Reports of bogus Win10 1903 upgrade blocks, based on Intel RST drivers that aren’t there

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As I reported on Friday, Microsoft is blocking the Win10 1903 upgrade on machines that use older Intel RST drivers. That’s intentional. Intel RST driv
[See the full post at: Reports of bogus Win10 1903 upgrade blocks, based on Intel RST drivers that aren’t there]

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Does this mean that all the Intel chip set updates that we’ve been blocking with wushowhide is going to bite us in the butt eventually or am I completely missing something here ?

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No.

Once you’re ready for 1903 (estimated wait time: 4 to 6 months), you may (may) have to get your PC’s drivers updated.

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I would always check for and update Intel drivers, both before and after any major Feature Update.

-- rc primak

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Microfix

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Historically, subsystem drivers are the first thing I install on any fresh Windows OS installation. W10 however, is a slightly different ball game as MSFT want to supply all the drivers for their OS.

If debian is good enough for NASA...

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rc primak

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Hence my “after” advice.

-- rc primak

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I suspect part of the problem here is that people are assuming that the RST driver downloads cover all hardware revisions, similar to a graphics card driver.  It doesn’t work like this!

Specifically, the v15, v16 and v17 Intel RST drivers do not support pre-Skylake systems.

The Readme for the v15 and v17 drivers do not list any of the chipsets from the 5/6/7/8/9 series.  That includes any chipset with a two-digit number, e.g. “Q57”, “B85”, “Z97”.  It also says on the download page for the v15 chipset after listing the 100 Series & later chipsets, “For Intel® platforms not supported above, visit the RAID version 14.8.0.”  The v14 drivers are indeed the last ones to support the 7/8/9 Series.  Intel is still updating the v14 drivers with occasional fixes.

The 100 Series chipset (the successor to the 9 series) was introduced in late 2015 to support the sixth-generation Skylake CPUs.  Anyone who has an Intel Core CPU where the first number after the hyphen is less than 6 (e.g. i7-4790), installing the newer drivers will have no effect.

The exact matrix of which Intel RST drivers should be paired with which systems is a lot more complicated than this. Getting it wrong can result in losing access to drives, including the boot drive. That’s why Microsoft and Intel both recommend getting these drivers from the motherboard manufacturer, not directly from Intel.

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pHROZEN gHOST, NetDef, woody

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Point noted, but several people have reported updating the drivers from the hardware manufacturer, then getting hit with this block.

I wonder if the hardware manufacturers just have old drivers?

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rc primak

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I wonder if the hardware manufacturers just have old drivers?

Probably. Go directly to Intel if in doubt. Even that may not work on older hardware.

-- rc primak

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Can these drivers be updated by using the update driver under storage controllers / properties / driver tab in device manager ?

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No. Intel has its own driver support and update utility, as do some PC and laptop manufacturers. But if the manufacturer or Intel doesn’t have a compatible update for your hardware, you will be out of luck. Time for a hardware upgrade.

-- rc primak

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“Has anybody found a fireproof way to upgrade to 1903 on systems with Intel RST drivers?”

Those that have the iastora.sys (but no Intel RST installed) managed to install 1903 by deleting (which is not recommend, better just move to another folder in case it is needed) the iastora.sys file.

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rc primak

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Someone correct me if I am mistaken, but Intel has for years provided a single download “unified driver package” that includes drivers at different editions for newer vs older chipsets — including for the RST circuits embedded in multiple generations of motherboards.

So installing the newest driver might in fact NOT upgrade the actual driver set for an old motherboard – it would include updated drivers for the newest firmware, but might still have (or not upgrade) specific driver files for older versions. They’ve not always been clear about this in the past, but this problem smells like the issue.

So downloading the newest package, for a laptop based on older chipsets, might not actually update the specific version of the driver for your computer.

Until Intel updates those older chipset drivers, and embeds those updates into their package, we won’t see this fixed.

As Woody says, and in this type of case I agree, wait for 1903 to be offered, don’t try to force the upgrade through this type of block. MSFT and Intel will eventually work this out on their end – and until they do you risk data corruption (the RST driver in particular) by forcing it.

~ Group "Weekend" ~

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For some hardware, this is true.

Pure Intel systems like my NUC use the Intel Drivers and Support Utility.

Many other manufacturers have Driver Packages or driver management utilities of their own.

Some manufacturers have left folks high and dry.

-- rc primak

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I encountered this issue on a Dell and successfully updated to 1903 by doing the following:

1. 1. Create a restore point

Uninstall Intel RST and reboot if required

• Rename the four files iaStor*.sys to .old in C:\Windows\System32\Drivers (don’t reboot otherwise you’ll get a BSOD – use your restore point if you do)

Install the Windows 10 1903 update

• Once complete, install the last Intel RST if required: (https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/55005/Intel-Rapid-Storage-Technology-Intel-RST-)

Solution found from this forum:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/update-to-windows-10-1903-requires-updated-intel/524d5cff-9d00-4af9-9164-c8e4ff3466e2

I imagine Microsoft/Intel will provide a fix at some point so best to wait if you can.

Edit: HTML removal – Please use the ‘Text’ tab in the post entry box when you copy/paste.

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columbia2011, woody, rc primak, Microfix

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Exactly what I would do. Nice catch.

-- rc primak

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anonymous wrote:

Uninstall Intel RST and reboot if required

The new problem as the header point out is that users are blocked even though they DON’T have Intel RST installed.

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rc primak

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Can anybody confirm the finding?

NOT that I want to push anybody onto 1903. But if you’re going anyway….

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In my case, I was able to get past the block by just renaming the old driver instead of uninstalling any drivers.

