A media driver your computer needs is missing windows 11

Symptoms

When you try to install Windows on a computer by using a Windows installation DVD or ISO file, you receive one of the following error messages.

Note This issue occurs when you try to install Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8, or Windows Server 2012.

Load Driver

A media driver your computer needs is missing. This could be a DVD, USB, or Hard disk driver. If you have a CD, DVD, or USB flash drive with the driver on it, please insert it now.

Note: If the installation media for Windows in the DVD drive or on a USB drive, you can safely remove it for this step.

Load Driver

A required CD/DVD drive device driver is missing. If you have a driver floppy disk, CD, DVD, or USB flash drive, please insert it now.

Note: If the Windows installation media is in the CD/DVD drive, you can safely remove it for this step

Resolution

To resolve this issue, use one of the following methods, as appropriate for your situation:

• Burn the installation DVD at a slower speed.

• Use a better quality DVD to create the installation DVD.

• Update the BIOS firmware for your DVD drive.

• Use the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool to create a bootable USB flash drive, and then use the USB flash drive to install Windows.

More Information

This issue occurs for one of the following reasons:

• The installation DVD is removed during the setup process.

• A low-quality DVD was used to create the installation DVD.

• The speed at which the installation DVD was burned was too fast.

• The DVD drive cannot read the media.

• The ISO file is corrupted.

Troubleshooting methods

Use one of the following methods to troubleshoot this issue, as appropriate for your situation:

• Run the DVD on a different computer to determine whether the DVD works correctly.

• Test your DVD drive by using an official Windows installation DVD.

• Attach the ISO file to a virtual machine to check whether it is corrupted.

When you troubleshoot this issue, first check whether the ISO file is corrupted. Each ISO file that you download from the MSDN Subscriber Downloads website has a SHA1 value that you can compare with the SHA1 value on the MSDN Subscriber Downloads website. However, the Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) site currently does not list checksums or SHA1 values.  

To compare the SHA1 values for the ISO file that you downloaded, follow these steps:

1. Install the Microsoft File Checksum Integrity Verifier tool. To download the tool, go to the following Microsoft Download Center website:

   Download the Microsoft File Checksum Integrity Verifier tool

2. At a command prompt, type the following command, and then press Enter:

   Fciv.exe <File name>.iso -sha1

3. Verify that the SHA1 value matches the SHA1 value that is listed on the MSDN Subscriber Downloads website.

   For example, the following information is displayed for the ISO file for Windows 7 Enterprise with Service Pack 1 (x64) on the MSDN Subscriber Downloads website: 

   File Name: en_windows_7_enterprise_with_sp1_x64_dvd_u_677651.iso

   Languages: English

   SHA1: A491F985DCCFB5863F31B728DDDBEDB2FF4DF8D1

   The following information is displayed when you run the command for the ISO file for Windows 7 with Service Pack 1 (x64):

   Command: fciv.exe en_windows_7_enterprise_with_sp1_x64_dvd_u_677651.iso -sha1

   Output:

   A491F985DCCFB5863F31B728DDDBEDB2FF4DF8D1
   en_windows_7_enterprise_with_sp1_x64_dvd_u_677651.iso

The ISO file is not corrupted if the SHA1 value on the MSDN Subscriber Downloads website matches the value that is generated when you run the command.

‘There is something beautiful about a blank canvas, the nothingness of the beginning that is so simple and breathtakingly pure.’

Piper Payne

Gone are the days when users would have to go through a lengthy process just to install Windows. After all, Microsoft has made the steps easier and simpler. On the other hand, it is still possible for you to encounter driver-related problems that may prevent you from completing the installation process.

So, what should you do when a media driver is missing on Windows 10? You might notice that the USB installation media is booting properly. However, the installation process is not successful due to a missing USB hub driver. There are various reasons why this error occurs, and here are some of them:

• Corrupted ISO media or DVD drive
• Malfunctioning USB drive or port
• Missing USB or DVD driver
• Unit uses Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) instead of Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE)

You don’t have to panic because we will teach you how to fix media driver missing error. Keep reading this article to learn the solutions that will help you get rid of this problem.

Solution 1: Meeting the requirements for Windows 10

Before you can even try fixing the issue, you have to ensure that your computer meets the requirements for Windows 10. Moreover, you should update your BIOS before you initiate a clean installation of the operating system. Listed below are the minimum system requirements for running Windows 10:

• RAM: 2GB for 64-bit or 1GB for 32-bit
• CPU: 1GHz or a faster processor or SoC
• HDD: 20GB for 64-bit OS or 16GB for 32-bit OS
• GPU: DirectX 9 or a later version with WDDM 1.0 driver
• Display: At least 800×600

If you want to have a seamless workflow, it would be best to have at least 2GB of RAM or 3GB for the 64-bit version. This will also provide you with a better processing power.

