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Effective Fixes for Hard Drive Not Detected in Windows 10 Installation

The installation of Windows 10, 8 or 7 needs a recovery hard disk, but sometimes the hard drive is not detected in the Windows installation with error messages like We could not find any drives. To get a storage driver, click Load driver or No drives were found, click load driver to provide a mass storage driver for installation. When Windows 10 install not detecting hard drive problem occurs during installation, read this post and get solutions.

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Updated by Cici on Nov 15, 2023
Written by Jean

Errors: No Drives Were Found. Click Load Driver to Provide a Mass Storage Driver for Installation 

During the process of installing Windows OS on a specified HDD or SSD, you may surprisingly find that the hard disk is not detected during the Windows installation, with either of the following error messages coming along.

"We couldn't find any drives. To get a storage driver, click Load driver." "No drives were found. Click Load Driver to provide a mass storage driver for installation."

hard disk not detected in windows 10 installation

However, clicking "Load Driver" doesn't solve the problem at all. What's the next move then? Have you found viable solutions to troubleshoot hard disk not detected in Windows 10 or Windows 7 installation even it's normally connected to the computer?

Workable Solutions Step-by-step Troubleshooting
6 Solutions to Fix Hard Drive Not Detected Method 1. Use a Different SATA Port...Full steps
Method 2. Load RAID Driver for RAID Disk...Full steps
Method 3. Check the Hard Drive in BIOS...Full steps
More ways...
Bonus Tip: Free Partition Manager to Enhance System Performance Launch EaseUS Partition Master on your PC > Free up space...Full steps

Further Reading: Format Hard Drive from BIOS Windows 10

How to Fix Hard Disk Not Detected in Windows 10 Installation

Even though Windows 10 or Windows 7 installations include almost all disk drivers, the "No drives were found. Click load driver to provide a mass storage driver for installation" issue occurs from time to time and you find no way to out. When you encounter Windows 10 install not detecting hard drive or Windows 7 couldn’t find any drivers to get storage driver problems, try the practical six ways below.

Method 1. Use a Different SATA Port 

If you are using a desktop computer, try using a different SATA port and see if that helps at all. Sometimes they come with two different controllers. 

Method 2. Load RAID Driver for RAID Disk 

Windows 10 install not detecting hard drive mostly occurs on RAID disk. In this case, you need to load RAID drivers manually to fix the issue.

Step 1. On the Windows Setup windows, you will see Where do you want to install Windows? And there is no hard drive detected. Click "Load Drivers" at the bottom left of the screen, then click "Browse" to choose the device driver.

load raid driver - 1

Step 2. Go to your computer or storage device to find and load an available RAID driver.

load raid driver - 2

Step 3. After the device diver has been loaded, Windows 10 installing will successfully detect the hard disk. Then, follow the onscreen instructions to install Windows.

load raid driver - 3

Read Also: Windows 10 Won't Install on SSD

Method 3. Check the Hard Drive in BIOS

Otherwise, take some time to check if hard drive shows up in BIOS, especially you're installing an operating system from a bootable USB or CD/DVD disc.

By holding and pressing F2, you'll enter BIOS settings. See if the hard drive showing up there. Click solution to repair hard drive not showing in BIOS.

If not, check your BIOS settings for the following parameters: 
* SATA configuration -> Enhanced 
* Configure SATA -> AHCI

Method 4. Check the Status of Your Hard Drive

Step 1. Press Windows + R and the window will pop up.

Step 2. Input devmgmt.msc and press Enter.

fix hard drive not detected on Windows 10 - devmgmt.msc

Step 3. Choose Disk Drives and right-click the hard drive.

fix hard drive not detected in windows 10 - device manager

Step 4. Click Properties and check the status of your hard drive. If it is Ok, showing "This device is working properly".

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Method 5. Boot from Windows 10 Install Media

Microsoft also provides a method about boot from the Window 10 Install Media. You can take these steps to fix the issues "drive not showing up when Windows 10 install". 

Step 1. Choose Install Now > Accept License Agreement > Choose the installation type and click "Custom Advanced".

Step 2. Press Shift + F10.

Input each command and press Enter: DISKPART > list volume > select disk* > clean > convert mbr > create partition primary > active > format quick fs=ntfs >exit

Then you can install Windows again. 

