"A required CD/DVD drive device driver is missing"

[heis109]

I am getting the "A required CD/DVD drive device driver is missing" messageafter setup has started and run for about 5 minutes. I've noticed that my installer is also running very slowly and hangs for nearly 10 minutes at the blue background before launching the 'Language' screen. Every step is similarly slow, until I reach the brick wall that is the above error message. Thank you in advance for any help tossed my way...

After working on this for two days, I'm desparate for a fix. All I want to do is a clean install of 7. I don't care about saving any data, and I planned on reformatting anyway. However, I can't reformat until the Windows 7 installer decides to cooperate. Thus far, I've seen a lot of people with the same problem I have and no solid way to get around it. I'm not even sure if anyone knows the exact problem. Some believe it's got something to do with SATA compatibility, and others are saying that the ISO may be corrupt, and yet more people are trying to find exactly which driver the installer wants. I'm at wits end, please help me.

Specs are as follows:

• Media Type: ISO downloaded from Digital River (~3GB)
• Upgrade or Custom Install: Upgrading from Windows XP 32x to Windows 7 Home 64x via Boot DVD
• Chipset and make and model of machine:

Model N68PV-GS

North Bridge NVIDIA GeForce 7050 PV Revision A2
South Bridge NVIDIA nForce 630a Revision A2

CPU AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6000+
Cpu Socket Socket AM2 (940)

LG DVD Model HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GH22LS30 (SATA)

SEAGATE ST3320613AS 320GB HDD (SATA)

~
I've tried re-burning at 4x with 3 different disks and the results have been the same. At the moment, I'm re-downloading the ISO and am going to go buy new DVD+R disks (because someone said that had some small chance of helping). Anything that anyone can contribute to a solution would be great! I'm sick of running XP and not being able to take advantage of DirectX10...anyway Merry Christmas! Microsoft might deserve coal for this one!

 

[UnderCover00J]

Could be a setting in your BIOS which is preventing the CD/DVD drive being detected properly. I'm not 100% sure the option might be, but it's to do with the hard-disk detection settings. Set it as legacy, or compatibility mode instead of enhanced. Not sure if it will work but its worth a shot. You could also try defaulting your BIOS settings but make a note of the configuration before you change any settings.

 

[gregrocker]

You can Verify the ISO and DVD by downloading and installing ImgBurn, select Verify Disk, then load the ISO in using file icon, make sure it says "bootable" in text

Now insert DVD and click Disk icon to Verify your DVD.

View attachment 43334

Please fill out your System Specs in bottom left corner of your post.

Have you already tried booting from DVD with all but 2gb of RAM removed, all peripherals unplugged?

Check your SATA controller settings in BIOS. Try AHCI first.

 

[heis109]

@Greg: I have ImgBurn, and that's what I used to do the ISO burns for the disks I've tried thus far. All copies have varified just fine so far, so unless Digi River is distributing a faulty ISO I guess we can rule that out.

I have not tried taking out any RAM, but I don't have anything plugged into my computer that isn't essential. I will definitely try setting my SATA controller to AHCI and see if that works. I believe it's set as IDE...I'll have to get back about that. Thank you! I'll try that ASAP.

Also, I'll certainly fill in my specs.

@UnderCover: I'll fiddle with the BIOs as per you and Greg's suggestions. Thanks guys, I'll get back ASAP.

 

[heis109]

Okay! So, Merry Christmas firstly. I've just had a chance to get back to my problem, and I have some news (mostly bad) to report. I changed my SATA controller settings from IDE to AHCI, and the results were largely the same. Long load time, same error message.

However, when I went to set the boot order I noticed that I had a new option - "LGHL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GH22LS30" - my DVD drive. Normally I pick SATA32.435367 (or something of that nature). So I'm thinking that perhaps there's some trouble detecting my DVD drive? If that is the case though, I don't know why after it had apparently been detected, it didn't just go ahead with the install.

I'm not the most comp. savvy guy, so I'm grasping at straws here fellas. I will say that this is the first problem I've ever encountered that I couldn't fix on my own or get around somehow...very annoying. At least I got the student version and didn't have to pay full price for a product that is causing me to absolutely want to lose it.

Anyone have any more ideas? WTB Christmas Miracle a la Windows 7.

 

[gregrocker]

Can you extract the ISO files to the XP desktop and try running Setup, report back results?

You may need to change SATA controller back to IDE to boot XP.

If it will run, choose the same partition to overwrite.

Try removing all but 2 gb of RAM and try again to boot install.

Do you have another computer you can boot the Win7 DVD on to see if it errs the same?

I think since you bring it up, you should check the HASH of the downloaded ISO to make sure it is correct. Then if the ISO registers bootable when loaded into ImgBurn, and the DVD verifies, we have eliminated the ISO and DVD as problems.

 

[heis109]

When the ISO is extracted and I run setup, it gives me "not a Win32 valid application" error. I'm guessing its because I'm running 32 bit XP and attempting to install 64 bit 7.

