I had a corruption issue with my old Windows 7 installation on my HDD that I couldn't fix, so i decided to buy some upgrades for my computer [these were planned anyway]. I bought a Samsung 840 250 GB SSD and connected it to the computer. I have a P7P55 WS Supercomputer MB by ASUS. The problem is when I try to install windows 7, I get the error "A required CD/DVD drive device driver is missing. Please insert the installation media...etc..." I've tried going into the BIOS and changing around boot order, installing drivers from the MB support disk, cleaning the disk, downloading drivers from the internet off a friend's computer and attempted to install those. I'm not sure what else can try aside from getting a new copy of windows 7 and going from there. Ideas?
Solved: I have a USB 3.0 bootable flash drive with Win7 image installed on it and I always use it as bootable drive to install win7 from it on new laptops. Recently I was trying to install win7 on an Asus X555L and I got this driver missing issue for the first time In my life. After reading previous posts I went to bios->advanced->USB_configuration and changed "Legacy USB support" to Automatic and "XHCI Pre-Boot Mode" to Smart Auto. Then I plugged my usb3.0 bootable usb into a usb 3.0 port, rstarted the system, selected my USB from the boot menu and the installation worked. I hope this help someone.
I have tried EVERYTHING! and nothing works... Changing the ports don't work, changing any settings in the BIOS doesn't work, Booting from a CD drive doesn't work (internal or external), I have tried a physical CD installation, downloaded a billion different ISO's and other versions, and the FRIGGIN problem just doesn't go away!!! I am desperate! I have Asus H110 M-A motherboard, I5-6500 CPU and 8GB og DDR4 RAM... I just cannot understand how it first loads the files off of a USB and then it no longer detects it. I really hope it's not a hardware problem, because I had JUST bought these parts and assembled the PC.
I hope someone suggests something that helps. I really am desperate. I even bought a NEW USB stick to try installing from that one, but no luck.
I hope someone suggests something that helps. I really am desperate. I even bought a NEW USB stick to try installing from that one, but no luck.
Hello All,
I own an IT consulting company. We have done hundreds of Windows 7 installation on many different brands of hardware, including custom builds. We primarily use a customized Windows slip stream install process and have spent many hours testing different configuration scenarios and installation techniques related to this error message when installing from a USB. Over time, we have learned the following :
- The error only appears on certain equipment brands.
- The error only appears on some motherboards within the same brand.
- In our experience, other posted solutions did not work 100% of the time. These solutions included:
Unplugging and replugging the USB drive
Using a generic USB drive
Removing all non-OS HDD's
Repartitioning the HDD
Setting the partition as Active
Change various BIOS settings
For years, we resorted to installing from either our custom Windows slip stream install DVD or HDD, which was reliable. It was only until recently that we accidentally discovered a solution that seems to have sleighed this dragon. While doing some test installations on a custom build with a H170 chipset MB using a USB slip stream install. We accidentally left a slip stream install DVD in the DVD drive from a previous test and noticed that we DID NOT receive the " A required CD/DVD drive device driver is missing" error and the installation progressed normally. Upon further testing, we noticed that when booting from the USB AND the install DVD is in the DVD drive, pressing the "Install Now" button (just before this error would displayed), the DVD drive accessed the DVD to get some additional information and then progressed to the license screen as normal. Note that the USB and DVD were both created from the same customized Windows slip stream install ISO. We don't really understand why Windows is only looking to the DVD drive for some additional information when it is already available on the USB that we booted from. We can only conclude that this is a Windows 7 PE bug (possibly a hard-coded value) that will likely never get fixed.
SOLUTION:
To conclude, our solution, which has not failed to date, is to have a Windows Installation DVD in the drive when installing from a USB drive to avoid this error.
Hopefully, this additional information will help other from spending many hours chasing a ghost!
One other departing note. It is our general practice to disconnect all non-OS HDD's/ SSD's, including M.2 and PCIe slot SSD's except for the drive you're install Windows on. It has been our experience that when installing Windows on a fully pre-partitioned hard drive and leaving other drives attached, Windows will create a 100MB partition on another drive of its choice and install bootmgr and systems files in this partition WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION! This will leave you with split Windows installation, which is not good, but fixable.
