When Microsoft ended Windows 10 support in October 2025, Tokyo’s Akihabara electronics district saw something odd. Alongside the expected Windows 11 sales, shoppers were clearing out internal Blu-ray and DVD drives. Shops there struggled to keep up as inventory ran thin.
Windows 11 wasn’t the real cause. People were replacing old PCs with new ones that had no disc bay, and Japan still has a lot of discs. Here is what the reports said, how much weight they deserve, and how to get a drive running on Windows 11 if you need one.
What Happened in Akihabara
Microsoft shipped the last cumulative update for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Soon after, the Japanese outlet IT Media reported that parts shops in Akihabara were seeing steady demand for Windows 11, plus a sudden rush on optical drives.
One retailer, TSUKUMO eX., said plenty of customers wanted to put an optical drive in their Windows 11 machine, just as they had with Windows 10. Other shops reported that internal Blu-ray burners sold out first, with DVD drives close behind.
The shops also said this upgrade cycle felt calmer than the ones around Windows 7 and Windows 8. There was no mad dash to upgrade. The one clear exception was the drive aisle.
Why Disc Drives, and Why Now?
Windows 11 can read discs perfectly well. The trigger was the hardware people bought to run it.
Older PCs had to go
Windows 11 requires a Trusted Platform Module, among other things, so plenty of older computers can’t run it. For many people, “upgrading” meant buying a new machine. Most current prebuilt desktops and thin laptops don’t include an optical bay at all.
Commenters under the original Tom’s Hardware story made the same point: these buyers weren’t installing Windows from discs. They had moved to a new PC and wanted to keep playing the discs they already owned.
Japan holds on to physical media
Japanese consumers buy movies, anime, and concert discs at a rate that would surprise most Americans. If you own a few hundred Blu-rays, losing the drive that plays them is a real problem, and a $60 part solves it.
Internal drives have an edge for burning
Staff at Dospara’s main Akihabara store said some customers prefer internal drives because they write faster, and external units have speed limits. TSUKUMO eX. made a similar point about customers wanting the same setup they had before.
How Big Was the Surge, Really?
Smaller than the headlines suggest, though not imaginary. TweakTown said it’s hard to tell whether the booming sales were exaggerated. Another write-up argued that losing built-in drives probably boosted external drive demand to a degree, but wasn’t the only factor.
A few things make the story look bigger than it is:
- Optical drives are a tiny market. A modest bump in buyers can empty a shelf.
- Supply is thin. Sony, LG, and Panasonic have left optical media, and small Japanese makers cover what’s left.
- Prices helped. The same report said falling drive prices pushed people to buy.
So read it as a real but narrow trend, not as evidence that discs are staging a worldwide comeback.
How Manufacturers Reacted
The retail rush showed up in product launches too.
| Company | Product | What stands out |
| Fujitsu | FMV Note A laptops | A Blu-ray version, plus Intel-based models with a DVD Super Multi burner instead |
| Cooler Master | MasterBox CM695 case | A tower case with a 5.25-inch drive bay, launched in Japan |
Both are aimed squarely at Japanese buyers. Neither suggests American vendors are about to follow.
Japan and the US Compared
| Japan | United States | |
| Disc culture | Collectors still buy regularly | Streaming dominates |
| Optical bays in new PCs | Available on some models | Rare outside enthusiast builds |
| Drive makers | Small domestic suppliers remain | Mostly imports and a few brands |
| Usual fix for a missing drive | Add an internal or external unit | Stream, or rip discs once |
Do You Need an Optical Drive on Windows 11?
If you own a big disc library or burn archival copies, yes, probably. If you mostly stream, you can skip it.
Why you might want one
- You can keep playing and ripping the discs you already own.
- You can make local backups, including on long-life M-Disc media.
- Older software and hardware often ship their drivers on disc.
Why you might not
- Windows 11 has no built-in Blu-ray playback.
- Choices are shrinking as major brands leave.
- Good playback software can cost money.
- An internal drive needs bay space and a free SATA port.
