Windows 7 - windows 7 Virtual PC 07 setup

i am able to get windows 7 to boot and start the installation but before i get to select the partition i get a message saying;
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.

i am trying to install to a virtual machine using Virtual PC 2007.
i am able to install XP and Vista to this exact one, but get this message with 7. im somewhat unwilling to put this on a second PC if it comes with this error.

looking through the other posts i ahve tried to use vista to create a partition and format, that works, but then still get this error with 7.

i have tried the Installation and setup forum and was advised to come here

Download Virtual Box (freeware). Think you should have better luck. Hope this helps.

unfortunatly not, still get that same error

system is
e6850
4gb ram
vista 64 SP2
several 500gb HDD

avoiding Vmware as the new version is a pain to deal with in vista