How do you repair dvdr drive missing from hardware list on HP laptop?

Dvdr drive is non-existant on hardware list. It is completely software related. I have access to 2 other new drives. I have researched and have tried every fix. I have restored computer. I have went in and deleted the upper and lower filters in the registry. I tried an external DVD drive and it would not recognize it initially. I restored computer and tried a registry fix and now I have the external working. This problem with the internal DVD drive seems widespread. No one has a fix. My computer has the restore programs built into the D drive and my guess is that they are corrupted. I have self-made restore disks but cannot get them to run.