I own an IT consulting company. We have done hundreds of Windows 7 installation on many different brands of hardware, including custom builds. We primarily use a customized Windows slip stream install process and have spent many hours testing different configuration scenarios and installation techniques related to this error message when installing from a USB. Over time, we have learned the following :
- The error only appears on certain equipment brands.
- The error only appears on some motherboards within the same brand.
- In our experience, other posted solutions did not work 100% of the time. These solutions included:
Unplugging and replugging the USB drive
Using a generic USB drive
Removing all non-OS HDD's
Repartitioning the HDD
Setting the partition as Active
Change various BIOS settings
For years, we resorted to installing from either our custom Windows slip stream install DVD or HDD, which was reliable. It was only until recently that we accidentally discovered a solution that seems to have sleighed this dragon. While doing some test installations on a custom build with a H170 chipset MB using a USB slip stream install. We accidentally left a slip stream install DVD in the DVD drive from a previous test and noticed that we DID NOT receive the " A required CD/DVD drive device driver is missing" error and the installation progressed normally. Upon further testing, we noticed that when booting from the USB AND the install DVD is in the DVD drive, pressing the "Install Now" button (just before this error would displayed), the DVD drive accessed the DVD to get some additional information and then progressed to the license screen as normal. Note that the USB and DVD were both created from the same customized Windows slip stream install ISO. We don't really understand why Windows is only looking to the DVD drive for some additional information when it is already available on the USB that we booted from. We can only conclude that this is a Windows 7 PE bug (possibly a hard-coded value) that will likely never get fixed.
SOLUTION:
To conclude, our solution, which has not failed to date, is to have a Windows Installation DVD in the drive when installing from a USB drive to avoid this error.
Hopefully, this additional information will help other from spending many hours chasing a ghost!
One other departing note. It is our general practice to disconnect all non-OS HDD's/ SSD's, including M.2 and PCIe slot SSD's except for the drive you're install Windows on. It has been our experience that when installing Windows on a fully pre-partitioned hard drive and leaving other drives attached, Windows will create a 100MB partition on another drive of its choice and install bootmgr and systems files in this partition WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION! This will leave you with split Windows installation, which is not good, but fixable.
TrickiDicki
Commendable
- Feb 24, 2016
- 1
- 0
- 1,510
I had the same problem with Windows 7 and Windows 10 on an H110 motherboard system. I managed to fix it by plugging in two USB sticks with the same bootable Windows image.
Chadwickhell
Commendable
- Feb 25, 2016
- 1
- 0
- 1,510
Holy hell, I want to reach through the screen and shake your hand/ hug/ buy you a beer! Been struggling with this for a day and was going out of my mind. This worked on an alienware m11x r3 for anyone looking. Ty again!!
theonlyalterego
Commendable
- Apr 4, 2016
- 3
- 0
- 1,510
I just wanted to comment that I had a similar problem for the last few days and here is what I had to do to solve it:
1. I own a DVD copy of Windows 7 Ultimate - create an ISO of the DVD
2. Use microsofts USB utility to create the USB installer
3. Use INTELs utility to load the USB 3.0 drivers into the images on the USB installer
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/25476/Windows-7-USB-3-0-Creator-Utility
Note: this took a while, probably at least 20+ minutes to complete, but it did work.
4. on the target PC connect the USB installer to any USB 3.0 port and install.
The problem that I was having was my new MoBo had only 2 legacy USB 2.0 ports, but I had my USB keyboard and mouse connected to USB 3.0 ports. Windows was having trouble detecting them because it could tell they were on ports it didn't have drivers for. I realised this because during the "failing" installs (which we failing with the "driver required" messages) my mouse was moving very lethargically "generically" you might say. However, after installing the USB 3.0 drivers, and user the "fixed" USB installer my mouse was responding rapidly as I would have expected.
I believe that as a workaround users should TRY and unplug everything from any USB port except a legacy USB 2.0 port. In my case I would have had to remove my keyboard while insalling windows and just use the mouse, and hopefully hot-swap them back and forth. I am not even sure that would work, so good luck if you try that. Otherwise, I suggest you use the linked intel utility to load the USB 3.0 drivers onto you existing Windows 7 USB Installer.
Hardware:
Gigabyte GA-Z170X-Gaming 3 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard
USB Keyboard
USB Mouse
USB Thumbdrive loaded with Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
1. I own a DVD copy of Windows 7 Ultimate - create an ISO of the DVD
2. Use microsofts USB utility to create the USB installer
3. Use INTELs utility to load the USB 3.0 drivers into the images on the USB installer
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/25476/Windows-7-USB-3-0-Creator-Utility
Note: this took a while, probably at least 20+ minutes to complete, but it did work.
