During the Windows 11 installation process, you may encounter a prompt to "Install drivers to show hardware" if your storage drives or network adapters aren't recognized. This is common with newer hardware like Intel Rapid Storage Technology (IRST) or specific Wi-Fi chipsets. Resolving Missing Drivers During Setup
If you are stuck at the "Where do you want to install Windows?" screen and no drives appear: Download IRST Drivers : Use another PC to download the Intel Rapid Storage Technology (IRST) drivers for your specific CPU generation (10th–13th Gen). Extract to USB : You must extract the drivers from the file (typically using a command like SetupRST.exe -extractdrivers ) and copy the resulting folder to a USB drive. Load Driver : In the Windows setup, click "Load driver" to find the driver folder on your USB. Bypass Network Requirement : If you lack Wi-Fi drivers and cannot proceed, press Shift + F10 OOBE\BYPASSNRO
, and press Enter. The system will reboot and allow you to select "I don't have internet". Post-Installation Driver Updates
Once Windows 11 is installed, use these methods to ensure all hardware is functional: How to Setup Windows PROPERLY
Windows 11 is designed to handle most driver installations automatically, but specific hardware often requires a manual "windows 11 install drivers link" to function at its best. Keeping your drivers up to date ensures system stability, security, and peak performance for gaming or creative work. 1. Where to Find Official Driver Download Links
The safest way to install drivers is directly from the manufacturer’s support portal. Most sites offer a "Detect My Product" tool to automatically find the right files for your specific serial number or model. Intel: Intel Download Center (Processors, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) AMD: AMD Drivers & Support (Ryzen CPUs and Radeon GPUs)
NVIDIA: NVIDIA Driver Downloads (GeForce and RTX Graphics Cards) Dell: Dell Support & Drivers HP: HP Software and Driver Downloads Lenovo: Lenovo Technical Support ASUS: ASUS Download Center Acer: Acer Service & Support 2. How to Install Drivers via Windows Update (Easiest)
Windows 11 often has "Optional Updates" that contain manufacturer-certified drivers not installed during the initial setup. Press Win + I to open Settings. Select Windows Update > Advanced options. Under Additional options, click Optional updates. windows 11 install drivers link
Expand Driver updates, check the boxes for the drivers you need, and click Download & install. 3. Using Device Manager for Manual Installations
If you have already downloaded a driver file (like a .zip or .inf file) and it doesn't have an installer, use Device Manager. Microsoft Community Hub How to update drivers on pc for windows 11/10?
Windows 11 drivers can be installed via Windows Update in Settings, Device Manager, or directly from manufacturer support websites for specific hardware. For issues during installation, such as missing drives, users should download the Intel Rapid Storage Technology (IRST) driver, extract it to the installation USB, and click 'Load Driver' to locate the necessary .inf file. For more details, visit the ASUS Support ASUS Support website.
[Windows 11/10] How to Install Drivers Downloaded ... - ASUS
Here’s a concise step-by-step guide to finding and installing drivers on Windows 11, including where to get the official download links.
Q: Does Windows 11 not automatically install all drivers? A: It installs basic drivers. Microsoft provides "Windows Update" drivers that are stable but often months old. For gaming, audio production, or networking performance, you want the latest "OEM" drivers from your manufacturer's link.
Q: What is the "driver.cab" file I keep seeing?
A: Occasionally, manufacturers provide a driver.cab (cabinet) file. You do not "run" this. You right-click it, select "Extract," then point the Windows "Load Driver" installer to the extracted folder. During the Windows 11 installation process, you may
Q: My touchpad doesn't work after installing Windows 11. What driver link do I need? A: Go to your laptop manufacturer’s support page (Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc.). Search for "Touchpad Driver" or "Synaptics/ELAN Precision Touchpad Driver." Install it and restart.
URL: https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11
This is the most important link for anyone doing a clean install. The Media Creation Tool does the following:
When you boot from this USB, Windows 11 will attempt to use its inbox drivers to recognize your hard drives and network adapter. If your network adapter is too new (e.g., an Intel 2.5GbE or Wi-Fi 7 card), the installer might not see it. That’s where the next link saves you.
You can silently install drivers from a folder using:
pnputil /add-driver C:\Drivers\*.inf /subdirectories /install
Updating your GPU driver improves gaming performance and video rendering.
| Manufacturer | Target Audience | Direct Link | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | NVIDIA | GeForce (Gamers) / RTX / GTX | NVIDIA Driver Downloads | | AMD | Radeon (Gamers) / Ryzen CPUs | AMD Support & Drivers | | Intel | Arc Graphics / Integrated UHD Graphics | Intel Driver & Support Assistant | Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Q: Does Windows 11
Let’s assume you have a brand new SSD and a USB drive with the Windows 11 installer, but the setup keeps asking for drivers.
Step 1: Download the driver package BEFORE you start. On a working PC, visit your motherboard or laptop manufacturer’s support site. Find your exact model. Download the "Intel Serial IO," "Intel RST (F6)," or "LAN" driver. Extract the ZIP file onto a second USB drive.
Step 2: Start the Windows 11 installation. Boot from your installation media. Go through the language and license agreement screens.
Step 3: Click "Load Driver" when you hit the disk selection screen. When you see, "Where do you want to install Windows?" and your SSD is missing, click the "Load Driver" button in the bottom left.
Step 4: Browse to your second USB drive.
Navigate to the folder where you extracted the driver. Windows will search for .inf files. Select the correct driver (usually "Intel RST VMD Controller" or "AMD RAID Bottom Device").
Step 5: Your disk will appear. Once the driver loads, your NVMe or SATA drive will appear. Proceed with the installation.
Step 6: The First Boot (Post-Installation) After Windows 11 boots to the desktop, you likely have no internet (missing network driver). Plug in a USB Ethernet adapter or use another PC to download the Wi-Fi/Ethernet driver from the manufacturer’s link above. Install it, connect to the internet, then run Windows Update. Windows Update will fetch 90% of your remaining drivers automatically.
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