Internal or external?
| Internal (SATA) | External (USB) | |
| Setup | Needs a free 5.25-inch bay, SATA data port, and power connector | Plug in and go |
| Burning | Usually steadier | Depends on USB power and the cable |
| Portability | None | Works with laptops and desktops |
| Best for | Desktops and heavy archiving | Laptops and occasional use |
Before you buy an internal drive, check that your case has an open bay, that your motherboard has a spare SATA port, and that your power supply has a spare SATA power lead. Also confirm the drive handles the formats you need, such as BD-R, BDXL, or M-Disc.
SEE MORE: Restore Most Used Programs List in Windows 11 (Fix)
Setting Up a Disc Drive on Windows 11
1. Connect it properly
For an internal drive, mount it in the bay and attach one SATA data cable and one SATA power cable. For an external drive, plug it straight into a USB 3.0 port on the PC rather than a hub. If it comes with a Y-shaped cable, connect both ends.
2. Make sure Windows sees it
Open Device Manager and look under DVD/CD-ROM drives. Then check Disk Management to confirm the drive has a letter.
3. Install something that can play discs
Windows 11 reads discs but doesn’t handle Blu-ray playback by itself. For DVDs, VLC is free and works for most discs, and Microsoft also sells a Windows DVD Player app in the Store. For Blu-rays, a commercial player like PowerDVD is the more dependable choice, because VLC can have trouble with copy-protected discs.
4. Fix the usual problems
The drive doesn’t show up in File Explorer. Check the cables first, then look at the SATA port settings in your BIOS or UEFI. A worn SATA cable causes more of these problems than a dead drive does.
Device Manager shows a yellow warning icon. Uninstall the device, restart, and let Windows detect it again.
The drive vanished after an update. Leftover filter entries in the registry can hide optical drives. The usual suspects are the UpperFilters and LowerFilters values in the DVD/CD-ROM device class key. Back up the registry before you change anything.
A Blu-ray won’t play. Make sure your player supports that disc’s copy protection, and check that the disc’s region code matches your drive.
Burns keep failing. Try better-quality discs, drop the burn speed, and close other programs while it writes.
What This Means for American Buyers
Don’t expect a US disc revival. Most Americans moved to streaming and cloud storage years ago, and PC makers built accordingly.
Two practical points still apply. If you rely on discs, buy a drive while models are easy to find. And if you’re replacing a Windows 10 PC, check whether the new one has an optical bay before you order, because it probably won’t.
FAQs
Will a DVD from Japan work in the USA?
Usually not on a standard DVD player. Japan is Region 2 and the US is Region 1, so the disc is region-locked. The video format (NTSC) is the same, so region is the only real barrier. Blu-rays are easier: Japan and the US share Region A, so those generally play, though English subtitles aren’t guaranteed. On a PC, you can use a region-free drive or player software, and most drives only let you change regions a few times.
Why don’t PCs have CD drives anymore?
Because software, games, and movies moved online, and discs stopped being the default way to get them. Dropping the drive lets makers build thinner laptops, cut costs, and free up space and battery. Anyone who still needs one can add a USB drive for a modest price.
What is the oldest computer that can run Windows 11?
Officially, a PC with an Intel 8th-gen Core processor (2017) or an AMD Ryzen 2000-series chip (2018), plus TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, 4 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of storage. There are a few exceptions, such as some Intel 7th-gen parts in specific devices. Older machines can sometimes run it through workarounds, but Microsoft doesn’t support that.
Is an optical drive faster than an SSD?
No, and it isn’t close. A 16x Blu-ray drive tops out at roughly 70 MB/s. A SATA SSD reads around 500 MB/s, and a modern NVMe SSD can exceed 3,000 MB/s. SSDs also respond in microseconds, while a disc has to spin up and seek.
Can I stay on Windows 10 forever?
You can keep using it, but not safely. Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Consumer Extended Security Updates were originally set to end on October 13, 2026, but more recent guidance says consumer ESU can now protect Windows 10 devices through October 12, 2027. After the last patch, new vulnerabilities stay open. Check Microsoft’s ESU page for the current date before relying on this.
Is Windows 12 available yet?
No. As of 2026, there is no official Windows 12 announcement and no confirmed release date, only leaks and rumors. Windows 11 is the current version, so don’t delay a needed upgrade waiting for Windows 12.
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