Upper- and Lowerfilters in Windows

[Ulukai]

Upper and Lower filters
Windows operating systems allow the author the possibility to use upper and lower class filters with their software. This should allow for more direct integration with your CD/DVD drive. Unfortunately it can also cause issues with certain mixes of burning software i.e. Nero and Windows burning. Nero does have its own filtercheck during the startup of Windows. This check can fix and help prevent problems with Nero, but sometimes it doesn't find and remove the problematic filter. Other filters are device filters, these are usually installed by Microsoft themselves.

Common device filters include redbook, partmgr and imapi. Redbook and imapi are usually found on CD/DVD drives, for audio and burning within Windows. The Partmgr is the partition manager for the harddisks.

It's quite possible that the filters by themself don't cause problems with your system, but usually people have several filters installed, not a single one. These mixed filter configurations can be very problematic as some of the filters try and make use of the same drive as the next filter. It's like competing for the same source.

Other methods include using ASPI layers or a propriety layer to access the CD/DVD drives.

Known issues include:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060/en-us

So when can we start thinking that filters have made a mess of our system? Well it can rear its ugly head in several ways, lost CD access, slow start of burning (lead in) unable to finalize disc at end etc or just simply not allow the ability to see your drive correctly in Windows. All of these make us believe our drive is bad when quite often it is not.

Please download and use the filter check tool to check your system. If you find any of these filters installed and have no problems then we still want to hear from you. Knowing which certain mixes of system and software work/don’t work is the whole idea here.

To remove the filters, use the link mentioned above and read it carefully. If you have problems and you have found the problematic filters, but you do need them for the programs that are related to it. We suggest that you visit the creator of the filter and try to update the filters. This might help with the problems you may have and still retain the functionality of the programs related to it.

These are the more common class filters installed on a machine, but they are not the only ones out there.

Common lowerfilters:
AFS2K - CD-Rom Driver by OAK Software and HP Memories Disc.
ANYDVD - Part of the AnyDVD software.
Asapiw2k.sys - Used by Pinnacle Studio 9 by Pinnacle systems or VOB Computersysteme GMBH.
CDR4_XP - Used by Roxio Easy Media Creator, WinOnCD 6, DragtoDisc and DirectCD.
cdrbsdrv - from BHA/Ricoh as it was installed with the Ricoh EncryptEase format/engine and B's Recorder GOLD7.
dvd43llh - It belongs to the software DVD For Free by RIF and its possibly even installed by DVD43.
drvmcdb - Used by Sonic and Veritas. Yet unknown in which software it is used (possibly backup software).
ElbyCDFL - Part of Elaborate Bytes(Elby) CloneCD.
ElbyDelay - Part of Elaborate Bytes(ElBy) CloneCD/DVD. Iviaspi - Used by Pinnacle Studio 9.
MxlW2k - Part of MusicMatch.
PFC - Padus ASPI Shell filter driver. Comes with Nero 6.x/7.x.x if you choose to install it, comes with WinDVD Creator, it comes with DiscJuggler and it comes with NVIDIA Purevideo decoder.
pxhelp20 - Part of Sonic Burning engine, it's made by prassi/veritas and licensed to Sonic. Comes with Winamp, 1click DivxToDVD and (older versoins of) Digion Audio.
PzWDM - Part of the Prassi Zulu engine. Comes with ONES, Zulu2, Recordnow! 4 and (updated) Digion Audio.
Qv2kux - USBSTOR LowerFilter Driver for Qv-2000ux
sscdbhk5 - A Shared Driver Component used by Veritas and Sonic Solutions. Yet unknown which program it belongs to.
ULCDRHlp - Part of Ulead CD/DVD writing engine. Comes with either Audio DVD creator or DVD Moviefactory 4

Common upperfilters:
Cdralw2k - Used by Roxio Easy Media Creator, WinOnCD 6. GearASPIWDM - Part of the Gear burning engine. Comes with iTunes and Drive Image 7.0.
InCDPass - Part of the Nero InCD engine. Comes with Nero 6.x/7.x.x if you choose to install it.
incdrm - Part of the Nero InCD engine. Comes with Nero 6.x/7.x.x if you choose to install it.
ivicd - Used by Pinnacle Studio 9
NTIDrv - NTI CD-ROM Driver used by New Tech Infosystems Inc in their burning and ripping engine.
Prtseqrd - Part of Easy CD creator 5 Platinum Edition. Usually left behind after a un-install.
pwd_2k - Used by Adaptec Direct CD.

