Cannot install Windows 7 64-bit on IdeaPad U400

I work for a local tech repair shop. Yesterday, a customer brought in a Lenovo IdeaPad U400 with a bad hard drive, from which the data was completely unrecoverable. I replaced it without issue, and it boots to the Windows 7 install disk just fine. However, after I click 'Install Now', I'm presented with this error message: "A required CD/DVD drive device driver is missing. If you have a driver floppy disk, CD, DVD, or USB flash drive, please insert it now." It then gives me the option to browse for the folder containing the drivers.
After Googling it, I first tried switching the SATA controller from 'AHCI' to 'Compatible' in the BIOS, but that didn't work. Then, I tried loading the Intel RST drivers onto a flash drive and browsing for them when prompted, but all I got for my trouble was another error message: "No new devices could be found. Make sure the driver files are correct and located on the driver installation media." I then tried doing the same with all the drivers I could find for the laptop, thinking that it was perhaps something other than the storage controller that needed drivers and was causeing the error message, with the same result. Lastly, I tried burning new install media at the lowest speed and using that instead, but still no luck.
I'm really at my wits' end with this accursed thing. Has anyone else had this problem? If so, what did you do to solve it?
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Hello and welcome,
That "required" message is often/usualy caused by a corrupt ISO download, burn, bad factory media, or a mis-behaving optical drive. Sometimes USB port can make a difference also (3.0, 2.0, ???) when installing from USB optical or flash.
Have you tried different media, drive, or port?
Z..
The large print: please read the Community Participation Rules before posting. Include as much information as possible: model, machine type, operating system, and a descriptive subject line. Do not include personal information: serial number, telephone number, email address, etc. The fine print: I do not work for, nor do I speak for Lenovo. Unsolicited private messages will be ignored. ... GeezBlog
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Cannot install Windows 7 32 bit-64 bit not working either

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Cannot install WIndows 7 64 Bit

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Install Language: English (United States)
System Locale: English (United States)
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Quote from: flobelix on 22-April-14, 03:07:12
Still I can't see any MSI product involved.
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This question was solved.
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You're welcome mrchips108
By the way up for one more go. I was finally able to find someone with a possible solution for you. the user yashoshah on the tomshardware forums had the problem:
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SOURCE: Windows installation not successful
He fixed it by removing the HDMI cable and connecting to the monitor through DVI. After it was installed he went back to using HDMI.
How is your video card connected to the monitor: what cable and what interface is on the monitor and what interface are you using on the video card? Perhaps the Microsoft rep you spoke to was partly correct about the video card being the problem. It might be that the driver built into Windows 8 has a problem with certain configurations.
Don't forgot to say thanks by giving "Kudos" to those that help solve your problems.
When a solution is found please mark the post that solves your issue.

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Hi
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No easy fix for a few reasons:
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I am working on a small EFI app that can boot Windows in EFI mode on a Mac and that would mean that you can go GPT only on your system. The progress of the app is slow due to the nature of EFI and for now requires that you do an unattended Windows install with slipstreamed graphics drivers, but we are adding VGA loading on top of EFI quite soon after the rest of the app stabilises. The status of the app is documented at:
Win7 x64 booting natively via EFI (no bios emulation)
Windows does actually successfully boot in EFI mode on most Macs (anything with a 64bit EFI should work), but does not have graphics support even if you load the driver due to the VGA pci registers not being set by the firmware. Furthermore, in Setup and Safe Mode, Windows uses VGA instead of GOP which is a failure by design since VGA is a BIOS standard and not really compatible without hacks with EFI. Other EFI implementations also add VGA compatibility at a high cost to the firmware complexity for the VGA cards available on the market that don't actually contain anything in their ROM except the VGA BIOS.
My recomendations:
1) Install on a second smaller hard-drive; or
2) Wait for the EFI app to come out officially and use that to boot Windows Vista SP1 x64 and Windows 7 x64 (RTM and SP1) in the native EFI mode.
3) Wait for Windows 8 which supports VGA-less booting acording to the AMD presentation at UEFI Plugfest.

Can I install Windows 7 (64 bit) on late 2013 edition of MacBook Pro?

