Friday, August 15, 2025
How to Fix “A Required CD/DVD Drive Device Driver Is Missing” During Windows 7 Installation
❗ Introduction:
While installing Windows 7 from a USB drive, many users encounter this frustrating error:
“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.”
This usually happens on newer computers with USB 3.0 ports or unsupported storage controllers. Let’s fix this issue step by step.
🛠️ Why This Error Happens:
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Windows 7 does not have native USB 3.0 drivers.
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The USB stick is plugged into a USB 3.0 port instead of a USB 2.0.
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Missing or unsupported SATA/RAID drivers during setup.
🧰 Fix #1: Plug the USB into a USB 2.0 Port
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Remove the USB drive from its current port.
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Plug it into a black USB 2.0 port (usually black, not blue).
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Restart installation.
💡 USB 3.0 ports are often blue or marked with “SS”. Use black ports for better compatibility.
🧰 Fix #2: Create a USB with USB 3.0 Drivers (Using Rufus + Drivers)
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Download Rufus and your Windows 7 ISO.
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Use Windows 7 USB 3.0 Creator Tool or NTLite to integrate USB drivers.
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Inject drivers like Intel USB 3.0, AMD chipset drivers, etc.
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Recreate your bootable USB and try again.
🧰 Fix #3: Load Drivers Manually (Advanced)
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Download the appropriate SATA/RAID/USB drivers from your motherboard or laptop manufacturer's website.
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Extract the drivers onto a second USB drive.
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When an error appears, click Browse and select the correct folder containing the driver files.
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Continue with installation.
🧰 Fix #4: Use a Different ISO or Pre-Modified ISO
Sometimes the ISO itself is missing necessary drivers. Try:
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A different Windows 7 ISO
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A pre-loaded ISO like Windows 7 SP1 + USB drivers
✅ Final Words:
This error can be annoying, but it is easy to fix once you understand that Windows 7 lacks built-in support for USB 3.0. Stay tuned for our next post, where we’ll show you how to install missing drivers in Windows 7 after setup for smooth performance.