«A media driver your computer needs is missing» or «A required CD/DVD drive device driver is missing» error message when you install Windows

Symptoms

When you try to install Windows on a computer by using a Windows installation DVD or ISO file, you receive one of the following error messages.

Note This issue occurs when you try to install Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8, or Windows Server 2012.

A media driver your computer needs is missing. This could be a DVD, USB, or Hard disk driver. If you have a CD, DVD, or USB flash drive with the driver on it, please insert it now.

Note: If the installation media for Windows in the DVD drive or on a USB drive, you can safely remove it for this step.

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

To resolve this issue, use one of the following methods, as appropriate for your situation:

Burn the installation DVD at a slower speed.

Use a better quality DVD to create the installation DVD.

Update the BIOS firmware for your DVD drive.

Use the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool to create a bootable USB flash drive, and then use the USB flash drive to install Windows.

This issue occurs for one of the following reasons:

The installation DVD is removed during the setup process.

A low-quality DVD was used to create the installation DVD.

The speed at which the installation DVD was burned was too fast.

The DVD drive cannot read the media.

The ISO file is corrupted.

Use one of the following methods to troubleshoot this issue, as appropriate for your situation:

Run the DVD on a different computer to determine whether the DVD works correctly.

Test your DVD drive by using an official Windows installation DVD.

Attach the ISO file to a virtual machine to check whether it is corrupted.

When you troubleshoot this issue, first check whether the ISO file is corrupted. Each ISO file that you download from the MSDN Subscriber Downloads website has a SHA1 value that you can compare with the SHA1 value on the MSDN Subscriber Downloads website. However, the Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) site currently does not list checksums or SHA1 values.

To compare the SHA1 values for the ISO file that you downloaded, follow these steps:

Install the Microsoft File Checksum Integrity Verifier tool. To download the tool, go to the following Microsoft Download Center website:

At a command prompt, type the following command, and then press Enter:

Fciv.exe .iso -sha1

Verify that the SHA1 value matches the SHA1 value that is listed on the MSDN Subscriber Downloads website.

For example, the following information is displayed for the ISO file for Windows 7 Enterprise with Service Pack 1 (x64) on the MSDN Subscriber Downloads website:

File Name: en_windows_7_enterprise_with_sp1_x64_dvd_u_677651.iso

The following information is displayed when you run the command for the ISO file for Windows 7 with Service Pack 1 (x64):

Command: fciv.exe en_windows_7_enterprise_with_sp1_x64_dvd_u_677651.iso -sha1

The ISO file is not corrupted if the SHA1 value on the MSDN Subscriber Downloads website matches the value that is generated when you run the command.

Fix: A media driver is missing when installing Windows 10

• Before we move to deal with any steps, we suggest you check the system requirements for Windows 10.
• Not every compatible USB flash stick (6 GB of storage space) will load the installation files . In case you have an alternative USB flash drive , try re-creating the setup and try installing Windows 10 again.
• For any issues regarding external USB drives, you will certainly find a solution in our dedicated category.
• The Windows 10 errors hub is full of expert articles and complete guides on how to fix Windows 10 errors. You can use it as your main information reference on this topic.

1. Download DriverFix now for free (secured download)
2. Launch the program and press the Scan icon
3. Wait for the scan to finish and start installing the needed drivers

• DriverFix has been successfuly downloaded by 0 readers this month.

As time pass, installing Windows became a walk in the park.

Anyone remembering Windows XP and the lengthy installation process closely followed by the demoralizing driver’s lookup? Those are, luckily, the things of the past.

However, despite the fact that Windows 10 installation is simple, there are some errors, like the A media driver is missing… prompt which prevents users from continuing to the Install now screen.

The USB installation media boots fine, however, the installation fails due to a missing USB hub driver.

We provided some solutions which should help you overcome this problem. Check them out below.

How can I fix A media driver your computer is missing in Windows 10?

1: Make sure you meet the Windows 10 requirements

First things first. Before we move to deal with the steps, we suggest you check the system requirements for Windows 10.

Besides applying this to a standard system configuration, we also recommend updating your BIOS (if updates are available) before you move to a clean installation of Windows 10.

Here are the minimum system requirements you’ll need to meet in order to run Windows 10:

• CPU: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor or SoC
• RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit
• HDD space: 16 GB for 32-bit OS 20 GB for 64-bit OS
• GPU: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver
• Display: 800×600

Of course, in order to achieve a seamless workflow, it’s better to have at least 2 GB of RAM (3 for the 64-bit version) and much better processing power.

2: Try switching the USB hub midway

This isn’t a new problem. Not by a long stretch. A lot of users experienced the error while clean installing Windows 7 and 8, as well.