If you encounter the ‘A media driver your computer needs is missing’ error when installing Windows 11, check if your computer meets the requirements to support the Windows 11 OS:

• RAM: 4GB or higher
• CPU: 1GHz or faster processor with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or system on a chip (SoC)
• Storage: At least 64GB of available storage. More space may be required for subsequent updates
• Graphics card: DirectX12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver
• Display: High definition (720p) resolution, at least 9 inches of display monitor with 8 bits/color channel
• UEFI firmware
• Secure Boot support
• TPM (Trusted Platform Module) version 2.0

Solution 2: Trying a different USB port midway

Some users have found a way to work around this problem, and the solution is quite easy. When they initiated a clean installation of Windows 10, they used the method for fixing the same error in Windows 7 and Windows 8. Basically, all you have to do is remove the USB installation drive midway through the process, then try using another port. Here are the steps:

1. Download the Media Creation Tool and create a USB installation drive.
2. Boot your computer from the drive.
3. Wait until all the installation files have loaded.
4. Select your preferences, then click Install Now.
5. Once you see the error message, click Cancel.
6. Remove the USB drive and plug it into a different port.
7. Click Install Now. The installation process should continue from here.

The aforementioned solution should work for you. However, it is worth noting that this method was mostly for users who had previously installed Windows 10 on their unit.

Solution 3: Using a different USB flash drive

For some strange reason, some USB flash drives, albeit compatible, won’t load all the installation files. In this case, it would be advisable to install Media Creation Tool on a different USB stick.

It is also worth noting that if you have never installed Windows 10 on the computer in question, it is possible that the certain issues with the USB 3.0 port would prevent the BIOS from loading the installation files. As such, you should only use the USB 2.0 ports when installing Windows 10. You can easily identify a USB 3.0 port by the blue strip inside it.

If you’re using a DVD, it could probably be damaged, in which case, you’ll need to burn the windows.iso file to a new DVD.

Tip: It’s recommended to use Microsoft Edge or Firefox when downloading Microsoft files. Some users have reported encountering problems with Microsoft downloads using Chrome. That could explain why you’re struggling with the ‘A media driver is missing’ error when trying to clean install Windows 11.

Did you know that you can clean install Windows without creating bootable media? So, if the USB stick or DVD containing the OS is damaged or acting up, you can simply mount the ISO file using the Windows built-in mounting feature.

1. On a Windows 10/11 machine, launch File Explorer, and open the location of the ISO file.
2. Next, right-click the file and select Mount. You can also click on the Mount option on the menu bar. Alternatively, double-click the Windows ISO file to mount it.

1. The file will open in a new folder, and you’ll see a new drive bearing a new drive letter. Open the drive, launch the setup.exe file, and select Install now.
2. Follow the installation process as usual.

Solution 5: Changing the SATA to IDE

It is possible that the SATA mode is causing the problem. This error specifically occurs when the machine is using IDE, but the installation media boots with SATA. With that said, changing the SATA to IDE in BIOS or UEFI can resolve the issue.  Simply follow the instructions below:

1. Boot into BIOS.
2. Select any of the following: Advanced, Storage Configuration, Drive Configuration, or IDE Configuration.
3. Go to SATA Mode. You can also go to Set SATA As or SATA Configuration.
4. Change the option to IDE, Compatible, or ATA.
5. Save the changes you’ve just made.
6. Try installing Windows 10 again and check if the error has been resolved.

Solution 6: Disabling/enabling certain options in BIOS

Some users have tried working around the error by disabling certain options in BIOS. If you are trying to install a 64-bit version of Windows 10, you can boot into BIOS and try to disable Legacy USB and Legacy BIOS. Before you plug in the flash installation drive, make sure that you’ve enabled the AHCI.

In some configurations, users can set the USB option solely to USB 3.0. On the other hand, we recommend setting it to Auto if such option is available in the BIOS menu.

It’s also worth checking the extracted ISO setup. If it’s in NTFS format, try extracting it in FAT32 and use the setup to install Windows 10 or 11 again.

Solution 7: Opting for Rufus

If you’ve tried the methods above and the error persists, you may want to opt for Rufus instead of using the Media Creation Tool. Provided by Microsoft, this program typically works just fine. However, we recommend starting from scratch using the alternative tool if you’ve exhausted all other solutions. Moreover, if you’ve been installing Windows 10 from a USB flash drive, we suggest downloading the ISO file and burning it to a DVD instead.

Once you’ve successfully installed Windows 10/11, we advise you to regularly update your drivers, using Auslogics Driver Updater. As the error message suggests, the problem occurred due to a missing media driver. As such, you should ensure that you have the latest manufacturer-recommended versions of your drivers. This prevents similar issues from happening and even improves your computer’s speed and performance.

Do you have clarifications or suggestions?

Let us know in the comments below!

Hi there!

