Adding drivers onto Windows 11 USB boot media

Hi, the last time I done a fresh install of Windows 11 was a bit of a pain, at the time I didn't realise I needed the RAID drivers for my laptop, and it didn't find the new drive (which wouldn't be so much an issue now as thats sorted)
Also, during installation, the USB media drive I created didn't have the WIFI drivers on, so setup was unable to download all updates and setup my account etc thats useful during installation.

I was looking into in future, if doing similar, can I put the drivers on the USB so they load.

I read an article saying this can be done by extracting the drivers to the 'Sources' folder on the USB boot media?

Will this work as intended, so that Windows would be able to load these during installation?

Thanks
James

james_uk said:

Hi, the last time I done a fresh install of Windows 11 was a bit of a pain, at the time I didn't realise I needed the RAID drivers for my laptop, and it didn't find the new drive (which wouldn't be so much an issue now as thats sorted)
Also, during installation, the USB media drive I created didn't have the WIFI drivers on, so setup was unable to download all updates and setup my account etc thats useful during installation.

I was looking into in future, if doing similar, can I put the drivers on the USB so they load.

I read an article saying this can be done by extracting the drivers to the 'Sources' folder on the USB boot media?

Will this work as intended, so that Windows would be able to load these during installation?

Thanks
James

Click to expand...

See this excellent tutorial.

A win 11 installation drive may have eleven Win 11 images (Home, Pro, education etc) under a compacted file named install.wim or install.esd that is on the \sources folder.
You can slipstream (add) drivers to the images you use so Windows will find them automatically during installation. You can use Windows Dism app to do it.
Another way is to make a folder on the win 11 USB installation drive and load with all drivers you will need and manually point where to look to install them after a clean install.

The IRST (Intel® Rapid Storage ) RAID driver you will need during installation. You can put it on the same folder with the other drivers but you will need to load during installation (you load when you are asked where you want to install Win 11).

As there is a new Win 11 version every year, I suggest you make a folder on the win 11 USB installation drive and load with all drivers you will need.
As you already have win 11 set, you can generate a copy of all drivers installed.

While the preferred method is to integrate your drivers into an offline image, it's possible to copy drivers to the USB drive. Normally you have to use an autounattend.xml to instruct Setup where to find the folder, but there's another way.
Limitations of $WinPeDriver$ when used in conjunction with other driver injection methods

1. Extract driver files to a local folder.
2. Create $WinpeDriver$ folder on the USB drive, and copy your files there.

If you search the C:\Windows\Panther\setupact.logs on an installed Windows, you can see Setup checking for the folders:




What's the catch? If this trick was that easy, why doesn't everyone follow it?

The drawback is $WinpeDriver$ driver content is copied to WinPE's RAM disk or X: drive. There's a fixed amount of shared "disk space", but if you only have a few drivers and they're relatively small, they can fit. Something like adding NVIDIA's bloated drivers would be out of the question. That's why the normal answer is to integrate drivers into the image, where there is no space limitation.

But you can use the USB folder in certain cases. The worse thing than can happen is it doesn't work.

In this informative video, i will guide you through the process of adding device drivers to your Windows installation. Join me as we explore step-by-step methods to seamlessly integrate drivers into your Windows setup, ensuring your hardware functions flawlessly.

And there is this tutorial here at Elevenforum.

I have a stick with the drivers that came with my computer. I just copy that over onto a Windows installation boot disk, into /drivers folder. I always need the network driver to get Internet, so it’s right there to add.

@james_uk,

You need to be aware that there are two different types of drivers that you can add to your Windows image. You can add all your standard drivers to your Windows image. The end result of doing this is that after Windows is done being installed, ALL the drivers for your system will already be installed. However, this will NOT help the scenario that you described where Windows setup does not see the drives in your system. This is because the driver needed by setup needs to be injected into the boot.wim file rather than into the main install.wim image.

Drivers that are necessary during setup or startup are typically termed "boot critical drivers" to differentiate them from your run of the mill drivers.

Once you know how to do this, it's easy, but a bit time consuming. As a result, I wrote a program that does this for me .

So, if this would be helpful to you, I can provide a couple of options to you:

1) I can provide a step-by-step guide so that you can do this manually.

2) I can provide the program to you.

Let me know if either option (or both) interest you.

@BJ1, I see that you quoted me but you added nothing in addition to that quote. Did you intend to ask a question or make a comment?

BTW, welcome to ElevenForum!

Hi hsehestedt,

I am trying to repair a Tinyw11 OS install on my ext SSD.

Trying to add drivers by using DISM off-line commands.
Need to install ACER Drivers for Video, Touchpad, Bluetooth mouse, Wireless Lan, IRST_Intel (to allow access to Internal SDD Partitions) Drivers.

