«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.

Windows 10 clean install ‘A media driver is missing’

I am doing a Windows 10 clean install through a USB Flash drive which is made with a Mac system

In Windows setup, I get the error ‘A media driver is missing’

I have already tried:

• Plugging the flash drive into all of my USB 2.0, 3.0 and 3.1 ports
• Changing flash drive
• Downloading ISO again, and downloading a older version
• Trying to install Intel Chipset Driver
• Trying to install Intel® Rapid Storage Technology
• Making the USB using:

1. dd
2. unetbootin
3. RosaImageWriter

• Changing BIOS setting: Disable Legacy USB support(Resulted in boot option not showing up)
• Updating bios

CPU: Intel — Core i5-8400 2.8 GHz 6-Core Processor

Motherboard: MSI — B360 GAMING PLUS ATX LGA1151 Motherboard

Memory: ADATA — XPG GAMMIX D10 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-2666 Memory

SSD: ADATA — ULTIMATE SU650 960 GB 2.5″ Solid State Drive

HDD:Seagate BarraCuda 4TB ST4000DM004

Video Card: Gigabyte — GeForce GTX 1070 Ti 8 GB WINDFORCE Video Card

Case: Fractal Design — Meshify C Dark TG ATX Mid Tower Case

Power Supply: EVGA — SuperNOVA G3 (EU) 550 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply

Replies (9) 

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

Do you get the error message before the setup starts or when the during installation?

I appreciate the time and patience you have taken to resolve the issue. Basically you get that error when the download file is incomplete. Kindly check with the below suggestions and see if it works.

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.

Microsoft Community — Moderator

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What format did you create the flash drive. I know nothing about Macs, but do know they use different file systems.

For Windows UEFI Bios machines, the flash drive needs to be a GPT\FAT32 type drive.

For Windows Legacy Bios machines, the flash drive needs to be MBR\NTFS type drive.

There is a free tool called FUFUS that will create these, but I do not know if there is a Mac version available.

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Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

Do you get the error message before the setup starts or when the during installation?

I appreciate the time and patience you have taken to resolve the issue. Basically you get that error when the download file is incomplete. Kindly check with the below suggestions and see if it works.

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.

Microsoft Community — Moderator

Method 1: I only have a Mac computer

Method 2: Already tried as mentioned

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What format did you create the flash drive. I know nothing about Macs, but do know they use different file systems.

For Windows UEFI Bios machines, the flash drive needs to be a GPT\FAT32 type drive.

For Windows Legacy Bios machines, the flash drive needs to be MBR\NTFS type drive.

There is a free tool called FUFUS that will create these, but I do not know if there is a Mac version available.

1. The USB is formatted correctly in FAT32

2. Rufus is not available for Mac

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In addition the the FAT32, it needs to be «Initialized» as GPT.

A MBR drive is normally recognized by the bios as a legacy device.

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For Windows 10 OS installation,you need Microsoft/Windows Media Creation Tool,v1803

Although newer editions might exist. Once thru,you must install the pc MB chipset software/driver,next would be the pc Storage Controller software/driver,if Intel,Intel Storage Mgr Then Networking/Video/Audio software,plus Microsoft windows update. The Creation tool gets you going. Also,running a flash USB drive isn’t the ticket,run all/any installations thru a cd,now youre trying to install thru a Mac system. Not compatable to windows,sure Microsoft downloads have some Mac compatability downloads but why not run defaults. Also,if its a new MB,or with all youre problems,power off pc,remove MB battery,wait 12 minutes,install battery/power up pc to BIOS/reset date-time/set to Load Performance values/install the Win 10 installation cd/set as 1st boot priority/HD 2nd/Save & exit BIOS..Follow cd menu. This is a Microsoft/TechNet/MSDN default for a clean installation.Also,in BIOS would be to set to RAID ready,or create a RAID set,this must happen before the OS installation/this is INTEL Performance setting. Read Owners Manual

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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.

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.