DVD/CD drive does not work in Windows 8 Professional, and it IS NOT a hardware problem.

To access all Apps - Right Click anywhere on the Start Screen - on lower right corner
- All Apps - scroll to left to see more. You can Pin any App to the Start Screen - Right
Click on it - Pin to Start.

This is a real help :

Windows Store - Top Free - Windows 8 Cheat Keys

While on the Start Screen type - Help

Or Win Key + Q = Search Apps - Help

Or Charms Menu - Search - Apps - Help

After any of the above -> On left click -> Help and Support.

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Was this from a Upgrade to Windows 8 or did you wipe out the old OS and
do a full installation? Are there any error messages? 

Check with the System Maker's Support, their on-line documentation and driver/firmaware,
and ask in their forums (if any) about any known issues. Some CD/DVD drives are just not
Windows 8 compatible.

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From the DeskTop - WINKEY + D while on the Start Screen to access the DeskTop :

WINKEY + X  OR  place the mouse in the lower left corner and Right Click - Command Prompt (ADMIN)

Enter the below (or COPY and PASTE ) :


reg.exe add "HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\atapi\Controller0" /f /v EnumDevice1 /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000001

REBOOT
(from AtishayMSFT)

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Do these to clear corruption and repair/replace damaged/missing system files. From the DeskTop - WinKey + X - Command Prompt (Admin)

SFC /scannow
(space between C and / )

Then run run CheckDisk  - chkdsk /r  (the /r includes /f parameter checks)

WinKey + X - Command Prompt (Admin)

chkdsk /r
(space between k and / )

Or run CheckDisk from within Windows 8 :

Improve performance by optimizing your hard drive - see "To repair a drive"


WinKey + X - Control Panel

Try this - Control Panel - Device Manager - CD/DVD - double click the device - Driver's
Tab - click Update Drivers (this will likely do nothing) - then RIGHT CLICK the drive -
UNINSTALL - REBOOT this will refresh the default driver stack

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If needed :

Try doing a "Refresh your PC without affecting your files" (or changing your personal
settings) or even a Restore.

Windows 8 includes special methods to Refresh (keep files and settings)  or a Reset
(new install removing all).

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