Now, it seems that the certain user provided the solution for the Windows 7 installation issue, which can, hopefully, apply to Windows 8 or, in this case, Windows 10.

Namely, he/she was able to go past the error screen with a nifty workaround. Here’s how to do it yourself:

1. Create the USB installation drive with Media Creation Tool or Rufus.
2. Boot from the drive and wait for the installation files to load.
3. Choose your preferences and click Install now.
4. When the error occurs, click Cancel, unplug the USB and plug it into a different USB port.
5. Click Install now again and everything should work just fine.

This should work but we must stress that this mostly applies to users who already installed Windows 10 on a given machine before.

3: Try different USB stick and use USB 2.0 port exclusively

For some peculiar reason, not every compatible USB flash stick (6 GB of storage space) will load the installation files.

Run a System Scan to discover potential errors

In case you have an alternative USB flash drive, try re-creating the setup and try installing Windows 10 again. You can use either Media Creation Tool or any third-party application to do so.

Furthermore, if you’ve never installed Windows 10 before on the given PC, chances are that the BIOS won’t load the installation setup if you use a USB 3.0 port.

So, make sure to stick exclusively with the USB 2.0 ports while installing Windows 10. You’ll easily recognize the USB 3.0 port by the blue stripe inside.

4: Set USB option to Auto and disable Legacy USB if available

Disabling/enabling some of the options available in BIOS helped some users circumvent the error.

Firstly, if you’re installing a 64-bit version of Windows 10, we recommend disabling Legacy USB and Legacy BIOS in the BIOS (UEFI) settings.

Also, make sure to enable the AHCI prior to plugging in the flash installation drive.

Some contemporary configurations allow users to enable USB option to USB 3.0 solely. We suggest setting it to Auto. If you have the option like that in your BIOS/UEFI menu, of course.

5: Try using Rufus instead of the Media Creation Tool or DVD

Finally, if you’re unable to get through with it, starting from a scratch with the Rufus might be your way out.

Even though the Microsoft-provided Media Creation Tool usually works just fine, we suggest to try out the alternative.

Also, if you depleted options when it comes to installing Windows 10 from the USB flash, just give a DVD a try.

You can download the ISO file and burn it to DVD by using nothing else but the Windows resources. The main condition is that you have a DVD-ROM at your disposal.

Another viable solution is to upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7/8.1 with the Media Creation tool through the system and perform a clean reinstallation later on.

That should do it. In case you have an alternative solution or questions regarding the enlisted ones, make sure to tell us in the comments section below.

windows 10 install media driver missing

i bought a HP Pavilion Gaming 15-ec0001na laptop at the end of last year, and to much avail installed linux on it for uni work. I have recently been wanting to game on it, as i originally intended to, and could not do it on linux due to the laptop having an amd cpu and nvidia gpu. Horrific nightmare trying to set it all up so i just wanted to swap back to windows 10. after creating a bootable USB several times and getting the «media drivers missing» and thinking it was a corrupted ISO or USB problem, i tried to install it from the same USB in a virtual machine in Linux and it went smoothly. I have tried all the tricks of pulling the USB out and putting it into a different slot, or grabbing all available drivers off the amd website for the specific laptop and trying to install them, but literally nothing has worked. Been trying for a few days now so any help would be grand. (just as a side thing when i installed linux on this latop i had a lot of issues due to the cpu being AMD and the gcard being Nvidia, not sure if its the same problem here)

I have tried everything now, even getting old ISO’s of windows 10 or evening trying to install windows 7 then upgrading (but my laptop wouldnt detect my windows 7 bootable USB, but that’s another problem)

The only drivers i can get to pop up in the search for drivers on the installer are intel RTS drivers also. But as i have an AMD cpu theyre point.

any help would be much appreciated.

Replies (6) 

Method 1: Clean installation using Media Creation tool.

Follow the suggestions provided under the section Using the tool to create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) to install Windows 10 on a different PC (click to show more or less information) from the article on Download Windows 10 to create an installation media and perform clean installation.

Method 2: When you are trying to install Windows 10 using DVD, burn ISO with the slowest speed.

If it’s through USB drive, you get a prompt which asks regarding the driver, click on Cancel.
Once when you reach the welcome screen, insert the USB drive to a different USB port and click on Install Now option to install Windows 10.
Note: Kindly make sure that the ISO is not corrupted.

For more complete information on the subject and alternative means, I searched for a recent article with good content for you

Note: This is a non-Microsoft site. The page appears to be providing accurate and secure information. Beware of ads on the site that may advertise products often classified as PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products).
Thoroughly search for any product advertised on the site before deciding to download and install it.

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Gone are the days when users would have to go through a lengthy process just to install Windows. After all, Microsoft has made the steps easier and simpler. On the other hand, it is still possible for you to encounter driver-related problems that may prevent you from completing the installation process.

