Solved Installing Windows 7 on recently built PC, No drives found error

Nebz

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I ran into a problem in step 1 of my installation of windows 7.

When asked, "Where do you want to install Windows?" There are no drives found and therefore will not allow me to install anything at all. It lets me see the USB device but comes with the Error "No signed deice drivers were found. Make sure that the installation media contains the correct driver, and then click OK."

I also bought a non-genuine version, but I don't think that has much to do with it at this current point.

I've checked other forums and tried a couple things like changing the SATA controller from AHCI to IDE, but I've had no luck.

I can't see my own hard drive when browsing for drivers to install on, I don't know if that has anything to do with it.

Any help?
 

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Windows 7 Proffesional x64
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PC/Desktop
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Custom build
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Windows 7 Proffesional x64
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Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P FX
Hard Drives
WD Red 1TB NAS Hard Disk Drive - WD10EFRX
The quickest way to install Windows operating system is using USB drive as installation media. Number of users having difficulties while booting and installing from USB. The most common error that you receive during the installation is “A required CD/DVD device driver is missing”, which appears when you try to install Windows from a USB drive.

Users who are receiving the above mentioned error can the follow the instructions given below to continue the installation even after the error.


Step 1: Connect your bootable USB flash drive to the computer.

Step 2: Boot using the flash drive and begin installing Windows. When you receive “CD/DVD device drive is missing” error dialog click on Cancel button. This action should take you to the welcome screen.

Step 3: Now, remove your bootable USB flash drive and reconnect it to a different USB port. Windows installer should now detect the drive and you should be able to continue the installation.
 

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Custom Build
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Windows 10 Pro x64
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Intel Core i5 6600
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Gigabyte Technology Z170M-D3H-CF (U3E1)
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Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB 2666MHz DDR4
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SSD
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SATA controller must be set to AHCI.
Do you see the HDD disk on BIOS under SATA devices?
 

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    Windows 7 HP 64i5 6600K - 800MHz to 4200MHz4+4G GSkill DDR4 3000IG - Intel 530
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    TinyWall firewall
When you receive “CD/DVD device drive is missing” error dialog click on Cancel button. This action should take you to the welcome screen...Now, remove your bootable USB flash drive and reconnect it to a different USB port. Windows installer should now detect the drive and you should be able to continue the installation.

That's a handy little trick.
 

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I use Samba to share my data drive with the other computers at my house and with my guest session in VMWare Workstation Player.
When you receive “CD/DVD device drive is missing” error dialog click on Cancel button. This action should take you to the welcome screen...Now, remove your bootable USB flash drive and reconnect it to a different USB port. Windows installer should now detect the drive and you should be able to continue the installation.

I think this is only true if you had the USB flash drive on a USB3.x port and you move it to a USB2.0 port.
 

My Computers My Computers

  • At a glance

    Windows 7 HP 64i5 6600K - 800MHz to 4200MHz4+4G GSkill DDR4 3000IG - Intel 530
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
    custom build
    OS
    Windows 7 HP 64
    CPU
    i5 6600K - 800MHz to 4200MHz
    Motherboard
    GA-Z170-HD3P
    Memory
    4+4G GSkill DDR4 3000
    Graphics Card(s)
    IG - Intel 530
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 226BW
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    (1) -1 SM951 – 128GB M.2 AHCI PCIe SSD drive for Windows 7 and Lubuntu
    (2) -1 WD SATA 3 - 1T for Data
    (3) -1 WD SATA 3 - 1T for backup
    PSU
    Thermaltake 450W TR2 gold
    Keyboard
    Old and good Chicony mechanical keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech mX performance - 9 buttons (had to disable some)
    Internet Speed
    500Mb/s
    Browser
    Firefox 64
    Other Info
    TinyWall firewall
  • At a glance

    Windows 7 Proi7-4500U 800MHz to 3.0GHz(4+4)G DDR3 1600IG intel 4400 + NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model Number
    Asus Q550LF
    OS
    Windows 7 Pro
    CPU
    i7-4500U 800MHz to 3.0GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus Q550LF
    Memory
    (4+4)G DDR3 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    IG intel 4400 + NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Display LP156WF4-SPH1
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    BX500 120G SSD for Windows and programs +
    1T HDD for data
    Internet Speed
    500 Mb/s
    Browser
    Firefox
    Other Info
    TinyWall firewall

