«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.

Error: A required CD/DVD device driver is missing — when you start Windows 7 or Windows Vista from the setup disk

Summary

When you start your PC from the Windows 7 or Windows Vista setup disk, you may receive the following error:

A required CD/DVD driver device driver is missing. If you have a driver floppy disk, CD, DVD, or USB flash drive, please insert it now.

This error can occur if one or more of the following scenarios are true:

The CD/DVD drive may not be compatible with Windows 7 or Windows Vista

The CD/DVD media may be damaged or dirty

Your CD/DVD drive may be incompatible with the Microsoft AHCI driver (msahci.sys)

Note: If your CD/DVD or other drive is not displayed in Windows Explorer view, see the following article:

Resolution

To resolve this issue, read the scenario that best describes your situation:

The CD/DVD drive may not be compatible with Windows 7 or Windows Vista

If your installing Windows to an older PC, the CD/DVD drive may not be compatible with Windows 7 and Windows Vista, the CD/DVD drive may need to be replaced.
The CD/DVD media may be damaged or dirty

Remove the DVD media and check for scratches, cracks or smudges that may make the DVD difficult to read, if the media is scratched or cracked, you must get replacement media. If the DVD is dirty or smudged, clean the DVD with warm water and a soft cloth. Be sore the DVD is completely clean and dry before re-inserting into the CD/DVD drive. Next, restart the computer and press any key when you are prompted and start Setup.
The CD/DVD drive may not be compatible with the Microsoft AHCI driver (msahci.sys)

If your CD/DVD drive is not compatible with the Microsoft AHCI driver (msahci.sys), your disk controller may be set to AHCI in the system BIOS. You may be able to resolve the issue by disabling AHCI mode for your disk controller in the BIOS. There are multiple BIOS manufacturers and BIOS versions, you should check your system documentation or visit your PC manufacturers website for instructions about how to change this setting.

Note: The basic process for changing the disk controller setting is to restart your computer and enter the system BIOS. The most common method is to press F2 to enter Setup, (different PC’s may use a different key). On the BIOS screen, browse to the setting that offers AHCI, ATA, or IDE and possibly RAID. If the setting is set to AHCI, change the setting to ATA. Restart the PC to the Windows Setup disk

Warning: Incorrect settings in the System BIOS can cause your PC’s function incorrectly. If you are not familiar with configuring the system BIOS, you should contact the PC manufacturer for assistance.

If you are still cannot start the PC from the Windows 7 or Windows Vista Setup disk, see additional options for Installing Windows bellow:

Replace the CD/DVD drive

If the DVD media is damaged, replace the media

Install Windows by using Windows setup from a USB drive

Install Windows by using a network install or an online installation

Contact the hardware manufacturer for support

«Windows installation cannot continue because a required driver could not be found» Error when installing Windows 7 Ultimate over Windows Vista Home Premium 64-Bit. No additional information is given, so I have no idea what to do.

I am on the BizSpark program and I am trying to upgrade from Windows Vista Home Premium 64-Bit to Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit. I downloaded the ISO file from BizSpark and ran the upgrade. After a while, I receive this error message:

«Windows installation cannot continue because a required driver could not be found»

There is no additional information, so I have no idea what do to correct the situation. I have run the ISO install from my hard disk, an external hard drive and also from a DVD. I get the same error every time.

1. Disable any security software before attempting to upgrade or do a clean install.
2. Make sure your computer is updated (devices and applications)
3. Disconnect any external devices before installing.
4. Check your hard disk for any errors:
Click Start
Type: CMD, from the results, right click CMD
Click ‘Run as Administrator’
At the Command Prompt, type: chkdsk /r
When you restart your system, your computer will be scanned for errors and attempts will be made to correct them.

Also, run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, it will scan your system and provide a report telling you if your PC can run Windows 7 and if there are any known compatibility issues with your programs or hardware.

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=1b544e90-7659-4bd9-9e51-2497c146af15&displayLang=en Andre Da Costa http://adacosta.spaces.live.com http://www.activewin.com

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A required CD/DVD device driver is missing, usb installation

I’m trying to install windows 7 on my freshly built pc by using a usb device (no cd drive as of yet). I followed this guide to do this: http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-install-windows-7vista-from-usb-drive-detailed-100-working-guide/.