Related forum posts:
http://www.cdr-zone.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4701
http://www.cdr-zone.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4506
http://www.cdr-zone.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4286
http://www.cdr-zone.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4323
http://www.cdr-zone.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4099

**Updated** The Filter Check Tool is renewed, more information is generated. It is tested on Windows XP, it should work on ME/2kx x32/x64, but detection is not guaranteed on those systems. W98/SE/NT can be made compatible if the WMI/WBEM repository is installed.
**Update** 24th of October - A new filter detection and removal tool is added. Be sure to make a proper backup of your system before using it. The tool will ask you for each filter if you want to remove it.
***Click here for the StarForce scanner tool.[/b]

[SirQUK]

Nice list Ulukai and I hope to see it grow as more users report any issues . A top sticky if ever I saw one

[melli]

I ran the program, but I got nothing - no pop up, zilch. I have filter nightmares.....so many all over f**king up my DVD/CD drive so I can't view CD's on it. lower- Pfc Iviaspi ASAPIW2K Cdr4_xp upper - ivicd Cdralw2k pwd_2k Trying to figure out which is what and delete them so I can have my Pioneer 111D burner back. Had to buy a LACIE DVD+-DL, which, btw works like a charm - came with Roxio Easy Media Creator 7 and DVD MAX player, plus lightscribe, all under a $100 (a bit pricey, but from a expensive retailer). Thanks Mellissa

[melli]

I'd like all to ignore my question on where the results of the CS filter checker is... here is mine; Filter Check Tool v3.4 An Upper Filter found is: Cdralw2k Filterdriver properties are: An Upper Filter found is: pwd_2k Filterdriver properties are: A Lower Filter found is: ASAPIW2K Filterdriver properties are: Name: ASAPIW2k Caption: ASAPIW2K Description: ASAPIW2K AcceptPause: False AcceptStop: True DesktopInteract: False DisplayName: ASAPIW2K ErrorControl: Normal ExitCode: 0 PathName: C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\Asapiw2k.sys Version Info: 6.0.2.27 ServiceSpecificExitCode: 0 ServiceType: Kernel Driver Started: True StartMode: Manual StartName: State: Running Status: OK TagId: 0 A Lower Filter found is: Cdr4_xp Filterdriver properties are: Name: Cdr4_xp Caption: Cdr4_xp Description: Cdr4_xp AcceptPause: False AcceptStop: True DesktopInteract: False DisplayName: Cdr4_xp ErrorControl: Normal ExitCode: 0 PathName: C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\Cdr4_xp.sys Version Info: 7.2.0.13 ServiceSpecificExitCode: 0 ServiceType: Kernel Driver Started: True StartMode: System StartName: State: Running Status: OK TagId: 6 ALthough, I have many more, but they are put in other places... m

[Ulukai]

Those other ones are probably device upper or lower filters, instead of class upper and lower filters, nice new additions though I've added the new entries into the lists, thanks

[Ulukai]

Thanks Netmage. I'll correct the Gear entry that you just confirmed. Pxhelp is also installed by DivxtoDVD, Winamp installs a somewhat older version... of course there are more, maybe we can find out which installed it on yours. It has to be a program that needs CD/DVD drive access to read or write.

[SirQUK]

Can you add HP Memories Disc into the list for AFS2K please m8 Cheers to Jan for the info

[cfgeagle]

Thank Ulukai, that was the end of my problem, I download the "Filter Detection and Removal Tool 4.6" and run it, and found bout three filters there one of them related to my DVD/CD controller, I followed the program, and that was it. So that is probably the same situation other had experience with their DVD+RW DW-D56A.
THANK YOU AGAIN.

[Ulukai]

Glad it helped

[Jon!]

Another tool to help detect and remove upper/lower device filters.
This one has a GUI and can be used for different device types too.

[CDR-Zone.COM]