'No device drivers found' error Windows 8.1 -> Windows 7 downgrade installation

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Guest
Hello,
There are numerous threads with the same issue online, but none of the solutions have worked for me, so I'm posting my own. I did contact Microsoft and Lenovo, but Lenovo is asking for money that I can't afford for tech support, so I'm hoping someone here can help me out.
Here's the situation:
I have a Lenovo Y510P that came with Windows 8.1. Half a year later, I'm sick of 8.1 and want to downgrade to Windows 7 (I know that simulation softwares like ClassicShell and such exist, but I would really rather just use Windows 7).
I downloaded a legitimate copy of Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit and burned it onto a DVD disk.
I also downloaded all of the Windows 7 device drivers from this Lenovo site: http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/ideapad-y-series-laptops/ideapad-y510p-notebook?TabName=Downloads
^I had to specify the model number and OS, so I'm hoping I downloaded the correct drivers (all of the drivers are .exe format, is that what it's supposed to look like?)
I put all of the drivers onto a flash drive.
So, I am now equipped with a DVD with Windows 7 on it as well as a flash drive with all of the drivers on it.
I boot from the disk with the DVD and flash drive attached. Windows 7 installation begins and here I get the error, 'no device drivers found.' When I click 'browse', I see that the flash drive is recognized, but the files on it aren't.
What do you guys think the issue is??
Best,
anon27
 
Solution
If you need the AHCI or RAID driver then run the EXE file for the chipset driver and it should extract it to a folder. The other drivers may or may not run from the exe it varies from one to another, but you dont need to extract them yet because those drivers wont need to be installed until after windows is installed
Did you use the win 7 dvd tool or did you just copy the dvd files to the flash drive.
If you did that latter that wont work as there is no boot image on the usb drive.

If you did use the win 7 dvd tool then try it agian.

Now I have had that issue happen with a good usb drive of win 7.
When it does that hit cancel till it takes you back to the install screen. Remove usb drive and put it in a different usb port and see if that works.
 
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Guest

Guest


I burnt the windows 7 files onto a DVD, not a flash drive. I downloaded the device drivers separately and put them on a flash drive. Does the windows 7 files and device drivers have to be on the same media?
 
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Guest


Also, when I downloaded the device drivers from the Lenovo website, the files were all .exe files. Are drivers supposed to be exe files or am I supposed to do something with them first?
 
No they dont have to be on the same media, my mistake I thought you ment you were installing windows with a flash drive (soo much faster then with a dvd).

If you need to use AHCI or RAID drivers is the only reason you need to load drivers durring windows install. If doing AHCI or Raid wait to put flash drive in until you specify to load driver.

When you downloaded and made the dvd, did you just copy the files to the disk or did you use a program to create a disk from the iso image?
 
If you need the AHCI or RAID driver then run the EXE file for the chipset driver and it should extract it to a folder. The other drivers may or may not run from the exe it varies from one to another, but you dont need to extract them yet because those drivers wont need to be installed until after windows is installed
 
Solution