Error "The drivers could not be found" during installation Windows 10 or Windows 11 on a laptop is one of the most common problems that users encounter during a clean installation of the system. It occurs at the stage of selecting a disk for installation and blocks the further process. The reasons may be different: from the lack of drivers for NVMe drive to incorrect settings BIOS/UEFI.

In this article we will look at all possible reasons errors and we will suggest 7 working ways its elimination - from simple (reconnecting the flash drive) to complex (manually loading drivers). We will pay special attention to laptops Lenovo, HP, Asus And Acerwhere the problem occurs most often. If you are trying to install a new system SSD M.2 or encountered an error after updating BIOS, here you will find the solution.

Why does the “Drivers could not be found” error appear?

The error occurs when the installer Windows cannot recognize the hard drive or SSD. This happens for several reasons:

  • 🔌 Lack of drivers for the drive controller - especially relevant for NVMe drives (For example, Samsung 970 EVO or WD Black SN850).
  • 🔄 Incorrect BIOS/UEFI settings - mode AHCI disabled, enabled RAID or Optane Memory (on laptops Intel).
  • 💾 Damaged bootable flash drive - image Windows written with errors or the installation media is defective.
  • 🔧 Equipment incompatibility - for example, trying to install Windows 11 on an unsupported processor (Intel 7th generation and older).
  • 🔒 Blocking by the manufacturer - some laptops (Dell XPS, HP Spectre) require special drivers for installation.

On laptops Lenovo ThinkPad And HP Pavilion the error is often related to technology Intel RST (Rapid Storage Technology), which by default enables the mode RAID. In this case the installer Windows does not see the disk until the mode is switched to AHCI.

⚠️ Attention: If you install Windows 11 to laptop with AMD Ryzen 1000/2000 or Intel 8th generation, check support TPM 2.0 And Secure Boot. Without them, the system will not install, and the error may masquerade as a driver problem.

Method 1: Reconnect the installation flash drive and check the ports

Sometimes the problem can be solved with simple steps. Start with the simplest:

  1. Reconnect the flash drive to another USB port. On some laptops (Asus ROG, MSI GS66) ports USB 3.0 (blue) may not work correctly with the installation media. Try the port USB 2.0 (black).
  2. Use a different USB drive. Some flash drives (especially cheap models without a controller) are not suitable for creating bootable media.
  3. Overwrite the image Windows with the help Rufus or Media Creation Tool. Make sure the correct partition scheme is selected:
    • For UEFI — GPT.
    • For Legacy BIOS — MBR.

If after reconnecting the flash drive the error disappeared, the problem was in unstable connection or damaged image.

📊 Which tool do you use to create a bootable USB flash drive?
  • Rufus
  • Media Creation Tool
  • UltraISO
  • Ventoy
  • Other

Method 2: Download drivers manually during installation

If the installer Windows does not see the disk, is it possible download drivers manually right during installation. To do this:

  1. On the error screen, tap Review → Driver download.
  2. Connect to laptop second flash drive with drivers for the drive controller (they can be downloaded from the website of the laptop or motherboard manufacturer).
  3. Select the driver folder and wait for installation.

Where can I get drivers?

Laptop manufacturer Drivers link What drivers are needed
Lenovo (ThinkPad, Legion, IdeaPad) Official website Intel RST/VMD or NVMe Driver
HP (Pavilion, Omen, EliteBook) Official website SATA/AHCI Driver or Intel Rapid Storage
Asus (ROG, Vivobook, ZenBook) Official website Chipset Driver or NVMe Driver
Acer (Predator, Swift, Aspire) Official website AHCI/RAID Driver
Dell (XPS, Inspiron, Latitude) Official website Intel VMD Controller or SATA Driver

If there is no separate driver for the controller on the manufacturer’s website, download chipset driver package (Chipset Driver) and unpack it. Inside there will be a folder with drivers for SATA/NVMe.

☑️ Preparing a flash drive with drivers

Done: 0 / 4

Method 3: Changing the SATA operating mode in BIOS/UEFI

The most common cause of error is incorrect operating mode of the drive controller. By default, many laptops have this mode enabled. RAID or Intel RST, which is not supported by the standard installer Windows.

To fix this:

  1. Reboot your laptop and log in BIOS/UEFI (usually keys F2, Del, Esc or F12).
  2. Find a section Advanced → SATA Configuration (or Storage).
  3. Change mode from RAID/Optane on AHCI.
  4. Save the settings (F10) and reboot.

On laptops Lenovo And HP additional shutdown may be required Intel VMD Controller (in section System Configuration). On Asus And MSI sometimes you need to turn it on CSM (Compatibility Support Module), if you install Windows 10 in mode Legacy.

⚠️ Attention: If after changing the mode from RAID on AHCI Windows stops loading (blue screen) INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE), return to BIOS and turn it on Safe Mode or perform a system restore.
What to do if there is no AHCI option in the BIOS?

