"We Couldn't Find Any Drives Error Appears? Solved! [2024 Guide]"

Have you recently attempted to install a Windows operating system on your computer only to encounter the error message "We couldn't find any drives"? How did you proceed? This tutorial delves into this specific issue and details the possible reasons behind its occurrence.

We'll also address potential solutions to the problem and make sure you successfully complete the Windows installation process.

Error Message: No Drives Were Found

When installing a new operating system on your computer, you might encounter the error message "We couldn't find any drives." This indicates that the installation process cannot proceed as the new operating system has failed to detect any hard disk drives. To overcome this issue, you will need to load a driver to continue with the installation.

This error can occur due to several reasons. Firstly, it might stem from incorrect configurations on your hard drive, which in turn prevents the operating system from recognizing any drives on your computer. Another possible cause for this issue is a damaged or corrupted disk. When the disk is corrupted, the system fails to detect any drives to utilize for booting the operating system.

The next section will discuss how to fix this error and have your operating system installed normally.

How to Resolve the "We Couldn't Find Any Drives" Issue?

To proceed with the Windows installation process, you first need to address the "we couldn't find any drives" error. In this section, we will outline three methods to rectify this issue.

1. Method 1: Change the Storage Controller Type
2. Method 2: Fix the Issue in VirtualBox
3. Method 3: Use a Bootable USB Drive

Method 1: Changing the Storage Controller Type ( SATA Operation Mode to AHCI )

A swift solution to resolving the drive error is by changing your storage controller mode from SATA to AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface). This might assist your system in recognizing the hard disk. You can accomplish this by following these steps:

Step 1. Access the BIOS settings on your computer.

Step 2. Navigate to the "Storage" section.

Step 3. If the "RAID On" option is enabled, switch it to "AHCI/NVMe."

Step 4. Restart your computer using the same USB device that contained the Windows installation. The system will now detect the available hard drive and permit you to proceed with the installation!

Method 2: Fix in VirtualBox

A second method to resolve the "we couldn't find any drives" error on your Windows computer is through VirtualBox. You'll need to remove the current storage devices and attach new ones, followed by selecting the appropriate ISO file. Here are the detailed steps: 1. Open VirtualBox on your computer. 2. Select the virtual machine where you're encountering the error. 3. Click on "Settings" for the selected virtual machine. 4. Navigate to the "Storage" tab in the settings window. 5. Under the "Storage Tree," locate the "Controller: SATA" (or similar) section. 6. Click on the "CD/DVD Drive" icon connected to the controller, usually represented by a CD or DVD symbol. 7. In the "Storage Device" drop-down menu, choose "Remove Disk from Virtual Drive." 8. Now, click on the same CD/DVD Drive icon again, then click on the "Choose a disk file" (or "Select CD/DVD Disk File") button. 9. Browse to the location of the ISO file you want to use and select it. 10. Click "Open" to attach the ISO file to the virtual drive. 11. Save the changes made to the virtual machine's settings. 12. Start the virtual machine. It should now recognize the new drive with the ISO file. By following these steps, you should be able to overcome the "we couldn't find any drives" error and proceed with your virtual environment.

Remove the Current Storage Devices

Step 1. Open VirtualBox and select a particular virtual machine.

Step 2. Click on "Settings"

Step 3. Proceed to the left panel and click on the "Storage" tab.

Step 4. From the list of available controllers, select "SATA."

Step 5. Click the option to "Remove the selected storage controller."

Add a New Storage Device

Step 6. Navigate to the "Add new storage controller" icon and select it.

Step 7. Select "Add SATA Controller."

Step 8. Click on "Add hard disk" and select "Create new disk."

Step 9. Next, choose "Dynamically Allocated." This will create a new virtual hard disk. Be patient while the process completes.

Select the Right ISO File

Step 10. Click on "Add optical drive."

Step 11. Click on the "Choose disk" option.

Step 12. Choose your preferred ISO file from the available options. If none is listed, use the "Add" button to select the correct one.

Step 13. Click "OK."

Step 14. Restart the virtual machine. You will now be able to view the available partitions to boot your Windows installation. Proceed with the Windows installation process.

Method 3: Use a Bootable USB Drive

To resolve the error "We couldn't find any drives" using a bootable USB drive, follow these steps: 1. **Verify USB Drive**: First, ensure that the USB drive is correctly inserted into your computer's USB port. Make sure it's not damaged or corrupted. 2. **Boot Settings**: Restart your computer and enter the BIOS or UEFI settings by pressing the appropriate key (usually F2, F10, F12, or Del, depending on your system). Look for the "Boot" or "Startup" menu and change the boot order to prioritize USB devices. 3. **Enable USB Boot**: If "USB Boot" or "Legacy Boot" is disabled, enable it. Save the changes and exit the BIOS setup, which will prompt your computer to restart with the new boot settings. 4. **Check USB Formatting**: The USB drive should be properly formatted with a file system compatible with your operating system. Typically, this would be either FAT32 or NTFS for Windows, and either HFS+ or APFS for macOS. You can use tools like Disk Utility on macOS or Disk Management in Windows to format the USB drive. 5. **Create a Bootable USB**: If you haven't already, download the ISO image of the desired operating system and use software like Rufus, balenaEtcher, or Microsoft's Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB drive from the ISO. 6. **Retry Booting**: After creating the bootable USB, restart your computer again and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings to ensure the USB drive remains at the top of the boot order. Save the settings and exit. Your computer should now attempt to boot from the USB drive. 7. **OS Installation**: If everything is set up correctly, you should see the installation screen of the operating system. Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed with the installation. If the issue persists, it might be helpful to try another USB port, another USB drive, or even another computer to isolate the problem.