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http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5634
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As far as I am aware your computer supports Win 7 and Win 8 - 64-bit.
Windows on Intel Macs
There are presently several alternatives for running Windows on Intel Macs.
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Cannot install Windows 7 on Equium P200D-139 - CD/DVD drivers missing

Hello all.
Hello this laptop came with Windows Vista.
I am trying to install Windows 7 - 32 Bit for my mother.
She does not have the original Toshiba DVD's so I purchased Windows 7 for her.
First I boot using the Windows 7 DVD.
Then the language selection screen is shown and selections made.
Then the +Install Now+ option is chosen.
Then the following message appears - this is verbatim:
+"A required CD/DVD device driver is missing. If you have a driver floppy disk, CD, DVD, or USB flash drive, please insert it now.+
+Note: If the Windows installation media is in the CD/DVD drive you can safely remove it for this step."+
I cannot progress beyond this point.
The Windows Vista installation is still on the laptop, and I cannot find any of the drivers that are required - sadly the driver request is not very specific. I am wondering if it is needs drivers for the hard drive?
I have been searching on the internet and cannot find any drivers that work.
Thanks in advance for any help :-)

Hi
The CD/DVD driver is part of the Microsoft system and also available on the Windows 7 installation disk.
Therefore there are no special CD/DVD drivers available.
I read about this theme in different forums and also on Microsoft support forum and mostly this issue appear if the Windows system disk is faulty/damage.
I dont know from where you got this disk but I recommend you to download an Windows iso file from Microsoft server as mentioned here:
http://forums.computers.toshiba-europe.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=73726
Then you could create own Windows installation disk or USB flash memory stick
The serial key which you got with the Windows disk could be used for activation.

Cannot Install Windows 7 with AHCI mode

Hello,
Having just submitted a support ticket to MSI, I was curious to see if anyone else has experienced a similar issue or may be able to suggest a possible resolution.
I recently purchased a MSI Z87-G41 PC Mate for an htpc build.
I've ran into an issue of not being able to install Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit onto my ANY SATA 3 hard drive with SATA mode - AHCI enabled in bios.
Main parts for the build are:
Motherboard: MSI Z87-G41 PC Mate
CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4 3 FCLGA 1150
RAM: G.SKILL Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
PSU: Corsair Builder Series CX 600
OS HD: Crucial M500 SSD
During Windows install and selecting the SSD in which to install windows onto..
Windows will prompt with: “Windows cannot be installed to Disk x Partition x. (Show details)
Afterwards, I’ll select ‘Load driver’ and select the “Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver for 8x series,” provided by MSI drivers download page. Confirmed as a valid driver for the SATA AHCI controller.
"Select the driver to be installed" lists: “Intel(r) 8 Series/C220 Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller” Looks good, then progress...
Followed by clicking on next- “Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing system partition. See the setup log files for more information.”
I've tried installing Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit via USB drive and OEM disc to no avail.
Performed a test using the same install procedure with my primary desktop computer which uses a MSI z68A-GD65 (G3) motherboard (AHCI enabled.) I was able to install windows to my Crucial M500 SSD without issue.
Confirmed the issue occurs while testing with different hard drives. I have yet to be able to install windows with AHCI enabled on this motherboard.
HDDs tested include:
WD Black WD5002AALX 500GB
Seagate ST3100524AS 1TB
Once I change SATA mode from AHCI to IDE, I was able to install windows without the need of pre-loading the Intel 8 Series SATA/AHCI driver.
Afterwards having installed windows, I decided to test by switching SATA mode back to AHCI. Doing so will cause the machine to bsod upon booting to windows. Later, I performed the registry edit to change IDE to AHCI mode within windows. Followed by again enabling AHCI in bios.
I was able to boot while in AHCI mode temporarily a couple of times until this method stopped working. Any attempt past the bios post, windows will not boot.
I've also tested the manual and XMP profile RAM settings as suggested by the sticky'd thread here https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=178019.0
I would like to possibly resolve the issue in regards to utilizing AHCI mode for optimal performance for my hard drives and hot swap capability.
When I have more time, I suppose I can run a RAM test; but so far I simply believe it may just be a SATA controller or driver conflict with the motherboard.
tl;dr Cannot install Windows 7 onto any hard drive with AHCI enabled. Works fine with IDE mode.