I have added a "Drivers" subdirectory on the External SSD TinyW11Pro partition. Used Rufus to create Bootable GPT UEFI from latest tinyW11 2311.iso.
Also have a W11 2311 Repair Bootable USB with Drivers installed within, using DISM to add drivers to install.wim, created by RUFUS.
Tried to repair TinyW11Pro partition, using the Repair Bootable W11 USB, without success.

Next idea was to add drivers within the boot.wim, but not sure, if these drivers will be recognised, before bootup is completed on external SSD.

Problem is SSD "TinyW11Pro OS" does bootup, with some activity shows SSD LED flashing, but after ACER logo, screen goes BLANK, wait for very long time, NO changes on Laptop screen.
I am assuming that drivers may be installing, but without any screen, to view progress, if any, other than LED Flashing continuously. Maybe Booting is Locked up,

I have backed up a Working TinyW11Pro partition, using Symantec Ghost DOS 32bit version. But this backup image is not complete with all apps fully operational.

The TinyW11Pro partition was working perfectly on another Acer Laptop, but because there is Different Hardware between the 2 Laptops, I am trying to remove Incompatible Drivers from Original Laptop, and add the New Drivers compliant with my the New Acer Laptop, whilst leaving same applications already installed within the Ghost image.

So if you have a working Script or Batch Command File, that I can edit to suit my Drivers required to be installed. I would really appreciate some advice or assistance from any forum members.

Thanks in advance, cheers.

I have never used TinyW11Pro OS so I can only comment about standard Windows 11. Hopefully this will apply to the Tiny OS as well.

Here is a tutorial on how to add drivers to your Windows image:


NOTE: By using the above tutorial, you are adding drivers that will be used by Windows once it is fully installed. If you need to add drivers that are needed for Windows setup to run properly, that is a different story.

The above procedure adds drivers to the install.wim. For Setup, you may possibly need to add so-called "boot critical drivers". In other words, these are drivers that are critical for the operation of Setup. As an example, if you have HDDs or SSDs that are not recognized or seen by Windows setup, preventing you from installing Windows, you will need boot critical drivers.

By far, the easiest way to do this is to simply add those drivers during setup. To do this, start setup (boot from your installation media) and proceed to the screen where it asks you where to install Windows. On that screen you have an option to load drivers:



However, if you do still want to add those drivers directly to your installation media, let me know and I will get instructions to you. Unfortunately, I won't have the time to do this until tonight or tomorrow morning, but I'll do my best if you need this to get it done as fast as I can. It will take a bit of work to do a write-up.

@Hi hsehestedt

Thank you so much for your reply.

As mentioned in my post, I have installed a working version of TinyW11 and installed Drivers after initial build was transferred by Rufus, the TinyW11 iso, is used by adding it's location and select the SSD to have the OS copied to SSD. (As "Windows to Go" UEFI configuration available by Rufus, also allows options to allow Windows 11 to operate on Several Devices, Laptops isolated from Internal SSD, also during installation to remove Windows 11 built-in requirements (Secure Boot, TPM v2, Graphics card) etc.

Rufus wipes everything on SSD, prior to install. So Backup all existing Partitions, if required for future,
Also adding extra hidden partitions as Normal, UEFI Boot&System. OS is formatted as NTFS partition, similar to your Screenshot. Next using Partition app. (ie easeUS partition master), I reduced size of Win 11 org. 1TB to 100GB for each W11pro OS ( each OS to match my 2 of Acer Laptops, (with seperate Drivers to match Hardware Differences), then add 2 extra Data Partitions, used for applications' INSTALLATION files, Ghost Backups, Drivers, Temp Subdirectories on these Data Partitions. So the 1TB SSD is fully utilised. Being portable and completely seperate W11 Pro WTG OS as TinyW11Pro with (Limited NO Microsoft Bloat) including all apps. Latest version allows any Win 11 Security Updates, same as Full Version W11 23H2.

I added Drivers as required, using INF files, extracted from my Acer Laptop's Internal SSD Win 11 Pro., with ALL Drivers. {Acer SF314} or New Acer SFG16-72}
I also added Drivers, Using DISM "extract and add process" to create new "Install.wim" with Drivers, and then Compiled a complete ISO to make "Windows to Go" using Rufus to install on each partition, as mentioned earlier.

So after all that preparation and W11 installed on the ext. 1TB SSD, SUCCESSFUL
I then created several Ghost image as Backups of each build.
Reason was that I can easily Restore these images, back onto either OS partition of Ext. SSD. If any BSOD or Failed to Boot, due Microsoft Failed Patches, Upgrades, adding incorrrect drivers, or as they are doing lately with Features, that Nobody wants, but Microsoft inflicts their CRAP on "us users". Hidden as a Security patch, like Copilot, Recall, more AI crap. Cannot move Taskbar to side. Context menu missing.
Edge browser Full of Advertisements , other annoying Crap.

