The "No Driver Found" error during Windows 10 installation on an Acer Nitro SSD occurs because the installer lacks NVMe storage drivers. To fix this, you must manually load the Intel RST or AMD RAID driver onto your bootable USB drive before starting the installation process.
Understanding the Root Cause
When attempting to install Windows 10 on modern systems like the Acer Nitro series, the standard Windows installation media often fails to recognize NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) drives. This results in the infamous "No Drives Were Found" or "No Driver Found" message. The issue is not that the hardware is broken, but rather that the generic Windows PE (Preinstallation Environment) environment does not include the specific controller drivers required to communicate with high-speed NVMe SSDs. This problem is particularly common on laptops and desktops equipped with Intel or AMD chipsets that use RAID or VMD (Volume Management Device) technology by default. Even if you are using a single drive in AHCI mode, some manufacturers configure the BIOS to enable VMD, which requires specific drivers to be present for the operating system installer to see the disk. If you have previously encountered issues where your internal SSD was slow to load, it may indicate underlying driver conflicts that persist into the installation phase, as seen in Why Does My Internal SSD Take 30 Seconds to Become Accessible in Windows 10?.Gathering the Required Drivers
Before creating your bootable media, you need to obtain the correct storage drivers from Acer's support website. Navigate to the official Acer Support page and enter your specific Nitro model number. Look for the "Drivers & Manual" section and select the Windows 10 (or 11) operating system tab. You will likely find two categories of relevant drivers: Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST) or AMD Chipset Drivers. Download the latest version of the Intel RST F6 Floppy driver or the AMD RAID driver package. Note that these are often distributed as executable files (.exe) containing compressed archives. Do not simply copy the .exe file to your USB drive; you must extract its contents. Use a tool like 7-Zip or WinRAR to extract the driver files to a folder on your computer. Inside this folder, look for subdirectories named "F6Flpy64" or similar, which contain the actual .inf, .sys, and .cat files needed by the Windows installer.Preparing the Bootable USB Drive
Create a bootable Windows 10 installation media using the Microsoft Media Creation Tool or Rufus. Once the USB drive is prepared with the standard Windows files, insert it into your computer. Open File Explorer and navigate to the root directory of the USB drive. Create a new folder named "drivers" at the top level of the drive. Copy the extracted driver files from the previous step into this newly created "drivers" folder. It is crucial that these files are accessible directly from the USB drive's file system, not buried inside an archive. Some users also create a separate folder for other necessary drivers, such as Wi-Fi or chipset drivers, to ensure a smooth post-installation setup. By organizing your drivers clearly, you avoid confusion when the installer prompts you for their location. For more insights on managing storage configurations after installation, you might find SSD Driver Not Found Error during Windows Installation on Acer Nitro N50-620 helpful.Loading the Driver During Installation
Boot your Acer Nitro from the USB flash drive by selecting it from the BIOS boot menu (usually accessed via F12). Proceed through the initial language and keyboard selection screens until you reach the "Where do you want to install Windows?" screen. Here, you will typically see an empty list of drives, confirming the driver absence. Click the "Load Driver" button located in the bottom-left corner of the window. A dialog box will appear asking you to browse for the driver. Navigate to your USB drive, open the "drivers" folder you created earlier, and select the folder containing the .inf file. Click OK, and the installer will scan the folder. It should detect the NVMe controller driver and display it in the list. Select the driver and click Next. Once loaded, the drive list should populate with your Acer Nitro SSD. You can now proceed with the partitioning and formatting steps just as you would with any standard installation. If the driver fails to load, double-check that you selected the correct architecture (64-bit vs. 32-bit) and that the files were properly extracted.Troubleshooting Common Issues
If you still encounter errors, verify that your BIOS settings are configured correctly. Enter the BIOS (typically by pressing F2 during startup) and check the SATA Operation setting. Switching between RAID On and AHCI can sometimes resolve compatibility issues, though this may require a clean reinstall if Windows is already partially installed. Be cautious when changing these settings, as incorrect configurations can lead to data loss or boot failures. Additionally, ensure that Secure Boot is enabled if you are installing Windows 11, as it enforces stricter driver signing requirements.Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fix this error without downloading drivers?
No, you cannot bypass the need for NVMe drivers if the installer does not recognize the drive. The only alternative is to change the BIOS SATA operation mode to AHCI, which uses generic Microsoft drivers, but this may disable fast boot features provided by the manufacturer.
Which driver should I use: Intel RST or AMD RAID?
You must use the driver that matches your processor architecture. Intel-based Acer Nitro models require the Intel RST driver, while AMD Ryzen-based models require the AMD RAID driver. Using the wrong driver will result in a failure to load.
Does this error affect my existing data on the SSD?
No, loading the driver during installation does not delete data. However, if you choose to format the drive during the installation process, all existing data will be erased. Always back up important files before proceeding with any OS installation.
What if the "Load Driver" button is grayed out?
This usually indicates that the Windows installation media is corrupted or incomplete. Re-download the Windows ISO from Microsoft and recreate the bootable USB drive using the Media Creation Tool or Rufus to ensure all necessary components are present.
Will updating the BIOS help resolve this issue?
Updating the BIOS can sometimes improve NVMe compatibility, but it rarely eliminates the need for external drivers during the initial Windows installation. It is recommended to update the BIOS after successfully installing Windows to ensure optimal system stability.