Solved A required cd/dvd drive device driver is missing

[Davidc8]

Hi there guys, im trying to install windows 7 on my friends Dell XPS 625, but I get this error message when I try and install it: a required cd dvd drive device driver is missing.

I have read that its some kind of AHCI problem and that downloading this: AHCI for Windows 7 (AMD RAID/SATA Drivers) and loading it on a USB stick whilst getting the error message will fix my problem?

Also do I have to extract the file in windows first before I put it on the USB? Because I have tried it on a USB and it didnt recognise it

Also the HD has been wiped clean with killdisk so he dosent have an OS right now.

Any help will be great, thanks!

 

[kegobeer]

Yes, you have to extract the drivers and copy them to the USB stick. Once you've done that, start the Windows install and then insert the USB stick. When prompted for AHCI/RAID drivers, press the appropriate function key and browse to the flash drive.

 

[gregrocker]

The error is almost always a bad installer. Try writing to flash stick using this simple tool with Win7 in the dropdown menu: Universal USB Installer – Easy as 1 2 3

Boot stick under USB, Removable or HD's by setting first to boot in BIOS setup, or accessing the one time BIOS Boot Menu key by tapping it's hotkey given on first boot screen.

I would first try install with SATA controller set to AHCI in BIOS setup. For any further problems, try DVD install too, check for newer BIOS update on model's Support Downloads webpage, if current reset the CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

Adapt these steps to get a perfect install: Reinstalling Windows 7

 

[Davidc8]

Yes, you have to extract the drivers and copy them to the USB stick. Once you've done that, start the Windows install and then insert the USB stick. When prompted for AHCI/RAID drivers, press the appropriate function key and browse to the flash drive.

I did this and it didnt work, I also downloaded the windows vista version too, the set up does not recognise the drivers.

The error is almost always a bad installer. Try writing to flash stick using this simple tool with Win7 in the dropdown menu: Universal USB Installer – Easy as 1 2 3

Boot stick under USB, Removable or HD's by setting first to boot in BIOS setup, or accessing the one time BIOS Boot Menu key by tapping it's hotkey given on first boot screen.

I would first try install with SATA controller set to AHCI in BIOS setup. For any further problems, try DVD install too, check for newer BIOS update on model's Support Downloads webpage, if current reset the CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

Adapt these steps to get a perfect install: Reinstalling Windows 7

Tried the flash drive windows 7 method which didnt work neither, it boots in to the install fine but it does not see the hard drive of the computer!

In Bios I have USB as first and internal HD as 2nd. Also in the bios it dosent let me change the sata settings, just enable or disable and also RAID mode and IDE mode, no mention of AHCI.

This is getting real annoying now, I dont know whats wrong, please advice. Thanks!

 

[gregrocker]

Try wiping the HD then using Step 2.2 to create a partition and mark it Active. Does installer see partition now? SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

 

[Davidc8]

Try wiping the HD then using Step 2.2 to create a partition and mark it Active. Does installer see partition now? SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

2.2? Is that setting the HD as first bootable option?

Edit: Checked the link, but thats done in DOS, the system has no OS at all. The HD has been wiped blank with Active killdisk.

 

[gregrocker]

Run the Diskpart commands from the Win7 DVD or Repair CD. Press Shift + F10 at boot to access a Command Prompt.

Step Two #2 is creating an Active partition for install. This sometimes solves the issue with HD failure to show up.

You can also use free Partition Wizard bootable CD to wipe the HD then create a Primary NTFS Partition and Modify>Set to Active.

 

[Davidc8]

Run the Diskpart commands from the Win7 DVD or Repair CD. Press Shift + F10 at boot to access a Command Prompt.

Step Two #2 is creating an Active partition for install. This sometimes solves the issue with HD failure to show up.

You can also use free Partition Wizard bootable CD to wipe the HD then create a Primary NTFS Partition and Modify>Set to Active.

I did the partition, now its saying "A required CD/DVD device driver is missing" asking me to insert the driver via cd or usb to load it... I mean wtf? why wont this POS install?

Im using the USB method for windows 7 too so why the hell do I need a driver for the drive?

 

[kegobeer]

Where did you get the Windows 7 installer files - from an original DVD or did you download them? It really sounds like the installation files/media is messed up, so I would use a different copy of Windows and try to install again.

 

[Davidc8]

Where did you get the Windows 7 installer files - from an original DVD or did you download them? It really sounds like the installation files/media is messed up, so I would use a different copy of Windows and try to install again.