4. on the target PC connect the USB installer to any USB 3.0 port and install.
The problem that I was having was my new MoBo had only 2 legacy USB 2.0 ports, but I had my USB keyboard and mouse connected to USB 3.0 ports. Windows was having trouble detecting them because it could tell they were on ports it didn't have drivers for. I realised this because during the "failing" installs (which we failing with the "driver required" messages) my mouse was moving very lethargically "generically" you might say. However, after installing the USB 3.0 drivers, and user the "fixed" USB installer my mouse was responding rapidly as I would have expected.
I believe that as a workaround users should TRY and unplug everything from any USB port except a legacy USB 2.0 port. In my case I would have had to remove my keyboard while insalling windows and just use the mouse, and hopefully hot-swap them back and forth. I am not even sure that would work, so good luck if you try that. Otherwise, I suggest you use the linked intel utility to load the USB 3.0 drivers onto you existing Windows 7 USB Installer.
Hardware:
Gigabyte GA-Z170X-Gaming 3 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard
USB Keyboard
USB Mouse
USB Thumbdrive loaded with Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
Thank you!
This pointed me towards a solution - the usb 3.0 driver from intel was the key!
Last week i was able to successfully set up a clean Lenovo T560 Laptop with W7 SP1. This wasnt easy because the device only has usb 3.0 sockets and its bios wont allow to go to 2.0. Furthermore, once the installation is complete the 3.0 sockets arent detected correctly - leaving you with no possibility to connect anything to the device. You need to go to windows installer again (3.0 works there) and manually copy those lenovo drivers.
Here's a little guide i wrote:
Used W7 Offline Update tool for patching W7 after Installation
http://www.wsusoffline.net/
Downloaded official legacy image using a special script:
http://www.chip.de/downloads/Microsoft-Windows-ISO-Downloader_89861132.html
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/techbench
Created a USB W7 Image using the official Microsoft tool
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool
Patched the W7 Image so that it contains USB3.0 Driver
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/25476/Windows-7-USB-3-0-Creator-Utility
--> NOW W7 should install
ended up with a Clean W7 installation , but all Network/USB Connections were
not functioning (Lenovo Specific Driver needed). Optical Drive wasnt available too
since the Laptop simply doesnt have one.
Downloaded those Drivers to a USB Drive
http://support.lenovo.com/at/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/thinkpad-t-series-laptops/thinkpad-t560?LinkTrack=Solr&beta=false
Booted from W7 Installation Stick again to get to the Installation Menu.
From the Repair Agent I started the Command Line and manually copied those Lenovo
Drivers (from the Stick) to the SSD of the Notebook.
here's a list of useful commands:
http://www.wikihow.com/Copy-Files-in-Command-Prompt
From there on I had full access to the Notebook and a running , patched W7.
regards
opasnyj pocyk
Commendable
- Apr 25, 2016
- 1
- 0
- 1,510
thunder_ix
Commendable
- May 12, 2016
- 1
- 0
- 1,510
If your computer has nothing but USB 3.0 ports, you can add the driver to your Windows installation:
http://codeabitwiser.com/2014/03/how-to-install-windows-7-with-only-usb-3-0-ports/
http://codeabitwiser.com/2014/03/how-to-install-windows-7-with-only-usb-3-0-ports/
CreeDorofl
Distinguished
- Feb 3, 2010
- 28
- 0
- 18,530
Thank you!
Here's a quick summary for those too lazy to read the whole thread... at least my interpretation of it.
PS: thanks to everyone here especially mangojeff for pointing out how you can spot your USB 2 drives easily)
• This error is probably caused because your copy of windows 7 doesn't have usb3.0 drivers built into the installation files.
So if you're trying to install from a thumb drive, windows can't talk to the thumb drive and read installation files from it.
• Yes, this can happen even though BIOS was able to read from the USB 3 port to start the process.
• Yes, it's happening even though you can click "browse" and see files listed under a drive marked "X:\Boot"
• The solution is not about carefully swapping the thumb drive to a different port, at a certain specific screen.
