The dreaded "required CD/DVD device driver is missing" error

I'm in the process of retrograding a new HP Envy 15 (AMD) from Win8 to Win7 (clean install). I successfully created a bootable Win7 installation on a 4Gb USB thumb drive and removed the ei.cfg file (manually) from the /sources directory. I also created a Win7 installation DVD (with the ei.cfg removed from the ISO prior to burning). (Ref. this thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...gitalriver-windows-7-sp1-13-languages-18.html)

I am able to boot to the Win7 install without difficulty, but I keep getting an error when I start the install (from both the USB thumb drive and the DVD):

"A required CD/DVD device driver is missing." blah-blah-blah.

I can't get past that error message in any way that I've found. When I boot to the USB thumb drive I'm not even using a CD/DVD device, nor is one installed nor connected. (This laptop has only an external USB CD/DVD burner.) I've tried moving the USB thumb drive to every other port, to no avail. It seems to make no difference whatsoever whether I try the install with the USB thumb drive or the DVD.

I've double- and triple-checked boot order in the BIOS. I've tried disabling the CD/DVD device completely in the BIOS when booting to USB thumb drive.

I've tried copying the SWSetup folder from another Win7 machine to a DVD and directing it to that. I've also tried to direct it to a DVD copy of the Win8 SWSetup folder (on USB thumb drive).

NONE of the solutions I've found so far to the "required cd/dvd device driver is missing" issue have come from someone who was retrograding from Win8 to Win7, and none of those solutions has worked for me. I'm wondering whether the cause of the error (or at least the solution) is completely different for someone retrograding from Win8.

 

why are you removing the ei.cfg file? what version and language are you looking to install, and what key do you have?

 

I am trying to install Home Premium 64-bit English version, which is what my key is for.

All of the ISOs contain all the versions of Win7 (Ultimate, Pro, Home Premium). It's the ei.cfg file that tells the installer which version to install. Of course, you can activate only the version you have a key for, but by removing the ei.cfg file, you don't need to have separate media for each version (if you later buy a key for a higher version, or if your friend needs to borrow installation media and has a key for a different version from yours). All of this is explained in the thread I linked in my previous post.

 

i obviously see the other thread. what version/language you're attempting to install is not mentioned anywhere. why don't you just use the W7 x64 home premium ISO and leave the ei.cfg file intact? i agree that your upgrade key will probably work, even if you have to activate over the phone.

 

Not sure why you're focusing on the ei.cfg file. That has nothing to do with the issue at hand. The only reason I even mentioned it in the first place is to show that I was following the instructions in the other thread.

Now, do you have any ideas on getting past that error message?

 

yea, don't tamper with the install image--ya know, just for ha-ha's. and so we can rule that out, especially when it's apparently unnecessary. the instructions in the other thread make it clear that that part's optional. looks like you're getting some good advice there too.

 

Let me try this with you here. I caught up reading the other thread.

W7 doesn't support USB 3.0 natively. Possibly your chipset might but how old is your computer? And why not use USB2.0?

If the Chipset doesn't and Windows doesn't, you're not going anywhere.

KLF was trying to explain earlier that you'll need to load those drivers in order install.

Maybe it would do some good to write down for us your exact machine maker and model, the OS it shipped with, what it has now, and what you want installed.

 

HP envy, shipped with W8 (not pro) which we can presume is still installed, and currently trying to install W7 home premium using a W7 upgrade key which was purchased to upgrade a second, older vista machine.

KLF and RCB are troubleshooting USB drivers with you, OP, for the reasons mentioned above. you're going to run into the same error if your machine has only USB 3.0 ports, which looks to be the case, whether you're trying to install from a USB key or a USB optical drive (enclosure or otherwise)--to answer your question from the other thread. i'll let them continue to explain how to "append" those drivers to your W7 install. and i maintain that you probably shouldn't otherwise tamper with the install image if it's not necessary either.

