How to Resolve the “Install Driver to Show Hardware” Error During Windows Installation (Windows 11 [24H2 / 23H2] / Windows 10 [22H2])
Building a new PC can be an exciting experience, but it can also come with unexpected challenges. One common issue that many users encounter during the Windows installation process is the appearance of the error message: “Install driver to show hardware.” This article will walk you through a real-world scenario and provide a reliable solution to resolve this problem, especially when installing Windows 10 or Windows 11 on modern hardware.
The Scenario
Recently, I assembled a custom PC for my uncle with the following specifications:
- Motherboard: ASUS B650E Plus WiFi
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- Graphics Card: Gigabyte Windforce 5070 Ti OC
- Storage: WD Black SN850X NVMe SSD
- Memory: Klevv CRAS V RGB 32GB (2x16GB)
- Power Supply: MSI MAG A850G N
- Cooling: ASUS Prime LC360 AIO
Due to aesthetic considerations, the PC was intended to be wall-mounted, so it was assembled without a traditional case.
The Issue
While attempting to install Windows (both Windows 11 and Windows 10), the process would halt, displaying the message:
“Install driver to show hardware”
This occurred even though the NVMe SSD was correctly detected in the BIOS, indicating that the hardware was recognized at the firmware level. The issue persisted across multiple attempts, including booting from different USB drives prepared with Rufus.
Troubleshooting Steps Undertaken
- Verification in BIOS: Ensured the NVMe drive appeared correctly in the BIOS, confirming hardware detection.
- Multiple Windows Versions: Tried installing both Windows 11 (builds 24H2 / 23H2) and Windows 10 (22H2) — both resulted in the same error.
- USB Boot Devices: Tested booting from different USB sticks prepared with Rufus.
- Cross-compatibility Test: Booted my own PC from the same USB media to verify if the issue was hardware-related or media-related.
The Solution
The breakthrough came when I used a different Windows 10 installation USB. Switching to this alternate installation media, the Windows setup proceeded without encountering the “install driver
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