Therefore requires Scripts to remove All this CRAP, modifying Registry Settings, to prevent Microsoft from Re-Installing again after Total Removal, everytime you Bootup next time.

Anyway after providing my efforts on my processes, to get a Working OS with ALL apps functioning.

I am attempting to Repair an existing tinyWin11 Pro, that refuses to Boot now as before.
I am suggesting some Drivers are Required to allow W11 OS to Boot correctly.

Presently all that happens is, - it Boots up to Blank Screen, probably requires firstly, the Driver "IRST-INTEL"
Required to locate ALL Drives - Internal with External SSD, Next Drivers for Video, to allow me to view -what is happening during the Bootup Sequences, followed by -WiFi Drivers to allow Internet access for any Driver updates, -then Drivers for Touchpad, and -Bluetooth mouse for easy navigating aroung Desktop Screen, allowing access to File Explorer to view data or files stored inside either Laptop's Internal SSD or USB connected External SSD.

****TRIED PROCESSES****
Trying to use normal Microsoft Repair functions appear to FAIL, as they work well on Internal SSD OS, but using OS on external SSD, requires Drivers. Using Recovery via PE ISO on FlashDrive, requires IRST_INTEL drivers to locate External SSD.
Tried that using W11 2311 PE Flash Drive, booted up and tried Repair, even able to locate any of Windows Installations. On both Ext SSD W11 partitions and Internal W11 on my Acer Laptop.
Repair Did Nothing.

Tried EaseuUS Partition Wizard Repair Function, by Starting W11 on Laptop, and selecting External SSD Tinywin11 partition that FAILS to Bootup.
Even tried Hiding other partitions on Laptop & the Working TinyW11, leaving just the Faulty OS, booted up the PE Flash Drive, to Repair. Again Nothing Works.

Last resort will be Total wipe, clean W11 install using Rufus & TinyW11 2311.iso then add All Drivers and re-install ALL apps again. Which is Alot of Work, & Time consuming.

Surely using DISM to remove Most Device Drivers and add back "All required Drivers" to Bootup, and get access to Laptop screen, to continue install additional Drivers to have a Fully Operational Device, without Reinstalling All apps again.

So after my long winded explanation, sorry about the lots of info, but I just wanted you to understand my issue. And not cause you to create lots of effort to assist, as you have kindly proposed.

If possible just need some hints, that I can execute. Using DISM to gain access to the Faulty OS, being OFF-LINE, and using install Driver commands to remotely install Drivers, using DriverStore inf files or executable Drivers using Command Prompt (admin) or Terminal (admin) Windows Powershell script or individual commands.

ie. Puputil or DISM add or remove commands.
*****examples I have researched on forums like Eleven****

puputil / delete-driver oem1.inf / uninstall / force
puputil /add-driver oem1.inf install /forceunsigned /reboot
puputil /export-driver * " f:\driverbackup" [note: f:\ is another data partition on Ext SSD]

puputil /add-driver /driver:F:\driverbackup\oem1.inf /subdirs /install /reboot
**** change oem"1".inf to next file to install each driver one by one****
****or commands to add each driver in turn -install -then add next driver - install, then move thru until ALL Drivers have been added & installed, similar to "recurse function", then reboot to complete process****.

****using Powershell to extract ALL Drivers****
{ Export Drivers from Working TinyW11Pro ext.SSD partition}
Export -windowsdriver -path H:\ -Destination "F:\SFG16SSDDriverbackup

or {Export Drivers from Working W11Pro Full Version on Acer Laptop int. SSD}
Export -windowsdriver -Online -Destination "F:\SFG16IntDriverbackup

****Get List of oem drivers in either format of Table or List provides designation, description. on third party or all drivers installed and can extracted from ****
C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\DriversStore\*.inf

dism /online /Get-Drivers /format:Table {Third party Drivers Manufacturer's or Microsoft}
dism / online /Get-Drivers / all / format:Table { ALL }

dism / image:H: /Get-Drivers /all /format:Table { Drivers installed on Ext SSD}
[Note: or use /format:List instead of /format:Table.]

I have exported Drivers and got tables or lists imported in Excel Spreadsheets, and saved actual Drivers from Acer, as well as Backedup to various Directories on SSDs


dism / online /Export-Driver /Driverem1.inf

dism /image:H:\ /Add-Driver /driver:F:\ SFG16IntDriverBackup /recurse / forceunsigned

Another option is install remotely the Driver's "setup_driver.cmd", extracted from Manufacturer's Driver zip file for each Device.
- Not sure how to do that option, REMOTELY. Easy to do, when you have access to the online w11 OS.

So if you have created any scripts to achieve this process, or any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

or links to other persons help.

I will again read thru all posts, there usually is another hint, not yet tried.
Continue searching using Google, other Forums etc.

cheers BJ1