 

Thanks mattcheau, missed that part when going back and forth to the other thread. Still kind of foggy

OP, is your machine set up to run W8 using UEFI/GPT boot? Most of the newer laptops are setup this way for W8. You can get W7 to install to a UEFI/GPT boot disk setup but the modifications to do this manually are a pain in the A$$. Use this tool if you know that the machine is setup UEFI/GPT: Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way

If you want to revert to a Legacy BIOS/MBR setup you need to adjust the BIOS for this and CLEAN out all disk/drive information and use either the Microsoft download tool or Rufus, set up for MBR installs.

If you, like you said you did, CLEAN, you will need to Convert the disk back to GPT type as it strips it out and needs to be reapplied.

Here's for a clean install using UEFI/GPT: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sol...ly-secureerase-oem-ssd-drive.html#post9446848

And for Legacy BIOS/MBR: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sol...ly-secureerase-oem-ssd-drive.html#post9442393

Backup your data - you've been warned. But when you said you did a clean install then you shouldn't have any data. Remember what I said here.

Anyway see if those links shed some light.

------------------

Edit: And don't worry/wonder about the thread title SSD/HDD, all the same as far as they're all drives. There's no consequence to it.

And oops: fixed a link

 

Yes, it is.

I want to revert to MBR setup (BIOS already adjusted). I plan to wipe out all of the partitions during the install and create new ones. I was planning on doing this during the install. Are you saying I should do it BEFORE trying to install?

I have not done a CLEAN. I thought I had already made that clear.

I already created Win8 recovery disks, as well as a copy of the existing Win8 SWSetup folder, as a last resort. This is a brand new computer, so there's no user-created data on it yet. My mother played around with it just enough to know that she hates Win8 and wants it gone forever.

 

Yes, you must if your disk/drive and BIOS were previously setup for UEFI/GPT.
The entire disk/drive would be GPT and would require the boot media be configured for GPT.
If the BIOS is changed to MBR then the GPT disk partitioning info needs to be wiped out; it should automatically become MBR afterwards but you can ensure that it does by using CONVERT MBR command.

You also need a different boot media installer setup for each type of configuration.

Now, if that still gives you trouble, as Matts is having in the other thread, then call or head over to HP and see if you can find a workaround.

Knowing for sure what the problem is means all the ducks need to be lined up first, otherwise all sorts of strange behaviors happen with insufficient error messages.

 

Ok, so just to be clear, I need to repartition the drive (using the procedure in the post you linked to) BEFORE I start the Win7 install, changing the drive configuration from UEFI/GPT to MBR in the process. Correct? (As I said before, I've already switched the BIOS to Legacy setting. I don't recall a place to change the SATA mode, but I'll look again.)

How much space do you recommend for a Win7 install? (As many applications as possible will be on a separate partition; data will be on a third partition.)

By "boot media", do you mean the drive the system will boot from AFTER the installation is complete, or are you referring to the installation media itself?

Not sure what you mean by this. Are you saying that I need TWO copies of the Win7 installation media, or just one that is set up for the configuration (UEFI/GPT or MBR) I choose? How would the installation media itself differ for each configuration?

Finally, besides Win8 recovery disks and a copy of the SWSetup folder (for last-resort purposes only), can you think of ANYTHING I might need from that Win8 installation before I blow it all away? As I mentioned, this is a new computer that hasn't been used to any significant extent, or any user data stored on it.

 

Ok, I linked to two different posts. One for UEFI/GPT boot the other for Legacy BIOS/MBR boot.

You cannot install a GPT windows installer media to a MBR disk or vice versa an MBR windows installer to a GPT disk.

By default all disks will be MBR, new and after cleaning using the CLEAN command. To use GPT after cleaning you need to convert it to GPT.

You need a different installer media for each type of install.

None of this may solve your problem, but you will run into this problem eventually and it may be contributing to the current problem.

If you're modifying installer media that is incompatible to begin with then troubleshooting is going to be futile.

Read the links at the bottom of the post for UEFI/GPT setup - some of them lead to sevenforums and eightforums. After you have this installer media setup for your target type then you can begin to sort through the next issue if it persists.