The solution is to just make sure the thumb drive is plugged into a usb2.0 port instead of a usb3 port.
You can do this either right from the start (before powering up) or after the error comes up and X/cancel your way
back to the welcome screen that says "Install".
• The reason many people have no luck with swapping ports is they just switched from one usb3 port to another usb3 port.
• You can tell the difference between USB 2 and USB 3 ports by their color. The usb3 ports will be blue, usb2 ports will be black.
You may also see a USB "SS" (superspeed) icon by the usb3 ports.
So plug the installation thumb drive into a black port. It might be on the front of the PC, might be in the back.
• The reason some newer (downloaded) copies of windows install smoothly without this error is because MS realized the issue was happening
and released updated versions of the windows install disk (and updated downloadable versions) with usb3 drivers built in.
• The reason some brands of motherboard work even with the the wrong port, is because by default they have some BIOS option set
that 'tricks' the windows installation program into thinking the USB3.0 port is actually a usb 2.0 port.
So the windows installer is able to talk to that port without any problems.
• If your motherboard has only USB 3.0 slots, and it doesn't have that option set by default (the option that convinces windows it's a usb2 port)
then you might be able to change a setting in BIOS that makes those USB3 ports look like USB2.
Every bios is different but you're looking for anything that says legacy USB, or USB 2.0 support.
You may have to change a setting from "legacy" to "auto" or vice versa.
You may also have to disable a setting that says XHCI USB controller.
• If all of that fails, you can modify the windows installation files so that they have a usb 3 driver built in. But this requires cancelling
out of your current setup, and going to another PC and doing some extra steps. You basically download a generic usb driver
(there are only a handful of major manufacturers), save it to the thumb drive, and then modify some windows
install files to let them know these drivers are available and should be used.
Instructions: http://codeabitwiser.com/2014/03/how-to-install-windows-7-with-only-usb-3-0-ports/
• Some newer windows install disks or downloadable images might have these usb 3 drivers "slipstreamed" into them, so as a last resort
you can try to get a newer copy of windows 7.
Here's a quick summary for those too lazy to read the whole thread... at least my interpretation of it.
PS: thanks to everyone here especially mangojeff for pointing out how you can spot your USB 2 drives easily)
• This error is probably caused because your copy of windows 7 doesn't have usb3.0 drivers built into the installation files.
So if you're trying to install from a thumb drive, windows can't talk to the thumb drive and read installation files from it.
• Yes, this can happen even though BIOS was able to read from the USB 3 port to start the process.
• Yes, it's happening even though you can click "browse" and see files listed under a drive marked "X:\Boot"
• The solution is not about carefully swapping the thumb drive to a different port, at a certain specific screen.
The solution is to just make sure the thumb drive is plugged into a usb2.0 port instead of a usb3 port.
You can do this either right from the start (before powering up) or after the error comes up and X/cancel your way
back to the welcome screen that says "Install".
• The reason many people have no luck with swapping ports is they just switched from one usb3 port to another usb3 port.
• You can tell the difference between USB 2 and USB 3 ports by their color. The usb3 ports will be blue, usb2 ports will be black.
You may also see a USB "SS" (superspeed) icon by the usb3 ports.
So plug the installation thumb drive into a black port. It might be on the front of the PC, might be in the back.
• The reason some newer (downloaded) copies of windows install smoothly without this error is because MS realized the issue was happening
and released updated versions of the windows install disk (and updated downloadable versions) with usb3 drivers built in.
• The reason some brands of motherboard work even with the the wrong port, is because by default they have some BIOS option set
that 'tricks' the windows installation program into thinking the USB3.0 port is actually a usb 2.0 port.
So the windows installer is able to talk to that port without any problems.
• If your motherboard has only USB 3.0 slots, and it doesn't have that option set by default (the option that convinces windows it's a usb2 port)
then you might be able to change a setting in BIOS that makes those USB3 ports look like USB2.
Every bios is different but you're looking for anything that says legacy USB, or USB 2.0 support.
You may have to change a setting from "legacy" to "auto" or vice versa.
You may also have to disable a setting that says XHCI USB controller.
• If all of that fails, you can modify the windows installation files so that they have a usb 3 driver built in. But this requires cancelling
out of your current setup, and going to another PC and doing some extra steps. You basically download a generic usb driver
(there are only a handful of major manufacturers), save it to the thumb drive, and then modify some windows
install files to let them know these drivers are available and should be used.