Method 6. Ask Help from the Manufacturer

Since the manner of installing or reinstalling Windows OS happens so frequently that most personal PC or desktop manufacturers have built-in checking tools for quick troubleshooting and repair. For example, Dell Online Diagnostic Tool, Lenovo Diagnostic Software for Hard Drive Quick Test, etc. So if you're their customers, feel no hesitate to ask help from the manufacturer and learn how to use tools to fix hard drive not detected issues alright.

You have learned all six methods, so if you consider them helpful, share them to help more.

 

Bonus Tip: Free Partition Master to Enhance System Performance

You can enjoy the exciting features of the latest system after successful Windows 10 installing. Furthermore, to enhance system performance and let software and hardware cooperate to achieve an optimal operating state, it’s necessary for you to have free partition management software, which enables you to organize and optimize your hard drive to extend your computer's life and capableness.

EaseUS Partition Master Free is a versatile partition management program that provides one-stop partition and disk management solutions, for instances:

  • Resize/move partitions by sliding the partition left and right or enter the exact partition size you want, such as increase C drive to speed up your computer
  • Create, format and delete partitions
  • Completely wipe out all the data on the hard disk permanently

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Now, download this ultimate Windows 10/8/7 disk management tool and follow the simple steps below to resize and move your partitions.

Step 1. Shrink partition to free up space to extend partition.

If the hard drive has enough unallocated space to extend the target partition, jump to Step 2, and continue. If not, free up space first:

  • At the Partition Manager section, right-click on a partition next to the target partition and select "Resize/Move".
  • Drag the partition ends to free up space, leaving enough unallocated space behind the target partition, click "OK".
free up disk space to get unallocated space

Step 2. Extend the target partition.

Right-click on the target partition you want to extend and select "Resize/Move".

extend partition -1

Drag the target partition handle into the unallocated space to extend partition.

extend partition -2

Step 3. Keep all changes.

Click the "Execute Task" button and click "Apply" to keep all changes.

extend partition -3

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Windows 10 Install Not Detecting Hard Drive FAQs

1. How do I fix no device drivers found?

Fixes for No Device Drivers Were Found:

Solution 1. Switch to a USB 2.0 Port

Solution 2. Set the partition where you want to install Windows to as Activeewe

Solution 3. Create a New Disc

Solution 4. Enable the xHCI hand-off Option in BIOS

Solution 5. Change everything to legacy and set the boot device to your DVD or USB

2. Where do you want to install Windows 10 no drives were found?

To fix "No drives were found. Click load driver to provide a mass storage driver for installation", do it in the following way:

Step 1. Click "Load Drivers" at the bottom left of the screen, then click "Browse" to choose the device driver.

Step 2. Choose and load an available RAID driver.

Step 3. After Windows 10 installing successfully detects the hard disk, follow the onscreen instructions to install Windows.

3. Where do you want to install Windows 7 no drives were found?

Fix: No Hard Drives Found in Windows 7 Installer:

Solution 1. Format the hard drive using diskpart in command prompt.

Solution 2. Load the hard drive storage controller drivers from a USB into the Windows setup.

Solution 3. Change the boot controller mode in BIOS.

Solution 4. Reset BIOS.

Solution 5. Use a different SATA port. 

4. How do I install drivers for my hard drive?

The basic steps to install drivers for a hard drive are:

Step 1. Configure the drive as a master or slave device (PATA only).

Step 2. Mount the drive in the chassis.

Step 3. Connect the data cable to the drive and to the PATA or SATA interface.

Step 4. Connect a power cable to the drive.

Step 5. Restart the system and run the BIOS Setup.

Step 6. If you are also installing a PATA or SATA interface card or RAID adapter, configure that card per the maker's instructions and attach the cables to it. 

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About the Author

Updated by Cici

Cici is the junior editor of the writing team of EaseUS. She accepted the systematic training on computers at EaseUS for over one year. Now, she wrote a lot of professional articles to help people resolve the issues of hard drive corruption, computer boot errors, and disk partition problems.

Read full bio

Written by Jean

Jean is recognized as one of the most professional writers in EaseUS. She has kept improving her writing skills over the past 10 years and helped millions of her readers solve their tech problems on PC, Mac, and iOS devices.

Read full bio

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