I changed the SATA controller back to IDE without seeing if XP would run on it. I'll go check that now, but just to clarify, if AHCI does work you want me to save that setting?

I'll try the 2gb RAM removal and let you know.

I don't have another comp to use, unfortunately. I don't even have a flashdrive at the moment or I'd have tried going the USB route.

When you say check the HASH, I only sort of know what you mean and am not positive how to accomplish that task. I'll check google! hah...

Thanks a lot for bearing with me. Its nice to know I'm not totally on my own here.

 

[heis109]

AHCI was a no-go.

Removing RAM presently.

 

[gregrocker]

Download Hashtab, install, then right click ISO select Properties to see Hash checksum, compare to checksum by copying the SHA and CRC for your version from the following list into the compare box on Hashtab:

http://www.dasmirnov.net/blog/windows-7-rtm-sha-1-hash-checksum

I'm only suggesting this because we had a guy last week whose DR download was corrupt. It should be ok if it says Bootable when loaded into ImgBurn as stated earlier.

Once you checksum the HASH, open ImgBurn and select "Verify Disk" load ISO using file icon, confirm it says Bootable in text on left, then insert DVD and click Disk icon to Verify both.

We then have eliminated ISO, DVD and burn.

The next step is to remove all but 2 gigs of Memory.

I would keep BIOS set IDE as XP will not run if changed.

 

[heis109]

Greg - Neither the SHA or CRC checked out. Unless I'm copying them incorrectly somehow (which I doubt, this is a pretty straightforward process) then probably my file is corrupt?

I checked the validity of the file vs the burn in ImgBurn as you suggested just in case, and I believe it went through OK (it played the happy music at the end).

I tried removing a RAM stick and had the same results that I've been getting.

Soooo bad download probably? I'm assuming that I need to re-download the file from DR, and check its HASHSUM when complete...I'll get back to you ASAP. Let me know what you think. Thanks again Greg!

 

[jradicle11]

You're definitely not alone. I'm stuck with this exact same problem but I don't have an OS already on my HD. Brand new computer, just finished building it yesterday. I thought mine was a bad download as well but there are many confirmed successes using the exact same download as me. If I find a solution (not likely) I'll be sure to help you.

 

[gregrocker]

Greg - Neither the SHA or CRC checked out. Unless I'm coping them incorrectly somehow (which I doubt, this is a pretty straightforward process) then probably my file is corrupt?

I checked the validity of the file vs the burn in ImgBurn as you suggested just in case, and I believe it went through OK (it played the happy music at the end).

I tried removing a RAM stick and had the same results that I've been getting.

Soooo bad download probably? I'm assuming that I need to re-download the file from DR, and check its HASHSUM when complete...I'll get back to you ASAP. Let me know what you think. Thanks again Greg!

As long as you are checking the SHA/CRC for the exact same version and bit as your download then it has got to be a bad download. We had the exact same situation last week which was solved by downloading again. I'm a little less likely now to believe it when they say "I know the download is good."

The research on your error message points to this as well.

Burn the checksummed ISO at 4x with verify, then boot the DVD and attempt Custom install with formatting.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[jradicle11]

I'm trying to use a USB drive, I'll tell you how it goes.

 

[heis109]

jradicle! I hope you aren't offended when I tell you I'm glad we're having the same problem, hah...I'm very curious about the USB drive, so let us know! I'd have tried it myself if I had a flashdrive around.

Greg, def. will get back to you tomorrow! Thanks!

 

[heis109]

I finished the new ISO d/l and the hashes checked out! I've just burnt it at 4x onto a new DVD+R and verified the burn.

I also realized that I hadn't updated my BIOS in quite some time, so I went ahead and did that.

Ran Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor just to see what that was all about, and it says I'm clear to install as well.

So...hope springs eternal...

Now to test it!

 

[gregrocker]

Eager to hear...

Smart move on BIOS update.

May need ISO written to formatted flash using Ultra ISO trial version Bootable tab.

View attachment 44071

 

[heis109]

Same result

Looks like I need to borrow/buy a flash drive.

 

[gregrocker]

What I don't believe has been done yet is trying to put the drivers it is prompting for into the installer.

Is it getting to the Custom drives screen with the link to Load Drivers?

If not you can slipstream them in using Vlite, which sometimes works.

This is the basic tutorial, just add Drivers tab as well as Recompile ISO after loading in the 7 files: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/32055-bootable-iso-create-installation-files.html

 

[heis109]

It gets to the error message and then I can either scan for drivers, or insert new media containing the drivers needed. I never find any, or can continue with the installation.

I'll check that link, although I'm not familiar with slipstreaming. I'm beginning to think this is a lost cause

 

[gregrocker]

So it prompts for the missing SATA controller driver?

You could put it on a CD and install at that point?

Unzip your mobo drivers onto CD and browse for the driver in all its folders or just load them all in.

I think it's not completely troublshot if we you don't fulfill the error message's request.