Rare chipset: What drivers do I need to manually load to install 7?


  1. Posts : 730
    Windows XP Pro SP3, Windows 7 Pro 32-bit, Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit, Windows XP Home SP3
       #1

    Rare chipset: What drivers do I need to manually load to install 7?


    Gang I have a non-bootable Acer M3450 desktop, specs below. Will not clean install Windows 7 due to not having drivers. I can copy whatever drivers are necessary I just need guidance on WHICH drivers to try to manually load at running of Windows 7 Install? Since it CAN identify the SATA HDD, I assume SATA driver is not the issue. Is it chipset? GPU? [I doubt.. it will run in generic vga mode] something else?

    When I input the driver info, does it just need the inf and cab files or ??
    thanks
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,872
    Windows 10 Pro x64, Windows 8.1 Pro x64, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1,
       #2

    You can get all the drivers here:

    Download Drivers and Manuals | Acer Official Site
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 8,135
    Windows 10 64 bit
       #3

    Windows will install a lot of drivers. This came with Win 7, according to what I find. May not need as many as you think.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 730
    Windows XP Pro SP3, Windows 7 Pro 32-bit, Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit, Windows XP Home SP3
    Thread Starter
       #4

    but you are both making my original point: I don't know which of those the installation needs. I assume the SATA/RAID driver. but what else? from digging through web searches, I find no one that thinks the amd chipset drivers are needed/warranted. good thing, since none are posted on acer's site. and the drivers that they do post for storage are different than what was in the "OEM" Folder on the botched drive. when I try to sort these, i'[m not sure which to ask Windows 7 install to slip in.

    an added question: when one installs a perfectly good driver at the appropriate point in the Windows 7 install: does it still/regardless popup the window that warns about unsigned and incorrect drivers?

    another question: if feeding it multiple devices [i.e. VGA, USB, Storage], does it reflect all those in the list that it will use in the install, or does it only show the last one I loaded? I notice the list gets wiped out and not sure why. Also, most disconcerting of all: I pulled the drivers straight from acer for this model, and if I tick the "hide drivers not compatible" I get a blank! yikes

    I tried using the Acer OEM Recovery but it fails at 99%. reading a bit about that subject it is agonizing. lots of people hit that issue and never resolve it. acer is no help and apparently can't write good code to save themselves.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1,872
    Windows 10 Pro x64, Windows 8.1 Pro x64, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1,
       #5

    I have installed many Windows 7 operating systems to many PC of various types and have yet not needed to install drivers during the installation unless I was going to use RAID. What error message are you getting specifically? All you have said is will not install. What is happening?

    Is the install media a Microsoft disk or downloaded?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #6

    Your first post is a little confusing to say the least.

    Are you saying you need a driver during the install ?

    Or have you installed windows yet ?

    Your statement "Will not clean install Windows 7 due to not having drivers."

    You should never need drivers using a properly prepared dvd installer.

    And to create a usb installer all you need is Rufus and a good iso file.

    You need to post a link to the motherboard, yes you have to open the case and find out what it is.

    Set your bios to defaults and try again.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 730
    Windows XP Pro SP3, Windows 7 Pro 32-bit, Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit, Windows XP Home SP3
    Thread Starter
       #7

    I have a good multi version Windows 7 install usb device I've used for probably 100 installs. The m3450 has a amd 9 series chipset with ? Sata device, no onboard vid (pci card amd 6350), etron usb devices, etc. Windows 7 install bails with error cannot find specified files. The Acer directory has a lot of driver files in folders but when I browse them they show as incompatible to the installer. Ditto the ones posted on acer website. Probably unsigned drivers. I would try force install but when I tick "unhide" I get multiple selections listed though only one inf file is selected.Wash, rinse, repeat

    Back to original question ; what files is it needing that it cannot find
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 730
    Windows XP Pro SP3, Windows 7 Pro 32-bit, Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit, Windows XP Home SP3
    Thread Starter
       #8

    finally got there. tried a third drive just for fun.
    I actually don't know for sure what was different this round: I had set this drive up as a way to trick the acer recovery into working on a new-to-machine drive by copying the recovery partition and the system-reserved partition using minitool. that all seemed to go ok, then I copied the pertinent OEM folders off the formerly working hard drive - therein was all the recovery-related directories.
    The Recovery attempt then failed, predictably.
    afterward ran the win7 install from my multi-select SD and the only driver it seemed to accept again were the Etron USB drivers. This it installed and booted.
    just trying to make a image copy now and stash it away before loading any windows updates, drivers,etc.

    win7 loaded a AMD SATA driver. not at all sure where it picked it up, as it marked as incompatible all the ones I had tried [five total, from Acer]
      My Computer


 

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