CD & DVD drives not recognised - HEEEELP!

[msiler]

I was having trouble backing up a DVD I have and read about a workaround.
I was running AnyDVD and turned it off.
I then started DVD43.
Well the two do not play nicely together!!! Crashed my sytem and now my computer will not recognize my CDRW or my DVD Burner.

I have uninstalled DVD43 and ANYDVD and rebooted (several times).
I have uninstalled and reinstalled the drivers for both my CD and DVD (several times).
My computer seems to have the correct drivers onboard (validated by driver agent). Nothing I do seems to allow my 'puter to "see" my CD or DVD drives...

What do I do to fix this problem?

[Gecko]

Are the drives listed in Device Manager?
Start > Control Panel > System > Hardware tab > Device Manager button

Have you tried booting into safe mode to see if they show up then?
Restart Windows after you see the BIOS screen and before Windows starts to load.
Start tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Options Menu appears.
Use the Arrow key to ensure that the Safe Mode option is selected.
Press Enter. The computer then begins to start in Safe mode.

[PCguy]

Also try this:

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.
To resolve this behavior, follow these steps:

1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
2. Locate the UpperFilters value under the following key in the registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
3. On the Edit menu, click Delete, and then click OK.
4. Locate the LowerFilters value under the same key in the registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
5. On the Edit menu, click Delete, and then click OK.
6. Quit Registry Editor.NOTE: After you remove the Upperfilters value and the Lowerfilters value, if you notice lost functionality in a particular program, such as CD recording software, you may need to reinstall that software. If the problem recurs, consult with the software vendor for assistance.
7. Restart your computer.