** Update as of 6/3/2014 ** Issue resolved.
Received my replacement motherboard from RMA. Replacement is working without any issues with SATA mode set to AHCI.
Tested by running Windows 7 and Windows 8 install - both detected my SATA SSD and other HDDs as applicable drives to install Windows onto. Pre-loading the SATA controller drivers was not necessary. Windows boots up immediately without any delay now. Benchmarks are showing valid stats for SATA3 devices.
Also to note, the replacement motherboard came with bios version 1.5, compared the one I sent back which came with 1.6. In case if that had anything to do with it. Not going to risk updating the bios at this point.
Video of issue:
Benchmarks from the old motherboard on the Crucial M500 SSD taken with Crystal DiskMark
Benchmark from MSI Z87-G41 PC Mate (MS-750)
on SATA 3 port set to AHCI
CrystalDiskMark 3.0.3 x64 (C) 2007-2013 hiyohiyo
Crystal Dew World
* MB/s = 1,000,000 byte/s [SATA/300 = 300,000,000 byte/s]
Sequential Read : 264.792 MB/s
Sequential Write : 143.991 MB/s
Random Read 512KB : 250.614 MB/s
Random Write 512KB : 142.545 MB/s
Random Read 4KB (QD=1) : 24.176 MB/s [ 5902.3 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=1) : 82.152 MB/s [ 20056.5 IOPS]
Random Read 4KB (QD=32) : 210.018 MB/s [ 51274.0 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=32) : 134.663 MB/s [ 32876.6 IOPS]
Test : 100 MB [C: 35.4% (39.6/111.8 GB)] (x5)
Date : 2014/05/24 3:25:19
OS : Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 [6.1 Build 7601] (x64)
Benchmark from MSI Z87-G41 PC Mate (MS-750)
on SATA 3 port set to IDE
CrystalDiskMark 3.0.3 x64 (C) 2007-2013 hiyohiyo
Crystal Dew World
* MB/s = 1,000,000 byte/s [SATA/300 = 300,000,000 byte/s]
Sequential Read : 181.472 MB/s
Sequential Write : 141.275 MB/s
Random Read 512KB : 177.430 MB/s
Random Write 512KB : 141.393 MB/s
Random Read 4KB (QD=1) : 21.646 MB/s [ 5284.6 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=1) : 68.922 MB/s [ 16826.7 IOPS]
Random Read 4KB (QD=32) : 25.411 MB/s [ 6203.9 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=32) : 108.275 MB/s [ 26434.3 IOPS]
Test : 100 MB [C: 35.4% (39.6/111.8 GB)] (x5)
Date : 2014/05/24 3:41:42
OS : Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 [6.1 Build 7601] (x64)
Benchmark from MSI Z87-G41 PC Mate (MS-750) **Replacement from RMA**
on SATA 3 port set to AHCI
CrystalDiskMark 3.0.3 x64 (C) 2007-2013 hiyohiyo
Crystal Dew World
* MB/s = 1,000,000 byte/s [SATA/300 = 300,000,000 byte/s]
Sequential Read : 469.045 MB/s
Sequential Write : 138.655 MB/s
Random Read 512KB : 419.083 MB/s
Random Write 512KB : 135.032 MB/s
Random Read 4KB (QD=1) : 26.454 MB/s [ 6458.5 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=1) : 89.189 MB/s [ 21774.7 IOPS]
Random Read 4KB (QD=32) : 252.818 MB/s [ 61723.0 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=32) : 129.909 MB/s [ 31716.1 IOPS]
Test : 100 MB [C: 37.1% (41.5/111.8 GB)] (x5)
Date : 2013/03/10 10:02:50
OS : Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 [6.1 Build 7601] (x64)

Cannot install Windows 7 Pro; gets stuck on "Starting Windows" screen

I have read dozens of posts on this topic but none has helped yet.
My system has Windows 8 with UEFI. I want to install Windows 7 Pro on another partition. I have turned off Secure Boot in the UEFI/BIOS. When I try to install Windows 7 Pro from a DVD it shows "windows is loading files" and then gets stuck on "Starting Windows"
for ever. This happens even when no USB peripherals are attached.
I have already wasted many days on this. I hope someone can help.
Thanks!

