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Syamter's avatar
Syamter
Iron Contributor
Jan 27, 2026

Media driver missing error during windows 11 installation

Bought a new PC without OS and made a bootable usb using the official media creation tool. The installation went fine but got the error "A media driver your computer needs is missing" after choosing ...
device management
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Nobel_Baynes's avatar
Nobel_Baynes
Steel Contributor
Jan 28, 2026

Loading the storage driver manually is useful when Windows 11 Setup cannot detect your SSD or HDD, especially on systems using Intel RST, Intel VMD, or RAID mode. In this case, the installer needs the correct storage controller driver to access the disk, otherwise it shows the “media driver missing” error.

How to fix media driver missing error for windows 11 installation

Step 1: On another PC, go to your motherboard or laptop manufacturer’s website and download the correct Intel RST / VMD or AMD RAID driver.

Step 2: Extract the driver files and copy them to a separate USB flash drive.

Step 3: Start the Windows 11 installation and wait until the media driver missing screen appears.

Step 4: Click Browse, select the USB drive with the driver files, and choose the correct driver folder.

Step 5: Load the driver and wait a moment—once successful, your SSD or HDD should appear in the disk list.

This method allows Windows 11 Setup to recognize your storage device without changing BIOS settings. It’s especially helpful if you must keep RAID or VMD enabled, and once the correct driver is loaded, the installation can continue normally.