Step 1. First, create a bootable USB drive.

Step 2. Download the Intel VMD driver. Extract the downloaded files and save them to the bootable drive you created.

Step 3. Restart your computer and press F2 to enter the BIOS setup.

Step 4. Click on the "Main" tab in the BIOS setup and make sure the "F12 Boot Menu" is enabled.

Step 5. Click on the "Security" tab and proceed to the "Set Supervisor Password" section to create a password.

Step 6. Next, select the "Boot" tab and then "Secure Boot." Save your changes and exit the BIOS. Shutdown your computer.

Step 7. Insert the bootable USB drive into your computer and press F12 repeatedly. From the "Boot Options Menu" that appears, select your bootable drive.

Step 8. Follow the installation instructions, and when the "we couldn't find any drives" error appears, click on the "Load driver" option.

Step 9. Next, select the "Browse" icon.

Step 10. Select the Intel VMD driver folder that you saved on your bootable USB drive. Click "OK."

Step 11. When the "Select the driver to install" window appears, choose the first option and click "Next." The system will automatically install the Intel VMD driver and show the available drives for booting Windows. You can continue with the installation process.

Step 12. After the installation is complete, restart your system and enter the BIOS setup to remove the passwords you set earlier. Save the changes and exit the BIOS setup.

Conclusion

If you stumble upon the "we couldn't find any drives" error during the installation of Windows on your PC, fret not, as we have provided potential solutions for you. You can rectify this issue by altering the storage controller mode from SATA to AHCI, creating a new storage device in VirtualBox, or through a bootable USB drive.

Give any of these solutions a try to see if the error message vanishes. If all goes well, you can continue with the Windows installation process. I hope you found this article enjoyable! Don't hesitate to interact with us in the chat section if you have any comments.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Here's a list of frequently asked questions regarding the "We couldn't find any drives" error: 1. **What does the "We couldn't find any drives" error mean?** This error typically occurs when Windows fails to detect any hard drives or storage devices during startup, setup, or after a system update. 2. **Why do I receive this error?** It can be caused by various reasons such as disconnected or damaged hard drives, outdated or corrupted drivers, BIOS/UEFI settings issues, or software conflicts. 3. **How can I fix the error?** - **Check physical connections:** Ensure all cables are securely connected to your hard drive and motherboard. - **Boot from a USB or CD/DVD:** Try using a Windows installation media to see if the issue lies with the boot order. - **Update or reinstall drivers:** Visit the manufacturer's website for the latest drivers, or uninstall and reinstall the existing ones. - **Check BIOS/UEFI settings:** Enter BIOS and ensure the hard drive is recognized and set as the primary boot device. - **Run disk utilities:** Use tools like `chkdsk` or Windows' built-in Disk Management to check for errors or formatting issues. - **System Restore or Clean Install:** If all else fails, perform a System Restore or a clean installation of Windows. 4. **Is data loss a concern?** Depending on the cause, there might be a risk of data loss. Always backup important files before attempting any repairs. 5. **Should I contact technical support?** If the above steps don't resolve the issue, it may be best to seek assistance from a professional or the hardware manufacturer's technical support. 6. **Can this happen with solid-state drives (SSDs)?** Yes, SSDs can also encounter this error if they have similar connectivity or driver issues. 7. **Are there any preventive measures?** Regularly updating drivers and firmware, maintaining a clean system, and backing up data can minimize the chances of encountering this error.

1. Why Isn't My PC Recognizing My Hard Drive?

Your PC might fail to recognize your hard drive due to the following reasons:

Connectivity issues. Malfunctioning BIOS settings. Driver problems, etc.

2. Why Isn't My "D" Drive Appearing?

This could occur if you accidentally deleted the file or formatted the drive. To resolve this, you should attempt to create a new D drive by accessing "Disk Management."

3. How Can I Resolve an Internal Hard Drive Not Being Detected?

To address this issue, you can explore the following solutions as outlined in this article:

• Change the storage controller type from SATA to AHCI.
• Create a new storage device using VirtualBox.
• Utilize a bootable USB drive.

Navigate to the respective sections above to get a detailed walkthrough of these methods.

4. Will Resetting BIOS Delete Files?

No, resetting the BIOS will not affect your computer data. It simply restores the system BIOS settings to their default values as if they were fresh out of the factory.