No drives can be found during Windows 11 clean installation

[CottageKeeper]

I need a clean install of windows 11 but I'm running into the 'driver missing' issues.  I can't find the drivers when I got HP Support I will have it search my laptop and it doesn't have the intel storage drivers.  

I am reading this article and following the instructions: https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_4859717-4859823-16

HP PCs - No drives can be found during Windows 11 or Windows 10 installation (Intel 11th Generation processors)

I am instructed to:

Extract the Intel Rapid Storage Technology drivers to the USB flash drive

Download Intel Rapid Storage Technology (IRST) drivers from the HP Software and Drivers webpage and extract them to the USB flash drive.

• Go to HP Customer Support - Software and Driver Downloads, and then type the serial number, product number, or product name to find the software and drivers for your computer model.

• From Driver-Storage, download the Intel RST driver (RAID) driver to your desktop. Do not install the downloaded file.

• Copy and paste the downloaded .exe file to the USB flash drive that you are going to use to install Windows 11.
  
  However when I do this there is no Driver-Storage option.
  I need to know what to do.  Please advise.  I have gone to the intel website and updated all the drivers but the Intel Rapid Storage Technology is not there.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

See if the discussion at the link below resolves your dilemma.

You can use the driver I posted in that discussion...

Solved: Win 10 install not recognizing the NVME - HP Support Community - 8510047

[CottageKeeper]

I'm installing Windows 11, will the .exe file you provided work for Windows 11?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Yes, it will work for both W11 and W10.

[CottageKeeper]

I saved the files to a separate thumb drive.  I went through these steps with both thumbdrives the W11 installer and the one you told me to make.

• Restart Your Computer: Save any open work and restart your computer.

• Use the Settings App:

  • Click the Start button or press the Windows key to open the Start Menu.
  • Click on the Settings gear icon (it looks like a gear or cogwheel).
  • In the Settings window, select Update & Security.

• Access Advanced Startup Options:

  • In the Update & Security section, click on Recovery from the left sidebar.
  • Under Advanced startup, click the Restart now button. Your computer will restart.

• Access UEFI/BIOS from Advanced Startup:

  • After the restart, you'll be taken to the Advanced startup options screen.
  • Click on Troubleshoot.

• Access UEFI/BIOS:

  • Click on Advanced options.
  • Select UEFI Firmware Settings or BIOS settings. It may appear as either one or the other depending on your system.

• Restart to BIOS/UEFI: Your computer will restart again, and this time, it should take you directly into the BIOS or UEFI settings.

I'm at the Select Driver to install and I only have three options:
USB Disk (C:)

ESD-USB (D:) - this is my Windows 11 installer

Boot (X:) - this should be the one that I installed the .exe file that you told me to install but nothing comes up when I select it.  This is the message I get:
No signed device drivers were found.  Make sure that the installation media contains the correct drivers, and then click OK.

Any thoughts on what I'm doing wrong?

[CottageKeeper]

I removed the drive that had the files on it you had me download it was the C: drive.  I put it back in and selected it and I still get the same error.

[CottageKeeper]

There is an > USB Disk (C:) I don't know if that arrow means I need to click it to open it.  All I can do is use the arrows on the keyboard and move down to the USB Disk (C:) and hit enter.  This doesn't seem to be opening it though.  I only have two usb ports so I can't attach a mouse to press the little down arrow.  I hope this make sense.  

Any suggestions?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Unfortunately, I have no idea what you are trying to do.

All you need to do is to boot from the W11 installation flash drive.

You get to the Install Now screen, follow the prompts.

Then you get to the part of the installation that asks 'Where do you want to install Windows,' that is where W11 can't find any drives to install on.

You click on the Load driver option browse to the USB flash drive with the drivers on it, and if you check the box, it will only include the compatible driver.  Click Next and W11 should install.

I hope that you used the 7-zip file utility to extract the drivers out of the sp135979.exe file, because it won't work if you don't do that.

Just follow the step-by-step instructions on that link I posted in the discussion.

HP PCs - No Drives Can Be Found During Windows 10 Installation (Intel 11th Generation processors) | ...

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Also, how come you aren't using the HP cloud recovery tool to make a bootable USB recovery drive to reinstall Windows?

It will have all of the drivers you need already included.

You can use the HP cloud recovery tool and a 32 GB USB flash drive to create a bootable USB recovery drive that will reinstall W10, the drivers and the software that originally came with your notebook.

Here is an info link for how to use the utility.

HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool in Windows 11 and 10 | HP® Customer Support

You can download the software from the Microsoft Store.

HP Cloud Recovery Tool - Microsoft Store Apps

Since you have to use the recovery tool on another PC, you will need to enter your PC's product number in the tool's search window.

Your PC's product number is:  1F4W6UA#ABA

Then you can click on the blue W11 Installation Assistant button at the link below to upgrade to W11...

Download Windows 11 (microsoft.com)

[CottageKeeper]

I want to do a clean install I watch a Youtube video and this is the method that was taught have no idea on a cloud recovery tool.  I moved the files you told me to install onto the windows 11 thumbdrive - so I could use the mouse.  I was able to install the driver just fine.  I got as far as formatting the drive and it would not format, there were four drives, so I stupidly deleted the other four but it still would not format the drive.  I tried exiting out and now I can't get out of the Windows setup.  

Clueless as to what to do now.  I'm typing this on my reliable 2013 macbook pro.