So, what should you do when a media driver is missing on Windows 10? You might notice that the USB installation media is booting properly. However, the installation process is not successful due to a missing USB hub driver. There are various reasons why this error occurs, and here are some of them:

Corrupted ISO media or DVD drive
Malfunctioning USB drive or port
Missing USB or DVD driver
Unit uses Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) instead of Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE)
You don’t have to panic because we will teach you how to fix media driver missing error. Keep reading this article to learn the solutions that will help you get rid of this problem.

Solution 1: Meeting the requirements for Windows 10
Before you can even try fixing the issue, you have to ensure that your computer meets the requirements for Windows 10. Moreover, you should update your BIOS before you initiate a clean installation of the operating system. Listed below are the minimum system requirements for running Windows 10:

RAM: 2GB for 64-bit or 1GB for 32-bit
CPU: 1GHz or a faster processor or SoC
HDD: 20GB for 64-bit OS or 16GB for 32-bit OS
GPU: DirectX 9 or a later version with WDDM 1.0 driver
Display: At least 800×600
If you want to have a seamless workflow, it would be best to have at least 2GB of RAM or 3GB for the 64-bit version. This will also provide you with a better processing power.

Solution 2: Trying a different USB port midway
Some users have found a way to work around this problem, and the solution is quite easy. When they initiated a clean installation of Windows 10, they used the method for fixing the same error in Windows 7 and Windows 8. Basically, all you have to do is remove the USB installation drive midway through the process, then try using another port. Here are the steps:

Download the Media Creation Tool and create a USB installation drive.
Boot your computer from the drive.
Wait until all the installation files have loaded.
Select your preferences, then click Install Now.
Once you see the error message, click Cancel.
Remove the USB drive and plug it into a different port.
Click Install Now. The installation process should continue from here.
The aforementioned solution should work for you. However, it is worth noting that this method was mostly for users who had previously installed Windows 10 on their unit.

Solution 3: Using a different USB flash drive
For some strange reason, some USB flash drives, albeit compatible, won’t load all the installation files. In this case, it would be advisable to install Media Creation Tool on a different USB stick.

It is also worth noting that if you have never installed Windows 10 on the computer in question, it is possible that the certain issues with the USB 3.0 port would prevent the BIOS from loading the installation files. As such, you should only use the USB 2.0 ports when installing Windows 10. You can easily identify a USB 3.0 port by the blue strip inside it.

Solution 4: Changing the SATA to IDE
It is possible that the SATA mode is causing the problem. This error specifically occurs when the machine is using IDE, but the installation media boots with SATA. With that said, changing the SATA to IDE in BIOS or UEFI can resolve the issue. Simply follow the instructions below:

Boot into BIOS.
Select any of the following: Advanced, Storage Configuration, Drive Configuration, or IDE Configuration.
Go to SATA Mode. You can also go to Set SATA As or SATA Configuration.
Change the option to IDE, Compatible, or ATA.
Save the changes you’ve just made.
Try installing Windows 10 again and check if the error has been resolved.

Solution 5: Disabling/enabling certain options in BIOS
Some users have tried working around the error by disabling certain options in BIOS. If you are trying to install a 64-bit version of Windows 10, you can boot into BIOS and try to disable Legacy USB and Legacy BIOS. Before you plug in the flash installation drive, make sure that you’ve enabled the AHCI.

In some configurations, users can set the USB option solely to USB 3.0. On the other hand, we recommend setting it to Auto if such option is available in the BIOS menu.

Solution 6: Opting for Rufus
If you’ve tried the methods above and the error persists, you may want to opt for Rufus instead of using the Media Creation Tool. Provided by Microsoft, this program typically works just fine. However, we recommend starting from scratch using the alternative tool if you’ve exhausted all other solutions. Moreover, if you’ve been installing Windows 10 from a USB flash drive, we suggest downloading the ISO file and burning it to a DVD instead.

Once you’ve successfully installed Windows 10, we advise you to regularly update your drivers, using Auslogics Driver Updater. As the error message suggests, the problem occurred due to a missing media driver. As such, you should ensure that you have the latest manufacturer-recommended versions of your drivers. This prevents similar issues from happening and even improves your computer’s speed and performance.

Too see the full article with images click on this link:
https://www.auslogics.com/en/articles/resolving.

If none of these steps work, I’ll pass it on to my more experienced friends who will surely help you and solve your problem. I’m waiting for you.

Note: This is a non-Microsoft site. The page appears to be providing accurate and secure information. Beware of ads on the site that may advertise products often classified as PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products).
Thoroughly search for any product advertised on the site before deciding to download and install it.