 

To the OP, I'm trying to do some brainstorming here..

- How about moving the HDD to another computer, start the installation, shut down when the first restart occurs, and then move it back and continue the installation? I have done it, it worked for me. However, I have no idea how easy it is to open your laptop, or if it voids the warranty.

- Is it possible that you can boot from the card reader? If you can, it's possible that it will only show up as an alternative in the boot menu if you have a bootable card inserted.

- There are third party installers made for Windows, maybe that's an alternative for you.

- Or, integrate the drivers using DISM as I mentioned in the other thread.

 

Thanks! I appreciate that!

That's a possibility, I think, but I will do that only as a last resort. I think it *will* void the warranty.

I will look into this. I suspect not, because there definitely are drivers for the card reader.

Hmmmm. . . Never tried one, or even heard of one.

I found USB 3.0 drivers for the APU. However, they come as an executable file, and I am trying to figure out how to extract the driver files that the Win7 installer will recognize and use (and maybe not have to integrate). WinRAR doesn't recognize the executable as valid archives.

 

I used this site: Station-Drivers - Amd/Ati Catalyst (Laptop)
I can't tell you that this will work since I don't have an AMD computer with USB 3.0.
However, I've tried this with both ASMedia and Intel drivers for my computer and it works.

1 - On a computer that has DISM (Windows 8, don't remember if W7 got it.), make a folder, D:\Boot (or wherever you want).

2 - In D:\Boot, make a new folder called Mount

3 - Copy boot.wim from Windows 7 64-bit ISO to D:\Boot

4 - Download: http://h20565.www2.hp.com/portal/si...x.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken

5 - Rename it from *.exe to *.zip and extract it using WinRAR.

6 - Go to \sp61462\Packages\Drivers\SBDrv\hseries\USB30

7 - Copy folders \amdhub and \amdxhc to D:\Boot

8 - Run CMD as an administrator, go to D:\Boot

9 - Run these commands, one at a time. (paste is available in the menu in CMD)

Code:

  
   dism /mount-wim /wimfile:boot.wim /index:2 /mountdir:mount

   dism /image:mount /add-driver /driver:amdhub\W764A\amdhub30.inf

   dism /image:mount /add-driver /driver:amdxhc\W764A\amdxhc.inf

   dism /unmount-wim /mountdir:mount /commit

10 - Replace the boot.wim on your USB drive with the one in D:\Boot

11 - Install


Good luck, I hope I haven't forgot something...


Edit: Changed download link.

 

Also I assume you have disabled secure boot.

Secure Boot (Windows 8) | HP® Support


----------------
Excerpt from HP:

I cannot boot from a CD or DVD (such as an HP Recovery disc) when Secure Boot is enabled


HP computers that come with Windows 8 installed have Secure Boot enabled by default. Having Secure Boot enabled prevents legacy boot devices from starting your computer, including bootable CDs and DVDs.
To start your computer from a valid bootable disc, such as an HP recovery disc, disable Secure Boot and enable Legacy Support in the BIOS, and then use the Boot Menu to select the CD/DVD drive as the boot device.

 

From what I can tell, on this machine, enabling Legacy support automatically disables secure boot.

 

Just out of curiosity, have you attempted to reinstall W8 with a USB version to see if even it can proceed without the error?

I know you said you made it clear that you haven't clean installed yet. At what point during the attempt do you receive the message for the problem?

 

No, I haven't. The only Win8 disks I have are the recovery set I made from the computer itself.

The error message pops up almost as soon as I click "Install" from the language selection screen. From what I gather, the difficulty lies in the fact that, as you said, Win7 doesn't natively support USB 3.0, so it chokes when it tries to install from a USB 3.0 port.. My only choices for installation media are USB thumb drive and USB CD/DVD, but ALL the USB ports on this machine are 3.0. (I should note that the USB thumb drive I'm using is USB 2.0, but that doesn't help any, considering all the ports are 3.0.)