I have an HP EliteBook x360 1040 G6 that I bought some two years ago roughly, and I’m having trouble installing Windows 11 on it. Note that I’ve had Linux running on it for quite some time now and that I’ve deleted the Windows 10 Pro system that was preinstalled on it.

I have downloaded a Windows 10 ISO image from the official Microsoft website and flashed it onto a USB drive. After booting into it and selecting language and keyboard settings, I am getting the following error:

«A media driver your computer needs is missing. This could be a DVD, USB or Hard disk driver. If you have a CD, DVD, or USB flash drive with the driver on it, please insert it now. Note: If the installation media for Windows is in the DVD drive or on a USB drive. you can safely remove it for this step.»

After doing some research, I have tried all of the following steps:

— Plugged the USB drive into another port (note that this is a laptop and only has two USB ports)

— Checked the integrity of the ISO file by comparing its SHA256 checksum to the one given by Microsoft (it matches)

— Flashed the image again on several other USB drives, and also at slower speeds

— Looked around in BIOS for any SATA/AHCI/RAID-related settings, but unfortunately couldn’t find anything

— Downloaded Intel Rapid Storage Technology drivers from Intel’s website on a separate USB drive. Windows actually found these when I pointed it to the folder containing them, but told me they couldn’t be used/don’t work

— Entered my serial number on HP’s website and downloaded every single driver related to my device on a separate USB drive. This time however, Windows didn’t pick up a single one of them, saying it didn’t find any drivers.

— Tried all of the same with a Windows 10 (not 11) disk image. Got the same unsatisfying results

As you might have guessed, none of this has proved successful. Where do I go from this ? What can I do ? Obviously I’m guessing that I’m missing a driver somehow, but where can I download the right one ? I know my computer is capable of running Windows 10 (because it came with Windows 10 preinstalled and worked perfectly fine at the time), so that driver has to exist somewhere. Does anyone have a clue?

Many thanks

Michael

If you are installing Windows 10 via an installation medium, you may get the error message saying “a media driver your computer needs is missing”. Well then, how can you fix the Windows media driver missing issue? Get the solutions from this post from MiniTool.

Most users upgrade to Windows 10/11 directly via Windows update rather than depending on installation media like USB, CD or DVD. However, some users still choose to install the operating system using a USB drive, DVD or CD disc. Perhaps you are one of them.

Unfortunately, during the installation process, an error occurs with the message “A media driver your computer needs is missing. This could be a DVD, USB or Hard disk driver. If you have a CD, DVD, or USB flash drive with the driver on it, please insert it now.”

Windows 10 media driver missing is a common error. Additionally, it can also happen in the Windows 7 installation process along with the error “A required CD/DVD drive device driver is missing”.

Why does the issue – Windows 11/Windows 10 install missing driver happen? The problem can be triggered by corrupted ISO media or DVD drive, missing USB or DVD driver, malfunctioning USB drive or port, etc.

In the following part, we will give you some solutions to fix this problem effectively.

Re-plug the USB Drive or Plug It to Another USB Port

If you get “a media driver your computer needs is missing” while using a USB drive, you can re-plug it or plug it to another USB port.

1. When seeing the error message, click Cancel. Windows installation will return back.
2. Disconnect your USB drive and then plug it again to the same port or another port.
3. Repeat the Windows installation.

Check the Requirements for Windows 10/11

You should make sure your machine meets the system requirements for Windows 10. To get proper processing power, the system’s parameters should be more than the minimum requirements.

Change the Format of the ISO File

It is likely that the ISO file in the installation media is corrupted, leading to the missing media driver error. To troubleshoot the issue, you can change the ISO file format.

Just double-click the extracted setup from the ISO file. If it is in NTFS format, extract the file in FAT32 format and install Windows 10 again.

Check the Settings of BIOS

If these methods don’t work for you, perhaps the issue is related to the settings of the BIOS itself. So, you should do a check.

1. Check if the USB 3.0 settings are set to Auto in BIOS.
2. Check whether the Legacy USB and Legacy BIOS settings are set to disable.
3. Check if your machine is not using the SATA mode. Usually, you can go to Advanced (or Storage Configuration, Drive Configuration, IDE Configuration), navigate to SATA Mode (or Set SATA As, SATA Configuration) and change its option to IDE, Compatible or ATA.

After changing the BIOS setting, save the change and then try installing Windows 10 again to check if the Windows 10 media driver missing issue is resolved.

Windows 11/10 PC Backup Recommended

Windows issues always happen and sometimes the system cannot load. Besides, data loss is a common issue. Thus, you are recommended to back up your operating system and files on a regular basis. In terms of PC backup, using a professional Windows backup software – MiniTool ShadowMaker is recommended since it allows you to back up system, files, folders, disks, and partitions. Incremental and differential backup are supported.

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The End

Is your computer showing the error message “a media driver your computer needs is missing” when you perform a clean install of Windows 10? Now, after trying these methods above, we believe that you have successfully fixed your issue easily.