Windows 7: Load Driver: Required CD/DVD Drive Device Driver: HELP!

Fantastic. I'll circle back when I'm finished.

If the new download gets the same error, then try changing your SATA controller setting in BIOS, between IDE and ACHI.

Check the jumper on the DVD drive; replug or swap the ribbon cable.

Write the ISO to USB flash using UltraISO trial version Bootable tab.

Extract the SATA controller driver onto flash stick then load into booted Windows 7 installer at Custom drives screen prompt.

Boot into Windows 7 DVD Repair console and format the drive to attempt to force the install:

Boot DVD>Repair console>Recovery tools, open Command Line, type:
DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK # (for Windows 7 disk)
clean
create partition primary
select partition 1
assign letter=c:
active
format
exit

I confirmed the HASH fail for both the CRC and the SHA-1. The re-download is at 14%... going to take a while. In the meantime, I tried to install the updated BIOS, however it requires a reboot. I'll run that after I'm done re-downloading the .iso and burning it with ImgBurn.

I did this. It was configured to ACHI by default, so no dice.

I did this. Booted up the Windows 7 Install wizard without any problems, however I came across the same "Load Driver" issue in setup.

As for choosing the "Windows 7 disk", were you referring to my actual hard drive? I have two drives showing; one is 232 GB and the other is 7663 MB.

I wiped my internal drive, formatting it the way you wanted, and setup still had the same problem. Furthermore, I can't boot up normally anymore as the drive is wiped (I have everything backed up on an external).

Where to go from here?

Also, it doesn't seem as though I can even access my recovery partition anymore..

Did you try changing the disk controller to anything that is not ahci?

Try just selecting IDE or ATA mode.

See if that helps.

I'm doing that right now. Now I have it configured to ATA, I'll let you know what happens.

EDIT: Same problem. "Load Driver: A required CD/DVD drive device driver is missing..."

The recov partition should have been wiped with the commands given. It might be interfering at this point, blocking the installer from autostarting as it should on an empty drive.

The only way it would be functional is to attempt to trigger it by using the F-key given at bootup.

How old is the Dell? If within a year, you might want to call Dell tech support as this may well be a known issue on that model.

I got this Dell in August of 2008, so it's been about a year and 4 months. I'll give this a try, thanks again.

F-key did nothing. It gets past the Dell screen and says "BOOTMGR is missing. CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart". :/

Most all recov partitions are disabled when the drive is cleaned and formatted. It should have been deleted then. I would delete it now, reformat the drive and try again with a cleaner slate.

Your path back to Vista can be the recov disks, or any Vista installer for your version. I'd move ahead though and get Windows 7 installed. SIW2 is here (my teacher) so you have the smartest guy on this now.

What were the settings available for SATA controller in the BIOS?

The available settings under "Onboard Devices" and "SATA Operation" are ATA and AHCI. In order for me to switch from ACHI to ATA, I had to turn off the Flash Cache Module.

Both SATA operations left me with the same result.