Instructions: http://codeabitwiser.com/2014/03/how-to-install-windows-7-with-only-usb-3-0-ports/
• Some newer windows install disks or downloadable images might have these usb 3 drivers "slipstreamed" into them, so as a last resort
you can try to get a newer copy of windows 7.
I wanted to share my resolution with everyone and anyone who might encounter what I have as my setup is slightly different. I encountered this error on a Lenovo M700 Tiny PC that attaches to the back of a ThinkCentre monitor. The device came with Windows 10 and due to compatibility concerns with existing software, Windows 7 was our solution for the intended use of 40+ of these devices. I tried EVERYTHING listed in this thread with no avail. Bootable USB, booting to the CD/DVD, changing USB ports, trying a different external CD/DVD drive, booting with both a CD/DVD drive and the bootable USB connected, scouring the marvelous interwebs for the better part of a full business day looking a solution, changing BIOS settings, etc. Here's my fix...
I downloaded the USB 3.0 drivers from Lenovo and attempted to installed them onto the computer in question. I received an error message that my device was not compatible with these drivers. I checked the install path of C:\Drivers\Intel\"Name of File I created" and saw that there was a file/folder structure in it.
I booted with my USB drive and received the error in question again. I browsed out to the above path and navigated through the newly found file/folder structure until I found a W64 folder under a 2nd "Drivers" folder. After selecting it, a driver was immediately found!
As Lee Corso says, Not so fast my friend! It attempted to load the driver and then I lost full functionality of the mouse and keyboard while receiving an error that no driver could be found. I attempted this process 3 more times with the same result. I tried it a 5th time and this time unchecked the "Hide incompatible drivers" box and an additional 20+ drivers populated. I chose the 2nd driver in the list (even though it had the same name and directory path as the one that had failed previously) and Holy Hallelujah Batman!!! I now have Windows 7 on this turd and the the only issue after install were some missing drivers. No biggie. You can download a SCCM Driver Package from Lenovo and update them. Ta-Da!!
I downloaded the USB 3.0 drivers from Lenovo and attempted to installed them onto the computer in question. I received an error message that my device was not compatible with these drivers. I checked the install path of C:\Drivers\Intel\"Name of File I created" and saw that there was a file/folder structure in it.
I booted with my USB drive and received the error in question again. I browsed out to the above path and navigated through the newly found file/folder structure until I found a W64 folder under a 2nd "Drivers" folder. After selecting it, a driver was immediately found!
As Lee Corso says, Not so fast my friend! It attempted to load the driver and then I lost full functionality of the mouse and keyboard while receiving an error that no driver could be found. I attempted this process 3 more times with the same result. I tried it a 5th time and this time unchecked the "Hide incompatible drivers" box and an additional 20+ drivers populated. I chose the 2nd driver in the list (even though it had the same name and directory path as the one that had failed previously) and Holy Hallelujah Batman!!! I now have Windows 7 on this turd and the the only issue after install were some missing drivers. No biggie. You can download a SCCM Driver Package from Lenovo and update them. Ta-Da!!
guys, i think it's all about (AHCI_SATA) driver as windows couldn't read your drive!
download your (IF) intel driver from the following link:https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/25393/Intel-RSTe-AHCI-SCU-Software-RAID-driver-for-Windows-
as it has all intel driver versions.
download your (IF) intel driver from the following link:https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/25393/Intel-RSTe-AHCI-SCU-Software-RAID-driver-for-Windows-
as it has all intel driver versions.
The solutions above didn't work for me - namely, using a black USB 2.0 port didn't help, and the BIOS didn't have the option to disable USB 3
My mobo is a MSI Z170 series - apparently, these mobos have an issue with installing Windows 7.
This forum from MSI has a utility to make a USB boot disk - using this utility, I was able to install without running into the driver issue. Previously, I had used UnetBoot, Rufus, and PowerISO to make USB boots - all 3 methods ran into the problem.
Hopefully this helps someone out there.
My mobo is a MSI Z170 series - apparently, these mobos have an issue with installing Windows 7.
This forum from MSI has a utility to make a USB boot disk - using this utility, I was able to install without running into the driver issue. Previously, I had used UnetBoot, Rufus, and PowerISO to make USB boots - all 3 methods ran into the problem.
Hopefully this helps someone out there.
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