On some laptops (eg Dell Latitude with Intel 11th generation) option AHCI may be hidden. In this case:

1. Update BIOS to the latest version.

2. Reset settings BIOS to factory (Load Defaults).

3. If the option still does not appear, use manually downloading drivers (Method 2).

Method 4: Update BIOS to latest version

Outdated version BIOS/UEFI may not support modern NVMe drives or new processors. This is especially true for laptops 2018–2020 (Lenovo Yoga, HP Envy, Asus TUF), where manufacturers later added support Windows 11.

How to update BIOS:

  1. Download the latest version BIOS from the manufacturer's official website.
  2. Unzip the archive and copy the firmware file to clean flash drive (format FAT32).
  3. Reboot your laptop, log in BIOS and find the update option (usually under Tools or Advanced).
  4. Select the firmware file and wait for the process to complete (don't turn off your laptop!).

After update BIOS check if there are new settings for SATA/NVMe. If the problem persists, try resetting the settings BIOS to factory (Load Optimized Defaults).

💡

Before updating BIOS Connect the laptop to a power source. If the process is interrupted, the motherboard may fail.

Method 5: Using Alternative Installation Methods

If the standard installer Windows stubbornly does not see the disk, try alternative ways:

  • 🔄 Installation via Windows To Go - create a bootable one USB-HDD with Windows and install the system from there.
  • 💻 Cloning a system from another PC - use Macrium Reflect or Clonezillato transfer the working Windows on a problematic laptop.
  • 🛠️ Installation via Linux Live CD - boot from the distribution Ubuntu, format the disk to NTFSand then try to install Windows again.

For laptops with NVMe, which are not recognized by the installer, you can temporarily connect the drive to another PC, install on it Windowsand then return it back. This method works if the problem is with the controller drivers.

Critical information: On laptops Microsoft Surface (For example, Surface Pro 7 or Surface Laptop 3) standard installation Windows from a flash drive is not possible - a special image with drivers from Microsoft is required.

Method 6: Checking hardware compatibility

If none of the methods help, the problem may be equipment incompatibility. Check:

  • 🔍 Support Windows 11 - if you have an older processor Intel 8th generation or AMD Ryzen 2000, the system may not install. Use the utility PC Health Check from Microsoft.
  • 💿 Drive type - some NVMe drives (For example, Samsung PM981a or Hynix BC511) require proprietary drivers.
  • 🔌 Availability TPM 2.0 - without him Windows 11 will not install. Included in BIOS in section Security.

On laptops Acer Nitro 5 And Asus TUF Gaming sometimes it helps shutdown Secure Boot in BIOS. However, this reduces the security of the system.

💡

If the laptop was released before 2017, it most likely does not officially support Windows 11. In this case, install Windows 10 or use workarounds (for example, a modified image without verification TPM).

Method 7: Contact the manufacturer's support service

If all methods have been tried and the error remains, the problem may be hardware failure or blocking by the manufacturer. In this case:

  1. Contact official support (Lenovo, HP, Asus etc.) indicating the laptop model and error code.
  2. Check if there is special drivers for your model (for example, for Dell XPS 13 or HP EliteBook).
  3. If the laptop is under warranty, use free repair - the problem may be in a faulty M.2 slot.

On forums, users often share solutions for specific models. For example, for Lenovo Legion Y540 may be required shutdown Intel Optane Memory in BIOS, and for HP Omen 15 - driver installation IAStorAC.inf manually.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the error “Could not find drivers”

Can I install Windows 11 on a 7th generation Intel laptop?

Officially - no, as Microsoft requires TPM 2.0 and support Secure Boot. However, you can use modified images (for example, from Massgrave) or disable checking through the registry. Risks: lack of security updates.

Why doesn't Windows Installer see the SSD, but it shows up in the BIOS?

This means that the drive is physically healthy, but there are no drivers for its controller. Download drivers for NVMe or SATA from the laptop manufacturer's website and download them manually (see. Method 2).

What should I do if Windows does not boot after changing the AHCI mode?

If you changed the mode from RAID on AHCI after installing the system, Windows will give an error INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE. Solution:

  1. Return to BIOS and turn it back on RAID.
  2. Boot into Safe Mode (on the loading screen, hold Shift + F8).
  3. Open Command line and do: 
    bcdedit /set {current} safeboot minimal

    bcdedit /set {current} safebootalternateshell yes

  4. Reboot, log in again BIOS and install AHCI.

Where can I download drivers for an NVMe disk if they are not on the manufacturer’s website?

If on the site Lenovo, HP or Asus no drivers for yours NVMe, try:

  • Download universal drivers from Intel (Intel Driver & Support Assistant).
  • Use drivers from the disk manufacturer (Samsung, WD, Crucial).
  • Find drivers on forums (for example, NotebookReview or Reddit).

Is it possible to install Windows on an external SSD via USB?

Yes, but with restrictions:

  • 🔹 Windows 10/11 can be installed externally SSD (For example, Samsung T7), but it must be connected via USB 3.0 or faster.
  • 🔹 Performance will be lower than that of the internal drive.
  • 🔹 On some laptops (MacBook, Surface) this is not possible without additional drivers.

To install use Windows To Go or WinNTSetup.