They are downloaded. The thing is, I know the disk is fine - I have used them to on my home computers without no probs. I have tried 3 versions of windows 7 so far and they all give me the same sort of crappy problems.

I have been looking at this old thread: http://www.sevenforums.com/drivers/30589-ati-ahci-compatible-raid-driver.html and its the same problem as that, I believe the newer drivers dont work so I need the older ones.

Im going to try a Vista install now and see what happens, as much as I like to install win7 on my buddys computer, any OS if better than nothing so he can use it at least.

 

[Davidc8]

I went in to Bios and change RAID to Native IDE and managed to install windows 7 via disk. If I change it back to raid, windows fails to boot and restarts itself.

Will this be a problem having the system running like this? Speed issues? Performance?

 

[gregrocker]

When you reported back only RAID and IDE choices for SATA controller with no AHCI, I should have asked you to confirm which was selected, but instead assumed it was set to IDE since RAID would only be used for RAID configurations. But I'm glad you sorted it out that the RAID setting was the cause of the problem.

AHCI confers certain advantages such as hot-plugging but most report no performance improvement, so IDE is fine as the default and should have been set there unless you previously had RAID on that machine.

 

[Davidc8]

When you reported back only RAID and IDE choices for SATA controller with no AHCI, I should have asked you to confirm which was selected, but instead assumed it was set to IDE since RAID would only be used for RAID configurations. But I'm glad you sorted it out that the RAID setting was the cause of the problem.

AHCI confers certain advantages such as hot-plugging but most report no performance improvement, so IDE is fine as the default and should have been set there unless you previously had RAID on that machine.

Oh right, thats fine then. Thanks for you help dude, I appretiate the time you took to try and figure out this problem with me.

Once again cheers!

 

[gregrocker]

Good work.

I guess you can mark your thread Solved at the top if there's nothing else.

 

[Davidc8]

Good work.

I guess you can mark your thread Solved at the top if there's nothing else.

Done

 

[chsaeed]

Dear I also had this problem. and i am too much worried due to this issue. No one give me any solution to fix this issue. if you want try to fix this issue there is only one way to fix this, only install windows 7 Enterprise Edition.In this edition this msg not appeared and windows 7 installation procedeure complete succesfully. Enjoye now.

Regards
Saeed Gujjar

 

[SubHuman]

Just a little FYI...

Had the same problem. Tried all of the things listed in this thread - none worked. What did work was replacing the 40-conductor ribbon cable connected to the DVD drive with an 80-conductor ribbon cable.

 

[gregrocker]

Thanks Sub, you're right this most simple step can sometimes get overlooked and when it does....

 

[Mr Davo]

If everything else doesn't work check your "Boot Mode Selection"!!!

Hi Everyone,

I also encountered this issue, I followed the instructions; added AHCI driver files to a USB stick, etc.

When I pointed Windows 7 to the driver files it said something along the lines of "I already have these" (obviously this isn't the exact message that was presented, but it was along these lines).

I then used a Windows 7 USB bootable installation media to attempt the install, and after everything looked like it was going fine the computer rebooted, and then asked me to install Windows 7 again!

I reinstalled again, from USB stick, and the same thing happened. Finally I installed from a CD, and this time the CD install actually went through. After the initial setup, the computer rebooted, and then I was presented with a boot menu which contained 3 separate "Windows 7" options (one for each of the "unsuccessful" attempts, and one for the successful attempt).

At this point I suspected boot options were not working as I had hoped, and I think that I was on the money.

Originally my "Boot Mode" was set to "UEFI & Legacy", and it is only after setting it to "Legacy Only" that everything started to take shape.

Once I set the "Boot Mode" to "Legacy Only" I did the following -

1). Re-partitioned / formatted the drive with Partition Magic (bootable)
2). Installed Windows 7

Everything is now running as I would normally expect...looks like I need to get my head around this new UEFI boot method.

Hope this helps others who are stuck.

Kind Regards,

Davo

 

[ChrisPbass]

I'm stuck.

I have win7 home premium from digital river which is what I had on my Lenovo laptop. Do not have the disc.
Put it on USB with ultraISO which was recommended on this forum.

Bios is legacy. Sata is achi.

Booted to USB, went to cmd.
Diskpart, select ssd, clean all, create primary partition, format=ntfs (took a long time) active
Then windows gave the 'required device driver needed'. Error.


Totally frustrating as I just installed pro on this laptop. I just don't have a license for it so it's pointless. When win asked for the drivers I thought the win pro disc might have them and I just let it install the OS.