Why Are No Device Drivers Found During Windows 11 Installation from a USB?

Running into the ‘No device drivers were found’ error when trying to install Windows 11 from a USB can be a total headache. Trust me, you’re not alone in this. It’s usually due to issues like missing drivers, pesky USB port incompatibilities, or quirky BIOS settings. But don’t sweat it—I’ve got a few tricks that could help you out.

First off, if you’re plugging that USB drive into a USB 3.0 port, try swapping it to a USB 2.0 one. Yep, it’s that simple sometimes! Older versions of installation media often don’t have drivers for those snazzy USB 3.0 ports.

Next on the docket, let’s talk about your installation media. If it’s outdated or seems a bit off, creating a new bootable USB using the latest from the Windows Media Creation Tool might just do the trick. Head over to download it, follow the straightforward prompts, and make sure to choose the right architecture for your machine.

Now, if those didn’t pan out, perhaps you need to hunt down those drivers the old-fashioned way. Do a little digging to see if your system uses either Intel’s Rapid Storage Technology or AMD RAID. Jump over to your motherboard manufacturer’s site—or directly to Intel’s or AMD’s site—and snag those drivers. Pop them onto your USB drive under a folder called “drivers.” When the installation moans about missing drivers, hit “Load driver,” and guide it to that folder.

And yes, the BIOS can be finicky sometimes. Dive into BIOS/UEFI by hitting F2 or DEL at startup. Hunt for settings related to SATA configuration; switching from RAID to AHCI mode might do wonders. Also, disable Intel VMD if that’s up and running—it can throw a spanner in the works during installs.

Still no love from your system? Time to roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty with Diskpart. Boot from your USB, choose “Repair your computer,” and head into the Command Prompt through Troubleshoot. Type ‘diskpart,’ and use it to clean and prep the disk for a fresh install. It’s a bit of a hands-on approach, but it can be a lifesaver.

Remember, the key here is patience and a bit of tinkering. By trying these approaches—switching ports, updating installation media, loading drivers manually, adjusting BIOS settings, or even using Diskpart—you should be back on track toward installing Windows 11 without that annoying error.

So, hang in there and give it a shot. If you’re like me, you’ll jump for joy when it finally works!

Alright, so you’re trying to install Windows 11 from a USB and getting this pesky ‘No device drivers were found’ error message. It’s usually all about Windows Setup not being able to find the drivers it needs for your storage setup, like your SATA, NVMe, or RAID configurations. This can seriously stall the installation, and there are a few reasons why you might be in this mess. Let’s break it down and get this sorted.

What’s up with the error? Well, imagine you’re at a party but forgot the invite list at home—no one’s getting in. The installer doesn’t have the driver info it needs to recognize your storage, so here’s the possible culprits:

• Your installation media doesn’t include the latest storage drivers.
• Some funky USB port compatibility issue—your USB 3.0 ports might be throwing a fit during the setup.
• The Windows ISO file wasn’t downloaded properly or got corrupted somehow.
• Your BIOS settings might be in a twist, like Secure Boot or CSM messing with things.
• Compatibility chaos with new hardware that the default drivers can’t handle.

Now, what’s the fix? There are a few tricks that might just save the day:

Step 1: Get those storage drivers back into shape

• Head to your motherboard or laptop manufacturer’s site and grab the latest storage drivers—think Intel RST, AMD RAID, or NVMe drivers.
• You can make the magic happen with tools like Rufus or use DISM commands to inject these drivers right into the Windows ISO.
• Create a fresh bootable USB and give it another go. Just make sure these drivers are aligned with your system architecture, which is x64 for most modern setups.

Step 2: Play musical chairs with your USB ports

• Stick that USB into a 2.0 port (yep, the old-school black ones) and see if it makes a difference.
• If that’s missing, hop into the BIOS/UEFI settings and kick on Legacy USB Support.
• If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even add USB 3.x drivers directly into the Windows ISO before making the bootable media.

Step 3: Make sure your ISO isn’t wonky

• Head over to Microsoft’s site and snag the Windows 11 ISO again.
• Run a checksum tool like SHA-1 to ensure the file’s legit.
• Reformat your USB drive using FAT32 and recreate the bootable media with Rufus, setting it up with a GPT partition scheme for UEFI.

Step 4: Tinker with BIOS/UEFI configurations

• Get into BIOS/UEFI by pressing Del, F2 or F10 as your system starts up.
• Turn off Secure Boot and try enabling Legacy/CSM Support just for the installation.
• For systems in RAID mode, try swapping SATA mode between RAID and AHCI and see if it helps.

Step 5: Double-check your hardware

• During installation, tap “Load Driver” and aim it at your separate USB drive with the driver folder.
• If the drive’s still stubborn, test it on another rig or swap it out temporarily.

Honestly, tackling these steps will solve the driver detection hiccup for most folks, allowing smooth sailing with the installation of Windows 11. If nothing seems to work, maybe eyeball your hardware components or hit up the manufacturer for a helping hand. Best of luck!

Running into that annoying “no device drivers were found” error while trying to install Windows 11 from a USB? Here are some fixes that might just save the day:

Double-check the Installation Media and USB Port:

First off, make sure you’re using the right tools. The Windows 11 installation media needs to be spot-on, which you can whip up using Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool. Got that sorted? Great! Now, let’s fiddle around with the USB ports – plugging it into a USB 2.0 often does the trick better than USB 3.0.

Manually Load Those Drivers:

Ever had that moment of dread staring at the “drivers not found” message? Here’s a workaround: Download the latest drivers from your motherboard or computer manufacturer’s site and pop them onto another USB. When that dreaded screen shows up, swap USBs, hit “Load driver,” and guide it to your files. Easy as pie.

Tweaking the BIOS Settings:

Alright, dive into BIOS/UEFI settings by rebooting and tapping the right key (like F2, F10, DEL, or ESC). Here’s the thing: legacy USB support or CSM could be your magic bullet, so look for those and flip them on. Also, secure boot sometimes likes to mess things up, so go ahead and turn that off too. After all that, save and restart.

Suss Out Another Device for Creating the Installation Media:

Look, sometimes the computer you used to create the installation USB just wasn’t feeling it. Try a different device for a fresh try with the Media Creation Tool. You never know till you try.

Keep Your System BIOS Up-to-Date:

Check this out: an outdated BIOS might be tripping you up. Head over to your manufacturer’s website and see if there’s an update waiting for you. Give it a go, but follow every tiny instruction they throw at you during the update to avoid any hiccups.

Hopefully, one of these tricks sorts out that pesky error, letting you get on with your Windows 11 installation. Don’t hesitate to hit up Microsoft Support for more help if needed. Good luck!