How to Deactivate CD/DVD Emulation Software?

CD and DVD emulation software is capable of creating virtual disc drives on a computer, making it possible to run certain types of programs without the physical discs. This software can sometimes create conflicts with other software titles, particularly when it comes to installing new software. From time to time, you may be prompted to temporarily deactivate your emulation software to allow other processes to work.

Instructions:
Things You'll Need: Computer with installed software for CD/DVD emulation

1. Look at the System Tray, which is the row of tiny icons in the bottom right corner of the taskbar. See if there is an icon for your emulation software. If you cannot recognize this icon visually, roll your cursor over each icon and the name of the program or utility will pop up. If you find an icon for your emulation software, right-click it and see if there is an option on the pop-up menu that says Close, Shut Down, Disable, Deactivate or anything similar. Select this option if it appears; otherwise, try the next step.
2. Click the Start button on the other side of the taskbar and look in the programs list for an entry for your CD or DVD emulation software. If you find one, look through the folder for some type of interface program where you can change the software settings. Open this program if you can and browse through the settings and options for a command that will shut the software down. The functionality or even the existence of such a utility varies greatly from one software publisher to another, so you'll have to play this part by ear if you're unfamiliar with your emulation software. If this doesn't solve the problem, try the next step.
3. Simultaneously press the "Ctrl," "Alt" and "Delete" keys to open the Task Manager. Click the Applications tab and look at the list of running applications. If your emulation software is listed, click on it to highlight it and then click the "End Task" button. If you don't see your emulation software on the list, proceed to the next step.
4. Click on the Processes tab in the Task Manager. Review the list of processes to see if you recognize any of them as being associated solely with your emulation software. If you do, right-click on each applicable process and select the "End Process" option from the pop-up menu. If you're not sure about whether or not a process is related to your emulation software or if other essential programs are also dependent on the process, do not shut it down, as this can cause system instability. If you still haven't been able to deactivate the software, proceed to the next step.
5. Click the "Start" button in the taskbar again and select "Run." Enter "devmgmt.msc" and click the "Run" button to open the Device Manager. Find the entry for CD and DVD drives and click the little plus sign next to it to expand the list of drives. All of your physical and virtual drives will be listed. Right-click on each virtual drive and select "Disable" to shut it down. This is a backdoor method of shutting down your computer's emulation; it may not necessarily shut down the software per se, but it takes away all of the software's ability to do its job.