"Format" missing from context menu on all UDF drives

test if you can format or erase the cd with cd burnerXP (free) :http://download.cnet.com/CDBurnerXP/3000-2646_4-10409086.html

Thank you for your comment.  Before I attempt that, may I ask how that would restore the format option in the Explorer context menu?

Insert a USB device in USB port, then right click on it's Icon in Notification area, select eject, detach the USB drive, restart and Retest.

Thank you.  I saw an article recommending this fix, and tried it without success before posting my question.  I also restored a disk image from three weeks ago, which I expected would fix the issue, but it did not.  There are four drives with removable storage, including an external USB drive, and none of them have the format option anymore.

In this case you need to do a Windows 7 In-Place Repair (Upgrade)  with a Windows 7 DVD / ISO Bootable USB.

Thank you.  I have initiated the in-place upgrade/repair, and will post again afterwards.  Meanwhile, for future reference, is there a registry key that controls the format context-menu function, which might be re-created, if this happens again?

As far as I know, there is no such a key in registry to disable or enable Format option in context menu or at least I'm not aware of it.

>>  Before I attempt that, may I ask how that would restore the format option in the Explorer context menu?  <<  it does not
it is only to test what happens exactly

i fyour disk is not recognised - that can also be the result

Understood.  The discs are recognized -- I can access, add or delete files on them.  Currently performing an in-place Windows upgrade...

The in-place upgrade completed, but it did not rectify the problem.  I have other Windows operating systems installed, and "Format" appears in the context menu for all of their drives with removable storage.  On the affected operating system, an external USB drive DOES have the "Format" option, but the  CD/DVD drives, an internal and external Iomega REV drive no longer have it.

I suspect there must be a registry key which controls this function, and somehow it became corrupted.

Is your Computer a desktop or laptop ?
Did you try to put a RAW DVD/CD in the drive and check the context menu ?

Desktop.

Shut down the PC, detach the power cable of lomega REV drive, Turn the system on, when startup finished, shut down, attach the device and power on again and test.

I tried that after the Windows 7 upgrade didn't correct the problem.  I also detached the external REV drive, then reattached it.  In any case, the same CD RW and REV discs, in the same drives, have "Format" in the context menu of another O.S. on the same desktop (Windows 7 Professional 6-bit).

Download, Install and run CCleaner Free > Registry > scan for Issues, when find any issues, let it to create a restore point then click on fix,
Restart the PC and Retest.

http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

Thank you.  I'm currently restoring an older disc image, from a time before the issue occurred.  If that doesn't help, I'll try the registry repair.  Either way, I will post afterwards...

Please read this also, it's a link to Context Menu Editor for Windows 7.
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/context-menu-editor-for-windows-7-vista-released

I downloaded the Context Menu Editor, but I don't see a "Format" application, other than the DOS executable, format.com    What application should be added to the context menu?

The older disc image was restored, and "Format..." now appears in the drive context menu for drives with removable media.  For future reference, I'd still like to know which registry key handles that.   Thanks to both Experts for their input.

I am very glad you got it working, and Thanks.
 Sometimes an Image file can solve difficult problems more faster and easier.