How to instal Mobo Drivers without an optical drive?

[ihoks]

Hey Guys, I am lost and don’t know what to do any more, maybe you can help me?

Background:
I build a desktop pc for a friend of mine with this setup.

The Pc works great and I can install Windows 7 Prof x64 via a bootable USB dongle.

Problem:
Windows does not recognize my USB stick or Network adapters due to a lack of drivers.

Question:
How can I install the Mobo drivers without an optical drive?

Things I tried:
I spend 10hrs+ trying to solve it on my own but at this point I do not get further anymore.

- Google

- Settings in Bios: I’m not certain what all the peripheral device settings mean but I tried to enable/ disable almost all of them. I mean if the Bios can recognize the stick for the installation, how come windows cant? Tried to “enable legacy support” and various other settings but could not find a setting to turn all USB ports into EHCi (2.0) and XHCi (3.0). Not even sure if this is the problem but maybe Windows only recognize USB 2.0?

-Tried to plug in the USB dongle into all existing USB ports

-Since that did not work did I try to merge the Drivers into the Windows Image and reinstall it with the right drivers. I used various tools such Vlite, Nlite and Gui Dism to integrate the drivers. The problem is that after the pc boots from the dongle and I selected the Language and time, I get an error message that the driver for the optical drive is missing and can browse the dongle to find it. Thing is that there is no optical drive in the pc. So I tried to copy the usb driver (that’s the one missing I guess) onto the stick but I cant find/select it in that menu either.

-Since the “missing optical drive driver” error I assumed that the boot ISO might be corrupted. If I add the drivers with Vlite into the image cant I use the “Windows USB download tool” to make my dongle bootable (“The Selected File Is Not A Valid ISO File”) . However if I use the tool rufus it works but I get the error with the optical drive again.

-To avoid the “The Selected File Is Not A Valid ISO File” error from the windows tool did I add an UDF and Joliet file system via Image burn to the ISO, solving the error and enabling me to make the stick with that tool bootable. However, I end up with the optical driver error again.

At this point I should have just bought an optical drive but I refused to accept that there is now way around. Pls guys help me out, I can’t take this anymore

Thanks a lot and sorry for the wall of text!
Ihoks

 

[beers]

Odd, which USB stick are you using? Do you see anything in Disk Management when it's connected? If it's a USB3 port it might need additional drivers, but most-everything-USB2.0 have been supported for ages if you use one of those ports.

As you stated, you really should be able to see the Windows installer USB stick from within windows, they've been able to use generic USB drivers for ages and 'should work' on a fresh install.

If you need a huge workaround in the interim, install a Linux liveCD onto the USB stick like Ubuntu. Then if you boot the PC from that you should be able to download the driver packages from the manufacturer's website and drop them into the system's drive (so you can install them after booting back into Windows).

 

[ihoks]

Hey, thank you fort the fast reply!

I have 4 different (in size and model) SanDisk USB sticks, sadly no other brand, all of them won’t be recognized.

The linux life CD sounds like a plan, at this point I'm willing to do anything to make it work. Can you recommend me a version? I’m not familiar with Linux is this the way to go?

Thank you very much, I have hope again

Edit: The Disk Management also only shows the 2 hardrives.

The Linux Live Stick worked! Thx a lot!!

 

[johnb35]

Just make sure you are using a usb 2.0 port and not a 3.0 port. Anything plugged into usb 3.0 won't get recognized until you install the driver. Are you trying to use the case usb ports or the ports on the back of the motherboard?

 

[ihoks]

I tried all of them, the USB ports in the back and front (both 2.0 and 3.0). I managed to copy the drivers with the Ubuntu live stick and installed the USB drivers of the Mobo. Strange thing, even now with the installed drivers from the manufacturer do I need to plug in the USB several times til Windows recognizes it. Not sure why, one of the sticks is brand new. Well at least it works now and I don’t need to throw the mashine out of the window Thx guys!

 

[johnb35]

It could very well be that you have something shorted out and thats why the usb ports don't work. Did you use the standoffs between motherboard and case?

 

[ihoks]

Hm that sounds reasonable. Though I did use the standoffs, I remember because I had to adjust them to the ATX format (not sure what it called). Maybe I should open it and just double check cables and if everything is at its place. Thank you!

Edit:
Just tried the various ports with my stick and it only makes troubles when i plug the 3.0 Stick into the front 2.0 port, Windows recognizes the stick but doesn't show it in the explorer, instead I get the message "The device can perform faster" message. After the third try it normal recognizes it.