I have integrated USB 3.0 drivers into the Win7 installation using the procedure Mats outlined above, and I'm currently in the middle of a CLEAN ALL using the procedure you directed me to. I'll keep y'all posted on my progress.

 

Ok, cool.

You can get it to boot up to the language form so that is good. If you could have W8 get past that screen then you'd know that it is definitely a issue with W7 not supporting USB 3.
If you have the same trouble with W8 then it is going to be something in the BIOS that needs adjusting.

Most of this is just throwing out things I've found out along my own way since I don't have W8 or UEFI Secure Boot.

Fingers crossed, looking forward to hearing the outcome.

 

RCB, I'm following your instructions for installing Win7, but I've run into a question. You say to create a 400Mb primary partition for "System Reserved", and another primary partition for "OS". What is that System Reserved partition for? Do I really need it? The "OS" partition is for Win7, correct? What is the recommended size? (I will NOT be installing apps or storing data in that partition--those will each get a separate partition.)

 

Understand (and Get Rid of) the Mysterious Small Partition

System Reserved partition is explained there.

Partitioning is a personal preference and I prefer one partition for each drive. Anyways, for OS I'd put ~40GB and rest for data.

 

Thanks for the link! Very helpful!

Ok, I skipped the System Reserved partition, 48Gb for Win7, 64Gb for applications, and the rest for data. Just waiting for the last format now, so I can begin the install. Hopefully now that I have the USB 3.0 drivers integrated, I can get the whole install done without any more hiccups.

 

Too late, you're on your way.

You can run without it but the instructions were for default 100MB, 400 if you wanted to upgrade later.
It provides Recovery options, Shadow copy and a few other things. It is by default only 100 so I don't know what all the shrieking is about. Had you not done anything after convert mbr then setup would have created it automatically.

Waiting to hear how it goes.

 

Success!! Win7 is successfully installed! Thank you so much to everyone who helped me! I've done a lot of OS installations, but this one definitely stretched me to do things I've never done before, such as integrating drivers into installation media.

 

Congratulations!

My machines don't support USB3 at boot so haven't had to go down that integration path.

Make her a CD/DVD recovery disk and reinstall disk just in case.
The System Reserved partition allows for repairing the boot files without a media if they ever get corrupted.

She's gonna love the "7" on the machine!

 

Just discovered one other little "gotcha". The Win7 install USED the USB 3.0 drivers, but didn't INSTALL them (or any other drivers, for that matter--LAN, video, etc.). Without those USB 3.0 drivers, you won't be able to access any of your USB ports (or the networking, either). If you boot to the install media, you can't install anything from the SHIFT-10 command prompt. You will get an error: "The subsystem needed to support the image type is not present."

To get around this problem, while booted to your install media, as soon as you partition your hard drive, copy the USB driver installation file (in the case of the HP Envy 15 and many other HP laptops, it's sp61462.exe) to your data partition. Then, install that USB driver as soon as you complete the Win7 installation.

 

You can at the form to create a new Username account press Ctrl+Shift+F3. This will boot into Audit mode, i.e., temporarily open the hidden Administrator account. The computer will reboot into the desktop then. Cancel the dialog and install the driver. Restart the computer back to the destop, then select from the Sysprep dialog:

Cleanup Action = Enter System Out of Box Experience (OOBE), Shutdown Options = Reboot.
Select ( OK ) button.

Reboots to setup new account form - proceed as normal.

 

Hey,

I know this is a really old thread and I dont know if I'd get a response. I have a HP Envy TouchSmart 15-j152nr, It has a pre-installed Windows 8.1, which I'm not overtly happy using and would be more comfortable with a Windows7.

I have have Windows7 on a flash drvie, but I have encountered the drivers issue while installing Windows 7. Reading through a few forums I have zeroed in on the USB 3.0 issue of installing Win7.

I'm a little confused as to what to do. I know its too much to ask, I dont even know if you would read my post, but since you have faced a similar problem and have found a way to work through it, I'd really appreciate if you could helpe me out with this situation as it is getting on my nerves. Could you or anyone please, please, please help me out!!!

 

Post #16 on this thread.