Drivers are not compatible (when they should be)

[ASDF790]

Hi, I'm trying to put dual boot windows 11 and linux on my machine after using just linux for a while.

I have made an iso and attempted to boot from it. It says that I need to get some drivers, so I did, I downloaded all the drivers for my pc from this website and put them on a separate usb stick. But when I go back to booting from the windows iso, and try to install the drivers, it says that they aren't compatible.

I know that HP doesn't give isos with the drivers already on it, but could I take it into a repair shop so that they can put windows on it? Or is there anything else I can try?

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @ASDF790,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

Thank you for posting your query. I will be glad to help you.

I can imagine how frustrating it must be to hit a wall when trying to reinstall Windows alongside Linux, especially after putting in the effort to gather drivers and create the ISO. You're doing all the right things, and I’m here to help you get through this smoothly.

Let’s Break It Down and Fix It

1. Why the Drivers Might Be “Incompatible”

Windows Setup usually asks for storage or USB drivers if it can’t detect your hard drive. The drivers you downloaded from HP might be for post-installation use (like Wi-Fi, graphics, etc.), not the specific storage controller drivers needed during setup.
 

Solution:

• Identify your laptop’s storage controller (e.g., Intel RST, AMD RAID).
• Download the F6 driver (a special version for Windows Setup) from HP or the chipset manufacturer (Intel or AMD).
• Extract the driver files to a separate USB drive.
• During Windows installation, click “Load Driver” and point to the folder with the extracted files.

Let me know your exact HP notebook model, and I’ll help you find the correct storage driver.

2. UEFI & Secure Boot Settings

Make sure your BIOS settings are compatible with dual booting:

• Boot into BIOS (usually by pressing Esc, F10, or F2 during startup).
• Set Boot Mode to UEFI (not Legacy).
• Disable Secure Boot temporarily to allow Windows installation.
• Enable CSM (Compatibility Support Module) if available.

3. Partitioning Tips

If Linux is already installed:

• Use GParted or your Linux disk manager to shrink the Linux partition and create an NTFS partition for Windows.
• During Windows setup, choose Custom Install and select the NTFS partition.

Avoid deleting Linux partitions unless you’re ready to reinstall it later.

Can a Repair Shop Help?

Yes, absolutely. A certified HP repair center or a trusted local technician can:

• Reinstall Windows cleanly
• Ensure all drivers are correctly installed
• Help set up a dual boot with GRUB or Windows Boot Manager

But if you’d prefer to do it yourself, I’ll guide you every step of the way.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have an amazing day!
 

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Regards,

VikramTheGreat

[ASDF790]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply, my laptop is a HP Probook 450 G9, and the exact product ID is: 6S6S1EA#ABU