Hi friends of the internet
I have been reading several forums regarding the issue of installing windows 7 (64 bit) to a computer that have had windows 8 installed previously or just a GPT formatted disk.
My Case:
Windows version installed: Windows 7 Professional N with Service Pack 1 (x64) or Windows 7 Professional (x64)
Computer used: Samsung laptop
Model Code: NP53U4C-A02SE
See the specks here:
http://www.samsung.com/dk/consumer/computer-peripherals/notebook/notebook/NP535U4C-A02SE-spec
Create a USB install disk that not freezes at ”starting windows” screen:
First I followed this great guide (Thanks Daniel):
http://
hodgin.ca/2012/10/02/creating-a-uefibios-windows-7-usb-and-installing-to-gpt-partitions/
STOP AFTER STEP 13!
1. Open a command line in administrator mode
2. run DISKPART
3. type LIST DISK
4. Look for the disk number that represents your USB drive
5. type SELECT DISK # where # represents the number of your USB drive. Get this right or you will wipe a different drive out.
6. type CLEAN
7. type CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
8. type SELECT PARTITION 1
9. type ACTIVE
10. type FORMAT fs=fat32 quick
11. type assign
12. The drive should now be formatted and marked as active and fat32. Do not format the drive as NTFS or you will only be able to boot into the installer in BIOS mode.
13. Now you will need to copy the contents of the windows 7 install dvd to the USB with a regular copy paste from windows explorer.
Here comes a very weird hack... I do not know why it works, but I think it is all about flash drive data structure. I did these steps on a win 7 prof. computer.
(Let’s assume it’s drive E:)
Make a copy of your e:\efi\microsoft folder to e.g. your desktop.
Delete the e:\efi folder
Copy the \efi folder from a windows 8 installation disk (I used Windows 8 (x64) Professional) to the e:\efi folder. Sorry I cannot provide this for you.
Here comes the weird part. Then delete e:\efi\microsoft you just copied from the win 8 installation disk.
Copy the \microsoft folder form the desktop to e:\efi\microsoft
Resume the guide from step 18.:
http://
hodgin.ca/2012/10/02/creating-a-uefibios-windows-7-usb-and-installing-to-gpt-partitions/
18. Insert the USB in the machine and turn it on and boot into the UEFI/BIOS loader and check for boot options. On the ASUS Zenbook it detected two boot options on the USB drive. One was UEFI and one was regular BIOS. I made the
UEFI option the first choice and restarted the machine.
My bios setup was:
Secure Boot = Disable
OS Mode Selection = CSM and UEFI OS
Boot Device Priority = I made the UEFI option the first choice and restarted the machine.
The installation should start normal.
E.g. See this guide:
www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/186875-uefi-unified-extensible-firmware-interface-install-windows-7-a.html
What I did was:
Select custom installation (Advanced).
Click Drive options (Advanced).
Delete all partitions (this might not be needed). When I did not delete all partitions I was asked every time after the install, during start up by the windows boot manager to select ether win 8 or win 7.
Click new (DO NOT make Changes in the size of the disk), apply, see NOTE!
Edit the Primary partition as you want it e.g. divide it to more partitions.
Select the one you will install windows on and do a normal install.
I do not make changes in the Bios after install. The Boot priority is automatic set to “Windows boot manager”. If I change the boot mode back to OS Mode Selection = UEFI OS, the computer will freeze at the “starting windows” screen again.
All this worked for me, good luck. There might be more to it, but this is a start.
By the way, the start up time for a MBT install was 37 s. And for the GPT it was 49 s.
Remember if we stand on each other’s shoulders we will reach higher
J.
NOTE: Here the installation program should create three partitions automatically!
Partition 1 - System - The EFI System partition that contains the NTLDR, HAL, Boot.txt, and other files that are needed to boot the system, such as drivers.
Partition 2 - MSR - The Microsoft Reserved (MSR) partition that reserves space on each disk drive for subsequent use by operating system software.
Partition 3 - Primary - Where Windows is to be installed to.
If this isn’t the cast you are not installing in UEIF mode. To check for this (thanks again Daniel):
If you need to find out if you have booted into BIOS mode or UEFI mode when the installer starts you can press SHIFT+F10 when the welcome installer shows up to open a cmd prompt. from here you will likely be at X:\Sources. Type cd .. to
go back a dir and move into \Windows\Panther\
Then type notepad setupact.log
Within this file do a ctrl+f and search for
Callback_BootEnvironmentDetect: Detected boot environment:
It should either say BIOS or UEFI.
To check if your disk is in the GPT format.
Open the command prompt.
Type: DISKPART
Type: List Disk
See for the star (*) in the GPT column