Whenever I try and boot the device on my new computer I get the «cd/dvd device driver missing. » error and a box for me to select drivers. I have tried changing the boot order in the BIOS but to no avail and I wanted to change my sata ahci mode but I couldn’t find this option (american microtrends v1.6 bios).

I’d really appreciate it if somebody could help me solve this issue.

Ok, I’ve actually solved this myself via the help of a thread on tom’s hardware. I’ll post it here for anyone else struggling with the same issue:

OK now is the truth. This is the solution.

I assume all of you is using USB drive to install.

When Windows is asking for driver, just click Cancel. You will be brought back to the welcome screen. At the welcome screen, remove your USB drive, insert it back to DIFFERENT USB PORT. Click Install Now again. The installation process will be like usual.

This problem happened to all new version of updated Windows 7 installer. I think, it is due to failure of Windows installer to remain its detection to the USB drive. It lost the connection, and became confused, don’t know where to find the USB drive it used to read before.

When we re-insert the USB drive, Windows installer will detect the USB drive back, and continue like usual.

Good luck and cheers! TQ.

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Windows requires a digitally signed driver

Device Drivers are necessary for communication between hardware and software of an operating system. Some drivers are digitally signed. Digitally signed drivers are drivers which signed by their issuing authority in such a manner that the end-user or any third party cannot modify them. At times, users are unable to install or update drivers and get the error – Windows requires a digitally signed driver.

Driver Signing is the process of associating a digital signature with a driver package. Windows device installations use digital signatures to verify the integrity of the driver packages and to verify the identity of the vendor who provides the driver packages.

The drivers you normally install on your computer from Windows Update, Original Equipment Manufacturers or some 3th-party driver download software, etc. must be digitally verified by Microsoft via a digital signature. It is an electronic security mark that certifies the publisher for the driver, as well as all the relevant information related to it. If a driver isn’t certified by Microsoft, Window won’t run them on either 32-bit or 64-bit system. This is referred to as “driver signature enforcement”.

Windows 10 will load only Kernel mode drivers signed digitally by the Dev Portal. However, the changes will affect only the new installations of the operating system with Secure Boot on. The non-upgraded fresh installations would require drivers signed by Microsoft.

Windows requires a digitally signed driver

The error means the driver you are trying to install or update hasn’t been digitally signed by the issuing authority. Thus you wouldn’t be able to use it. The solutions to this problem are as follows:

1. Update the drivers from the manufacturer’s website
2. Disable driver signing using Group Policy Editor

1] Update the drivers from the manufacturer’s website

The reason you face this problem at the first place is that you might have downloaded the drivers from an external media or the drivers weren’t updated in a while, and the issuing authority changed its policies.

The best resolution, in this case, could be to download the latest drivers from the manufacturer’s website itself and install them.

If this doesn’t work, the only option you would have is to disable the driver signing or its recognition in Windows 10. However, this isn’t recommended so proceed with it only if you think you need to use the affected hardware.

2] Disable driver signing through the group policy editor

To disable Driver Signature enforcement, press Win + R to open the Run window and type the command gpedit.msc. Press Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.

Navigate to the following path:

User configuration > Administrative templates > System > Driver installation.

On the right-pane, double-click on the entry Code signing for device drivers to open its properties.

This setting determines how the system responds when a user tries to install device driver files that are not digitally signed. It establishes the least secure response permitted on the systems of users in the group. Users can use System in Control Panel to select a more secure setting, but when this setting is enabled, the system does not implement any setting less secure than the one the setting established.

When you enable this setting, use the drop-down box to specify the desired response.

• “Ignore” directs the system to proceed with the installation even if it includes unsigned files.
• “Warn” notifies the user that files are not digitally signed and lets the user decide whether to stop or to proceed with the installation and whether to permit unsigned files to be installed. “Warn” is the default.
• “Block” directs the system to refuse to install unsigned files. As a result, the installation stops, and none of the files in the driver package are installed.

To change driver file security without specifying a setting, use System in Control Panel. Right-click My Computer, click Properties, click the Hardware tab, and then click the Driver Signing button.

Select the radio button as Enabled for this policy.

Select Ignore from the dialogue box for When Windows detects a file without drivers.

Click on OK to save the settings and restart the system.

This will make the warning go away. But you have to remember that this makes your system ‘less secure’.