Unable to get past initial screen due to CD/DVD drivers missing

So i'm attempting to install Windows 7 x64 bit, with UEFI mode & AHCI mode both on (I really don't want to have to turn those off) on a new-ish Dell PC, yet whenever I run the installer, as soon as I click the big "Install Now" button, i'm prompted with the "A required CD\DVD drive device driver is missing" message. Dell seem to be aware of this and have posted this article, prompting you to install drivers (which I have) for the AHCI controller from the "Load Driver" dialog: “A required CD\DVD drive device driver is missing” error when installing Microsoft Windows 7 or Windows Vista | Dell US

However this has proven incredibly difficult to do. The machine has no internal DVD drive (nor am I able to install one), so i'm booting the installer off a USB stick (into a USB 2.0 port).

However whenever I insert a 2nd USB stick into load the AHCI drivers, the installer simply doesn't detect this second USB stick. I've tried slipstreaming the drivers onto the boot.WIM image, at which point the installer was able to find the drivers and match them to my hardware. However after about 30 seconds of (apparently) attempting to load the driver, it then says it was unable to load the driver and i'm back to square one...

The weird thing is, if I press Shift+F10 to go the command prompt, I can see what's on the existing hard drive, so i'm now confused as to exactly what driver its complaining about? Is there any way I can get at least more information on the missing driver? I've also tried to install other drivers (in the hope that it's those) in the same manner, but it did nothing.

If I install from a USB DVD drive, will the installer think i'm installing of an actual DVD drive, or just another USB stick? Because if it's the USB drivers that are missing (although Dell's website for my PC only has USB 3 drivers - and i'm installing off a USB 2 port) then that might be the problem?

Without knowing what motherboard you`re trying to install windows 7 on, we have no clue how to help you.

I`ve never once had to install AHCI drivers during an install, never.

Why are you installing in UEFI ? There is no reason and no benefit.

Enable Legacy mode and make sure you are installing to a MBR initialized disk, and you shouldn`t have any problems.

You only need usb 3.0 drivers integrated if you are installing to a usb 3.0 port.

I personally think you have a corrupted installer, download a fresh iso file and create a new one, either burn to dvd at no faster then x4 speed or use Rufus to put the iso file on a usb stick.

I wouldn`t even attempt to use an external dvd drive to try and install windows 7.

And if you ever did have to use a usb 3.0 port to install windows 7 with a usb stick, just use Asus`s EZ Installer software to create the stick, it does everything for you and works perfectly.

OK then good luck.

UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/952951

You can always switch to AHCI after you get windows installed.

AHCI : Enable in Windows 7 / Vista