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Windows 7 Won’t Install: “A required CD/DVD drive device driver is missing”

27 August 2009 @ 4pm

Several users are experiencing an issue in which Windows 7 will not install, delivering the error message

“Load Driver A required CD/DVD drive device driver is missing. If you have a driver floppy disk, CD, DVD, or USB flash drive, please insert it now. Note: If the Windows installation media is in the CD/DVD drive, you can safely remove it for this step.”

This problem generally occurs right after pressing the “Install Now” button.

Fixes

Change BIOS boot order The most successful fix for this issue is to set the optical (DVD) drive as the first boot device in the BIOS. To do this, first enter BIOS mode as follows:

Enter your system’s BIOS mode. This is accomplished by pressing a specific key repeatedly as soon as your computer is turned on (or right after it is restarted). For many computers, the key is F8, but it may be F1, F2, F10, the Delete (del) key or the Escape (ESC) key. Consult your computer or motherboard’s manual or try different keys until you find the right one.

Find the screen or option for changing the boot order. Follow the instructions for changing the boot order. This is sometimes accomplished by using the + or – buttons.

Update ITE ATA driver Failing the above, try booting back into Windows Vista or XP. Launch Windows Update and install the ITE ATA driver update before attempting the upgrade. The upgrade advisor may not find this driver.

Switch from SATA to AHCI Follow the aforementioned instructions for booting into your computer’s BIOS, then check your HDD or storage settings. Turn off SATA, switching to AHCI, and reboot normally, then re-attempt installation of Windows 7.

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For other installation problem fixes, see our previous post “The 7 Biggest Windows 7 RC1 Problems (and Fixes)”

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Windows 7

15 Comments

Posted by
nope
3 November 2009 @ 5pm

This is not the answer.


Posted by
James Larson
5 November 2009 @ 10pm

I get the “device driver is missing error” even when I install Windows 7 from an iso file in a virtual machine.

Double bullshit.


Posted by
Halil
10 November 2009 @ 3pm

1st and 3rd doesnt work. 2nd: i install it on a blank hard disk!


Posted by
Tony
12 November 2009 @ 12pm

your installation of win7 is for x64 bit processors. You have x32 bit. The reason for the error is that u would need 64 bit drivers installed for the cd/dvd device in order to continue to install a 64bit based OS..
Its odd. they give an option between x64 n x86. Why cant they just give us a x32 or x64 option. /w good reason im sure


Posted by
Adam
27 November 2009 @ 2pm

Tony,

“your installation of win7 is for x64 bit processors. You have x32 bit. The reason for the error is that u would need 64 bit drivers installed for the cd/dvd device in order to continue to install a 64bit based OS..”

Not true. I tried using both x64 & x86. I got the error both times.


Posted by
Jim
7 December 2009 @ 8pm

If you are using a Dell Vostro, change you Sata Mode from IDE to Raid and then try booting from the ISO DVD, that seems to do the trick.


Posted by
to Tony
17 December 2009 @ 5am

i dont get it.Where to install those 64 bit drivers if attempting clean install on empty hdd? (sorry for my english)


Posted by
Fernando
25 December 2009 @ 5pm

None of workarounds worked for me (I’m also not upgrading, I’m trying to install in a HD wich has Linux on it). The curios thing is that I allready managed to successfully install from the same DVD in another HP notebook (mine is a Dell E1520).
I guess I’ll try to install the x86 version and sees what happens.


Posted by
Fernando
25 December 2009 @ 5pm

x86 didn’t work. Same error. =/


Posted by
Steve Forge
26 December 2009 @ 9am

Solution 1 worked for me. I disabled floppy disk boot from bios settings.


Posted by
sephi
12 January 2010 @ 3pm

x86 is 32-bit.

There is no such thing as “x32″.

x86, x64, etc. are processor architectures; not necessarily a measurement of how many bits wide the interface is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IA-32
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/64-bit


Posted by
t.a
13 January 2010 @ 5pm

i tried all these fixes and still got the same error :(
any help?


Posted by
Tatyana
2 February 2010 @ 1pm

Connect cd/dvd rom to the first IDE – helped me to resolve the error above (motherboard ASUS P5GDC)


Posted by
Tameka
26 March 2010 @ 5am

If you have a 32 Bit processor you will receive that error message. I work with HP and recently experienced the same issue when providing support to a woman that was getting the same error. She was attempting to install Windows 7 64 bit, but she had a 32 bit processor…it cannot be done. run the Windows 7 advisor it does help.


Posted by
Joep
7 April 2010 @ 12pm

For me this problem was solved by putting the driver of the on-board raid controller on a USB stick. It was confusing though, as the error states the CDROM device driver is the issue, while it was in fact the controller the drive was connected to.


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