How to install third-party mass storage drivers for the 64-bit editions of Windows Server 2008 and of Windows Vista

When you install a 64-bit edition of Windows Server 2008 or of Windows Vista from a 32-bit based installation media, you may have to provide mass storage controller drivers for the 32-bit operating system and for the 64-bit operating system. This article describes how to install third-party mass storage drivers for the 64-bit editions of Windows Server 2008 and of Windows Vista.

To install third-party mass storage drivers for the 64-bit editions of Windows Server 2008 and of Windows Vista, follow these steps:

1. Start the computer from the 32-bit based installation media, and then follow the instructions in the Setup program.
2. Select a 64-bit target operating system.
3. On the Where do you want to install Windows page of the Setup program, click Load drivers, and then locate the folder that contains the 32-bit drivers for your mass storage controller.
4. Click the 32-bit driver, and then click Next.
   
   Note You receive a message that you must have 64-bit signed drivers. The 64-bit editions of Windows Server 2008 and of Windows Vista do not support unsigned drivers.
5. Click Load drivers again, locate the 64-bit drivers for your mass storage controller, and then click Next.
6. Select the target partition, and then complete the installation.
   
   Notes
   • In Windows Server 2008 and in Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1), OEMs can create installation media that contain both 64-bit images and 32-bit images. The operating system starts into the 32-bit Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE), and you can install a 64-bit image or a 32-bit image.
   • Third-party mass storage drivers may be required to access the target partition. For example, third-party mass storage drivers are required if you use a SCSI redundant array of independent disks (RAID) controller. In this case, you must provide the 64-bit driver and the 32-bit driver on the Where do you want to install Windows page of the Setup program. The 32-bit driver is loaded in the 32-bit Windows PE where the Setup program is running. Therefore, you can access the target partition. The 64-bit driver must be staged into the target 64-bit image and must be deployed to the target partition for the target operating system to start.
   • If you do not provide the 64-bit driver, you receive a "Stop 0x7b" error message after you restart the computer. This error occurs because the 64-bit operating system does not have a driver for the mass storage controller.