Date: April 14, 2026 Subject: Critical drivers needed before, during, and after installing Windows 11 Target Audience: System builders, IT professionals, and advanced users 1. Executive Summary While Windows 11 includes a vast library of generic (in-box) drivers, installing the correct manufacturer-provided drivers is critical for system stability, security, performance, and hardware functionality. Missing or incorrect drivers can lead to storage not being detected during setup, network failures, poor gaming performance, and system crashes (BSOD). 2. Drivers Required Before Installation (Storage & Media) If you are performing a clean installation via USB or DVD, Windows Setup may not recognize your NVMe SSD or RAID array without these drivers.