There are times when CD / DVD icon does not appear on the computer (My PC), why? Well, this can be due to several reasons, in my experience the cause is usually a virus / malware infection, although it is also due to connection problems in the hardware, without ruling out of course that there could be failures in the same component of the reader / writer; more properly in the logical part of the hardware.
Before you decide to resort to the option of 'System Restore' To see if it is solved or call your repair technician, I recommend you check the following possible solutions, maybe you can repair it yourself without spending a cent 
Check hardware:
- Check the connection cables of the reader / writer unit, check if they are properly connected and not loose.
- If the cables are properly connected and it still does not recognize the unit, try changing the power cord from the power source to another (there are several in the source). This cable is responsible for the hardware to work, the tray opens and closes, therefore it is recognized by the system.
- Still not recognized? Do the same from the previous step, but with the IDE / SATA cable that is connected to the motherboard, of course, if you have one handy. This cable is the data cable, it allows you to use the hardware.
- Enter to BIOS and see if the unit recognizes you.
If despite having checked the hardware, BIOS and seeing that all the connection and cables are fine, you will have to use the software, in this case tools to repair units in the system.
DVD Drive Repair is an application that has personally got me out of trouble, it is designed precisely to recover DVD icon in WindowsAll it takes is 1 click on the 'Repair DVD Drive (Icon)' button and restart the computer for this problem to be easily solved. Mention an important recommendation from the same author, create a restore point before using the program.
Beyond its smooth operation, what I like is that this utility is portable, meaning you won't have to install it, just unzip the lightweight 1MB Zip file and use it. It's compatible with Windows 8/7/Vista/XP (32 and 64 Bit) and free of course 
Optionally you have the option of restoring the autostart settings (Autorun) by default and protect the autorun itself from virus attacks.
Remember that for this to work, your system must be free of viruses, update your Antivirus and carry out a deep analysis, if necessary use tools such as ComboFix.
Other solutions:
- Right click on My Computer / Computer> Manage> Device Manager. Recognizing the DVD / CD-ROM drives is a good sign, try right-clicking uninstall and install so that Windows will recognize it again.
- Maybe you have another DVD drive and the jumpers are misplaced, either as slave, master, cable select. If you have knowledge check it.
- Also check if you have software like Power ISO, Alcohol 120%, Daemon Tools or any other disk virtualizer, which is suddenly occupying the same hardware drive letter. Although it is unlikely, but it does not hurt to verify this.
- Nothing works? Before you consider your DVD player / recorder dead, the contacts are probably dirty, dusty; clean them very well and reconnect everything
- Did you try everything and nothing? Well, do something else, remove your recorder unit and connect it to another computer, only carry the hardware and not the cables. If it works, you already know that some or both of the cables are failing.
- At this point, do not rule out restoring the system or reinstalling it, otherwise if it does not work either, you could consider that the disk reader / writer is indeed damaged.
Can you think of other solutions? Do you need help with this? Leave them in the comments 