Cannot install windows, starting to get really pissed off with this PLEASE HELP

ok, i'm starting to get agitated with this.
i cannot install windows XP, 2003, OR Longhorn on my machine.
right now, i have the following setup:
msi 865pe neo2 motherboard
intel p4 3.2ghz w/HT (factory HS/Fan currently)
1 dimm of PC3200 crucial DDR400
30GB maxtor HD plugged into primary IDE
pioneer dvd/cd drive as sencondary IDE
alps 3.5" floppy drive
antec true blue 480wt PSU
i do the following:
format with maxtor cd
boot from OS cd
start setup, reboot, continue
the farthest i can get is 'registering components/completing installation' i either get a blue screen stop error which isnt the same everytime, or it just locks up and doesnt do anything.
ran the memtest checker and get errors on test #4
i had a DIMM of kingston that gave the same errors, so i RMA'd it and got another. same errors, so i RMA'd again and got a Crucial stick. same errors.
so i RMA'd the motherboard since i figured it had to be that. and it improved from the problems i had earlier. (the problems i had before were worse before.)
below are my BIOS settings. SOMEONE WHO KNOWS PLEASE HELP ME!
advanced bios features:
quick boot - enabled
boot order - floppy, cd, HDD
full logo - disabled
s.m.a.r.t - enabled
num-lock on boot - enabled
floppy swap - disabled
floppy seek - enabled
save rom to HD - no
boot to os/2 - no
hyper threading - disabled
mps revision - 1.4
apic acpi sci irq - disabled
cpu l1 & l2 cache - enabled
bios cacheable - disabled
c000, 32k shadow - disabled
advanced chipset:
dram timing...
configure by spd - enabled
(i dont know what to set timing to, nothing anyone has since said helps)
integrated perfs:
usb controller - enabled (same errors if its disabled too so its not USB)
usb device legacy support - disabled
on chip IDE:
operate mode - legacy mode
ata config - pata only
sata keep enabled - yes (for sata drive i have, error either way)
pata channel selection - both
onboard ethernet, 1394, prmoise ide and audio all DISABLED
pc healt status:
cpu - 49°C/120°F (idle sitting in bios)
system temp - 28°C/82ºF
cpu fan - 2678rpm
nb fan speed - 6490rpm
vcore - 1.456 up to 1.502
3.3v - 3.232v
+5.0v - 5.003v
+12v - 11.680v
-12v - -11.743v
-5.0v - -4.826v
battery - 2.896v
+5V SB - 4.945
freq/voltage control
Dynamic OC - disabled
cpu ratio locked
dram freq - auto
spread spectrum - enabled
cpu bus clock - 200
ddr clock (grayed out) - 400
adjust agp/pci - 66.66/33.33
cpu vcore adjust - no
cpu vcore (grayed out) - 1.5500v
ddr power voltage - 2.65v
agp power voltage - 1.50v
SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!
i'm running out of time, money, patience.
if it cant be solved i'm going to set myself on fire!

Quote
Originally posted by REILLY875
Do NOT try the 250 Watt PSU!!, As "Wonk" said if you happen to Blow it, the PSU will most likely Take out the Mo-Bo with it! And maybe the CPU to, due to the Voltage Spike you would get ...I would not put to much Credence into the fact that as of now the +12V and the +3.3V Rails are reading a little low,(I say this because it is indeed a ANTEC), as this could be the Monitoring Hardware, or the Software that might be reading wrong....If I where you I would First set the Memory Timings Manually to 3-4-4-7-8, And up the DRAM (VDIMM) Voltage to 2.7 Volts, and if it still wont Load, I would Definitly try a different DIMM Slot, and Rince and Repeat .....If you dont mind me asking , Why are you running with just 1 Module?....Is it on purpose or are you saving up for More?................Sean REILLY875
yea, i dont plan to run the 250. im gonna wait for the new 480.
thanks for the info about ram timings as well. i havnt gotten any solid answers about what to set it to.
even with new mobo and ram, i'm getting errors in memtest86 #4 test as i always have. i've tried different slots with same problems.
i only have one module because i dont want to waste anymore money on a non-working system. once i get it up and running i'll add another 512.

Cannot install Windows 7 64-bit on IdeaPad U400

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