latest itunes install and cd drive not recognized

I'm wondering if anyone else besides me is having this problem:

I've managed to correct the download issue with iTunes using the uninstall/reinstall instructions, several times over, but I've noticed that each time I install iTunes, my cd/dvd writer drive suddenly goes missing in windows. I've had no issues with this drive in the past, have never had a reason to update or reinstall drivers and other software etc. related to this device, the device has always worked fine for as long as I've had the laptop. After the latest update to iTunes, this device no longer appears at all under "My Computer" and I get this status message in the Device Manager:

Windows cannot start this hardware device because its configuration information (in the registry) is incomplete or damaged. (Code 19)

I have been around and around with this since updating iTunes this past weekend and it's beginning to drive me crazy. I'll get itunes up and running, the cd writer will disappear and I'll have to do a system restore just to use it again. Then I'll have to go back and reinstall itunes all over again in order to use it, after which the cd drive will become unusable again. I just want them both back and working properly at the same time again. Very tempted to just do a complete wipe and reinstall of windows if I can't get this fixed. So any helpful advice that someone could give would be very greatly appreciated. Thanks.