No device drivers were found make sure that the installation media contains the correct drivers

Troubleshooting “No Device Drivers Were Found” Error During Windows Installation: A Comprehensive Guide

Encountering the error message “No device drivers were found. Make sure that the installation media contains the correct drivers” can be a frustrating hurdle when installing Windows on a new PC. This issue often indicates that the installer cannot detect the storage devices or lacks the necessary drivers, preventing successful OS installation. In this guide, we will explore common causes and effective solutions based on real-world troubleshooting experience.

Building a New PC: Hardware Overview

Recently, I assembled a new PC with the following components:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5500
• Motherboard: Gigabyte A520M K V2
• Memory: 16 GB DDR4 RAM
• Storage: KBG NVMe M.2 256 GB and two HDDs
• Graphics Card: NVIDIA RTX 2070 (used)

While the initial setup appeared smooth, I faced issues with Windows—namely, unstable behavior and some applications crashing. Deciding to reinstall Windows, I encountered the notorious error message during installation.

The Problem: “No Device Drivers Were Found”

During the Windows installation process, I received the error:

No device drivers were found. Make sure that the installation media contains the correct drivers.

This prevents the installer from recognizing storage devices, especially NVMe SSDs, which are vital for a modern build.

Troubleshooting Steps Tried

Despite trying multiple solutions, the problem persisted. Here are the methods I attempted:

1. Disabling CSM and Secure Boot in BIOS:
   These settings can interfere with UEFI/legacy mode compatibility. Turning them off is generally recommended.

2. Using Different USB Installation Media:
   Swapped USB sticks to rule out faulty drives.

3. Trying Every USB Port:
   Switched between USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports to eliminate port-specific issues.

4. Different ISO Files & Rufus Settings:
   Used various Windows ISO images and adjusted Rufus configurations to ensure proper bootable media creation.

5. Employing Windows Media Creation Tool:
   Instead of Rufus, I used the official Microsoft tool for creating installation media.

6. Attempting to Format C Drive via Command Prompt:
   Followed tutorials to clean the drive during installation, in case of disk corruption.

7. Adding Storage Drivers Manually: