Trouble installing from USB (installation requesting drivers)

[rockymegaman]

I used the Microsoft tool to create a bootable USB drive with Windows 7 Utimate (64-bit). When I booted from the USB drive and tried to install Windows 7, it asks for drivers or something and will not allow me to continue the installation. I've Googled and found that there are issues with USB 3.0, but my laptop only has USB 3.0 slots and no USB 2.0 slots. I also do not have a CD/DVD drive (my laptop is a Sony VAIO Z, the last model they produced). What else can I try?

 

[casper1973]

Unfortunately Windows 7 does not come with any built-in USB3 drivers, meaning you can't install from a USB3 port.

There is a workaround - but it isn't exactly straightforward.


Here is a guide.
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4717#ov

 

[clutchc]

What happens if you download the USB3.0 drivers and unzip them to the same USB drive? Can you point Win7 to the drivers then?
(I'm assuming you have access to another PC)

 

[casper1973]

No because the Windows setup cannot read from the USB3 drive until it has the drivers, which are on the USB3 drive, which it cant read from

However if you put them on an SD card that should work.

 

[clutchc]

No because the Windows setup cannot read from the USB3 drive until it has the drivers, which are on the USB3 drive, which it cant read from

However if you put them on an SD card that should work.

He said he booted to the USB drive and started to insatll Win7 when it stopped, asking for drivers

 

[rockymegaman]

I don't know how to get drivers for my USB 3.0. This is the model I have: http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/model-home.pl?mdl=SVZ131190X&template_id=1&region_id=1&tab=download#/downloadTab

But I think I automatically got the USB 3.0 drivers from Windows Update when I had Windows on this laptop.

 

[clutchc]

I don't know how to get drivers for my USB 3.0. This is the model I have: http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/model-home.pl?mdl=SVZ131190X&template_id=1&region_id=1&tab=download#/downloadTab

But I think I automatically got the USB 3.0 drivers from Windows Update when I had Windows on this laptop.

If you want drivers, go here: http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/select-system.pl?PRODTYPE=24
and enter the values necessary to identify your exact laptop.
It doesn't matter if you had the drivers installed before, you aren't in the OS anymore to make use of them when you boot from a bootable device like a flash stick.

 

[rockymegaman]

I entered the values necessary to identify my exact laptop and it took me to this link: http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/model-home.pl?mdl=SVZ131190X&template_id=1&region_id=1&tab=download#/downloadTab but there's no USB driver category that I can see

 

[casper1973]

He said he booted to the USB drive and started to insatll Win7 when it stopped, asking for drivers

The installation will always load because the image is loaded into RAM using the BIOS/UEFI drivers, which obviously support USB3.

The problem occurs once the Windows setup itself (which is running from RAM) needs to access the USB3 device, because there are no Windows compatible drivers available.

And these are your drivers btw - http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/swu-download.pl?mdl=SVZ131190X&upd_id=7682&os_group_id=6

 

[clutchc]

I was under the impression the OP was at the point in the Win7 installation where it asked to be directed to the external drivers necessary to continue. If I am mistaken, I apologize.

 

[rockymegaman]

Also, my USB drives are 2.0, but the slots that the drives go into are USB 3.0 to avoid any confusion

 

[casper1973]

I was under the impression the OP was at the point in the Win7 installation where it asked to be directed to the external drivers necessary to continue. If I am mistaken, I apologize.

I am under the same impression.

 

[rockymegaman]

Is there a way I can make the Windows installation see my USB 3.0 slot as a USB 2.0 slot instead? Since my USB drive is 2.0 and not 3.0.

 

[rockymegaman]

Okay, I solved this problem by disabling xHCI in the BIOS. I was able to continue with the installation successfully.

 

[clutchc]

Okay, I solved this problem by disabling xHCI in the BIOS. I was able to continue with the installation successfully.

Thanks. I learned something today
Is the installation program continuing normally?

 

[casper1973]

Good to hear

I never knew that option existed

 

[rockymegaman]

Okay, I solved this problem by disabling xHCI in the BIOS. I was able to continue with the installation successfully.

Thanks. I learned something today
Is the installation program continuing normally?

Yes, I was able to install Windows 7. I re-enabled xHCI afterwards, installed the USB 3.0 driver, and it works flawlessly.