Windows 11 installation no device drivers

Question

I bought myself a Kioxia Exceria 960GB 2,5" Sata SSD as a "secondary drive" (my primary is a M.2 NVMe). I wanted to get Windows 11 on it. I made a bootable USB media, but during setup it responded with "no device drivers found". I tried again with Intel RST drivers on my other USB, it started installing and threw out an error. I then tried doing the same thing (first try was 24H2) on 25H2 and 23H2. Same result. I made my iso on Linux, so I thought it was the problem. I tried a few programs there, and also used Rufus on a different computer, but I'm still stuck in the same spot. I also tried both with a formated and unformated SSD. The SSD (at least on Linux) lets me store adn open files without problems. Possible solutions I've tried:

disable/enable Secure Boot

disabled XHCI

disable/enable CSM

made sure the drive was plugged in well (Linux sees the drive)

got the drive into AHCI

turned on the SATA controllers

tried multiple USB flash drives (both for the image and the drivers)

tried with drivers on the USB with the image

tried all my USB ports

tried booting in Ventoy

Answer 1

It seems you are encountering issues with Windows 11 installation where no device drivers are found for your Kioxia Exceria SSD. Here are some troubleshooting steps you can consider:

1. Check BIOS Settings: Ensure that the SATA mode is set to AHCI, as you mentioned you've already done this. Also, verify that Secure Boot is enabled and CSM (Compatibility Support Module) is disabled, as these settings can affect driver detection during installation.
2. Driver Inclusion: Since you have tried using Intel RST drivers, make sure that these drivers are compatible with your SSD and the version of Windows you are trying to install. You can add the necessary drivers to your bootable USB media. For more information on how to add drivers during Windows Setup, refer to the documentation on adding device drivers to Windows during installation.
3. Use Microsoft Tools: If you haven't already, consider using the Windows Media Creation Tool to create your bootable USB. This tool ensures that the installation media is set up correctly and includes the necessary drivers.
4. Firmware Update: Check if there is a firmware update available for your Kioxia SSD. Sometimes, updating the firmware can resolve compatibility issues.
5. Test with Different USB Ports: Although you mentioned trying multiple USB ports, ensure that you are using USB 2.0 ports if possible, as some systems have issues with USB 3.0 during the installation process.
6. Try Different Installation Media: If you created the ISO on Linux, it might be worth trying to create the installation media on a Windows machine instead, as this can sometimes resolve issues related to how the image is prepared.

If the problem persists, you may want to consult the specific documentation for your SSD or reach out to Kioxia support for further assistance.

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References:

• Windows 10 upgrade to Windows 11 considerations
• Install Windows from a Flash Drive

Answer 2

Hello,

Are you having trouble with Intel VMD during a clean install?

Is your SSD recognized in the clean install setup screen? If your SSD is not recognized, you will need the Intel VMD driver.

If so, did you obtain the Intel VMD driver from your computer manufacturer or motherboard manufacturer?

If you downloaded it from the Intel website, please try downloading it from your computer manufacturer or motherboard manufacturer instead.

Prepare two USB flash drives:

• One USB flash drive should contain the Windows 11 installation media.
• The other USB flash drive should contain the VMD driver.

If your SSD is not recognized in the Windows Setup screen, connect the USB flash drive containing the driver, click Load Driver, and select the folder containing the VMD driver.

One suggestion is to disable Intel VMD mode in the UEFI BIOS so the driver is not required.

Try disabling Intel VMD mode in the UEFI BIOS and check if you are still prompted for the driver on the Windows Setup screen.

If you have a self-built PC, please also check whether your SSD is listed on your motherboard’s SSD support list, as there may be compatibility issues.

If you disable Intel VMD mode in the UEFI BIOS and Windows Setup still prompts you for a driver, I am unable to determine which driver is required. In this case, reset your UEFI BIOS settings to their defaults, disable Intel VMD mode, and try again, or contact your computer manufacturer or motherboard manufacturer for assistance.

Normally, a clean install of Windows 11 can be performed with Secure Boot and TPM enabled in UEFI.