If you cannot seem to login to an infected user account, try using a different user account (if you have one) in either normal or safe boot mode and running only SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes while logged into this other user account. Then reboot and see if you can log into the problem user account. If you can then run SUPERAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes, ComboFix and MGtools on the infected account as requested in the instructions.

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Any additional post is a bump which will add more delay. Once you attach the logs, your thread will be in the work queue and as stated our system works the oldest threads FIRST.

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After malware removal: DVD writer recognizes writable DVDs as CDs

iironage Private E-2

iironage Private E-2

TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member