My Computer My Computer

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Windows 10 Pro x64Intel Core i5 6600Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB 2666MHz DDR4AMD Radeon R9 380 Series
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Build
OS
Windows 10 Pro x64
CPU
Intel Core i5 6600
Motherboard
Gigabyte Technology Z170M-D3H-CF (U3E1)
Memory
Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB 2666MHz DDR4
Graphics Card(s)
AMD Radeon R9 380 Series
Hard Drives
SSD
HDD
Antivirus
Eset Smart Security
Browser
Mozila Firefox
I think this is only true if you had the USB flash drive on a USB3.x port and you move it to a USB2.0 port.
No this trick nothing to do with Windows 7 installer doesn't have a built-in driver for USB 3.0—it supports only USB 2.0 devices.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 10 Pro x64Intel Core i5 6600Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB 2666MHz DDR4AMD Radeon R9 380 Series
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Build
OS
Windows 10 Pro x64
CPU
Intel Core i5 6600
Motherboard
Gigabyte Technology Z170M-D3H-CF (U3E1)
Memory
Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB 2666MHz DDR4
Graphics Card(s)
AMD Radeon R9 380 Series
Hard Drives
SSD
HDD
Antivirus
Eset Smart Security
Browser
Mozila Firefox
Regarding the O/P's third paragraph **** Have the forum rules somehow been changed?
Art.
 

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Win7 sp1 Pro 64bit / XP sp2 Pro (games only)Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 @ 3.00GHz8.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 400MHz (5-5-5-18)1024MB GeForce GTX 560
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Home built
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Win7 sp1 Pro 64bit / XP sp2 Pro (games only)
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Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 @ 3.00GHz
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Intel Corporation DP35DP (CPU1)
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8.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 400MHz (5-5-5-18)
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1024MB GeForce GTX 560
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NVIDIA High Definition Audio
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SyncMaster (2048x1152@60Hz)
Hard Drives
240GB Sandisc Extreme Pro SSD
244GB Seagate ST3250410AS
488GB Seagate ST500DM002-1BD142
931GB Western Digital WDC WD1003FZEX
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Corsair 720
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ATX
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HID Keyboard Device Logitech
Mouse
HID-compliant mouse Microsoft
Other Info
TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-S223L

HL-DT-ST BD-RE BH12LS35
Thank you for all your help. Ironically when my HD was rechecked there was no connection from my power supply to the HD. Simple oversight that caused literal hours of headache.

Thanks once again!
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Proffesional x64
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom build
OS
Windows 7 Proffesional x64
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P FX
Hard Drives
WD Red 1TB NAS Hard Disk Drive - WD10EFRX
We are glad to hear your issue has been resolved, thank you for letting us know that all is now well!
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 10 Pro x64Intel Core i5 6600Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB 2666MHz DDR4AMD Radeon R9 380 Series
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Build
OS
Windows 10 Pro x64
CPU
Intel Core i5 6600
Motherboard
Gigabyte Technology Z170M-D3H-CF (U3E1)
Memory
Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB 2666MHz DDR4
Graphics Card(s)
AMD Radeon R9 380 Series
Hard Drives
SSD
HDD
Antivirus
Eset Smart Security
Browser
Mozila Firefox
Thank you for all your help. Ironically when my HD was rechecked there was no connection from my power supply to the HD. Simple oversight that caused literal hours of headache.

just like with windows XP and newer hardware years ago (and when AHCI was new compared to ATA/IDE)

everyone will be having this problem with Windows 7 eventually,
right now it's typically with USB3 drivers, for example newer ASROCK motherboards provide you with a USB patcher utility to allow you to install win7 using a usb keyboard/mouse otherwise they won't work because all usb ports on motherboards are now likely to be all USB 3 or greater,

and as chipset versions get newer with time with newer hardware, the Windows 7 install dvd made by Micrsoft years ago will obviously not have these newer chipset drivers that are required and everyone will start experiencing the problem you did but for this reason rather than forgetting to plug in the power connector.

But with Intel CPU's requiring windows 10, this may be moot but i suspect win7 to hang around like winxp did and you'll have to slipstream in the drivers to the win7 iso and make a new install dvd having the drivers you need.
 

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Windows 7 x64, ultimate/pro/home, SLES x86 & ...intel & amdyesgtx970
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PC/Desktop
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homebuilt & dell & sgi
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Windows 7 x64, ultimate/pro/home, SLES x86 & ia64
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intel & amd
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yes
Memory
yes
Graphics Card(s)
gtx970
Sound Card
same as memory
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benq 27"
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2560*1440
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many
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