Fix “A Media Driver Your Computer Needs Is Missing”
What "A media driver your computer needs is missing" really means during Windows setup, the quick fixes to try first and how to load the driver from a second USB stick.
Key takeaway
Put the driver on a second USB stick and keep it plugged in until setup finishes.
In this article7 sections · 6 min read
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You are installing Windows 10 from a USB stick, and setup stops with "A media driver your computer needs is missing". There is no obvious way forward, and the message makes it sound like something is broken. Usually nothing is broken.
The message means the Windows installer cannot talk to the USB port or the storage controller it needs, which is common on some older boards. In this guide I explain what that means, the fix I used and the other things to try if it still appears.
What the error means, in plain words
A driver is a small piece of software that tells Windows how to use a piece of hardware. The Windows installer carries drivers for most common hardware, but not for everything.
Once setup starts, it needs to keep reading files from your USB stick and see the drive you want to install on. If it does not have a driver for the USB controller or the storage controller on your motherboard, it loses access, and you get this message. It is misleading, because it talks about "media", but the problem is the controller, not your USB stick.
Ports matter
Blue port versus black port
Try the quick fixes first
- Use a USB 2.0 port. They are usually black, while USB 3.0 ports are usually blue. The installer often handles USB 2.0 ports without any extra driver.
- Use a port on the back of the PC, directly on the motherboard, not on the front panel or a hub.
- Recreate the installer with Microsoft's Media Creation Tool. A damaged or incomplete installer can show the same error.
If one of these works, you do not need the driver steps below.
What you need for the driver fix
- Another working PC.
- A second, empty USB stick, not your Windows installer.
- The driver file I used. If your motherboard maker offers USB 3.0 or storage drivers for your exact model, those are the best match.
Steps
- On the working PC, download the driver file.
- Copy it to the second USB stick and extract it there. Do not rename or move anything inside the folder.
- On the PC with the error, close setup and shut it down.
- Plug in both USB sticks: the Windows installer and the one with the driver.
- Start the PC and boot from the Windows installer again.
- Setup now picks up the driver and continues. If it asks, click Browse and choose the driver folder on the second USB.
Tip: Keep the driver USB plugged in until the installation has completely finished.
The two-stick setup
What goes where
- Working PC
- Second USB
- Both plugged in
- Boot installer
Still seeing the error?
- Plug the installer into a USB 2.0 port, if you have not tried that yet.
- In the BIOS, enable Legacy USB Support, or try turning XHCI Hand-off on. These settings control how USB ports behave before Windows loads.
- If you are installing onto an NVMe SSD or a RAID setup, the missing driver may be for the storage controller. Download the storage or RAID driver for your motherboard from the maker's support page and load it the same way.
- Check that the Windows version matches your PC, for example 64-bit for a 64-bit system.
After Windows is installed
Once Windows is running, install the chipset and USB drivers from your motherboard maker's website. Windows Update finds many drivers on its own, but the maker's chipset driver is usually the most complete.
The short version
The error means setup cannot talk to your USB or storage controller. Try a black USB 2.0 port on the back of the PC first. If that does not work, put the driver on a second USB stick, keep both plugged in and run setup again.