Two days ago I tried to update my 3-year old Dell laptop to 1903 thru windows update and encountered the “RST” block. While I didn’t have any “RST” software installed, I did have the iastora.sys driver in use by the Intel 6th Gen SATA AHCI controller which was version 15.2 explaining the block. I first went to Dell’s site to get a newer driver, but the 15.2 was the newest available for my model. I then went to the Intel site to download the recommended 15.9 “RST” driver which installed without issue. I restarted the update and again encountered the “RST” block.

After searching several forums for clues (including this one), I found that the new 15.9 driver update installed a new iastorac.sys driver that was now being used by the SATA AHCI controller. However, the old iastora.sys file was still there. I renamed the old driver to .old and restarted the update (like others found, the refresh button on the block message was useless, although I never tried the back button…). This time the 1903 update completed with no issues.

My suspicions are that the old driver is left there to enable the Roll Back Driver function in the device manager and that Microsoft’s updater routine is only looking for the presence of the blocked driver versions, and not whether the old driver is actually being used.

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I have a distinct feeling bordering with certainty that my BSOD woes that miraculously started – and stopped nearly dozen of months later – entirely out of the blue and could not have been attributed to anything tangible (helpful chaps were saying: hardware problem, memory problem etc.) and have not been attempted to be remedied by any changes (as in: ANY) hardware-wise were possibly related to – let’s say – complicated relationship between 1709 / 1803 / 1809 Windows 10 releases and (then) available and installed on my PC Intel RST drivers. I am cured since Oct ’18 – so since 1809 release (funny that) but to this day I’m not really sure what was the culprit, but I strongly suspect that some interesting BSOD cases that folks are experiencing may be related to this set of drivers.

Did actually anybody explore what the issue here is exactly?

Also, these drivers are not only applicable for Optane drives.

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rc primak

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Where do I check for this driver and what version I have?

Device Manager?   Under what name/category?

I don’t see any device that includes Intel or RST.

Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP)

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Ok so lets just clarify what chipsets this applies to before the thread goes pear-shaped:
https://downloadmirror.intel.com/28966/eng/ReadMe.txt
Excerpt taken from Intel Readme file linked above

**************************************************************************
* 1. SUPPORTED PRODUCTS/CHIPSETS
**************************************************************************
This Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology Release is designed to provide functionality
for the following Storage Controllers:

– Intel(R) 8th Generation Core Processor Family Platform I/O SATA AHCI/RAID Controller
Mobile Low Power (LP)
– Premium-U
– Base-U

– Intel® 300/240 Series Chipset Family:
Desktop, High End Desktop (HEDT), Workstation (WS)
– Intel® H310 Chipset – Intel® H370 Chipset
– Intel® Z390 Chipset – Intel® Q370 Chipset
– Intel® B365 Chipset – Intel® B360 Chipset
– Intel® X399 Chipset(HEDT) – Intel® C246 Chipset(WS)

Mobile Halo
– Intel(R) QM370 Chipset – Intel(R) HM370 Chipset
– Intel(R) CM246 Chipset

– Intel(R) 200 Series (with X299/Z370) Chipset Family SATA AHCI/RAID Controller
– Intel(R) Z370 Chipset

– Intel(R) 8th Generation Core Processor Family Platform I/O SATA AHCI/RAID Controller
– Base-U
– Premium-U
– Premium-Y

– Intel(R) 200 Series (with X299) Chipset Family SATA AHCI/RAID Controller
– Intel(R) Z270 Chipset – Intel(R) Q250 Chipset
– Intel(R) Q270 Chipset – Intel(R) B250 Chipset
– Intel(R) X299 (HEDT) Chipset – Intel(R) H270 Chipset

– Intel(R) 7th Generation Core Processor Family Platform I/O SATA AHCI/RAID Controller
– Base-U
– Premium-U
– Premium-Y

– Intel(R) 100 Series/C230 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI/RAID Controller
– Intel(R) QM175 Chipset
– Intel(R) HM175 Chipset
– Intel(R) CM238 Chipset

Don’t have any of these chipsets in you computer, it don’t apply to your PC 🙂

If debian is good enough for NASA...

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doriel, NetDef, woody, Wibbly, PKCano

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Doing an upgrade right now on a customer’s computer. After upgrading the driver with the newest version,  (5 times) still being blocked. Think there is a glitch. Hitting REFRESH in notification Window does nothing. Rebooting does nothing even though I rebooted after each attempt at installing driver. Driver installs fine and shows it’s updated.

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Another way of looking at this might be that users could install the old drivers for RST to *prevent* Win10 1903 from being installed until Wun10 1903 is stable.

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I was informed by Windows Update yesterday that it could not proceed because of my Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST) drivers, and I followed Microsoft’s advice – going to the Intel site and downloading not only the version Windows recommends (which didn’t work), but the drivers that Intel say are the latest (which don’t work either). I also downloaded a utility from Intel that checked the drivers on my machine – and according to Intel I am all up to date. Nevertheless, I am still blocked from installing the new Windows 10 1903.

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rc primak

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[pHROZEN gHOST]

My RST driver version is 4.3.0.1198. I checked it from the link provided above.
This is not in the bad range. But it is quite old. The system runs well. I don’t want to rock the boat. I am at Win 10 v1809. I have updates delayed by 90 days. I guess I will know in the next month or two if I can update to v1903.

BTW, I am running on a Lenovo ThinkStation S30 with 16RB ram and a 256GB SSD.
Lenovo does not even list any testing of this hardware for Win 10 at the point I’m at now or even several versions back. They don’t even provide Win 10 drivers for it. So, at some point, I may have to bite the bullet and install RST v17  😮

Byte me!

• This reply was modified 5 years, 7 months ago by pHROZEN gHOST.
• This reply was modified 5 years, 7 months ago by woody.

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The Win10 1903 upgrade is now blocked on machines that DON’T have Intel RST installed while Microsoft claims they do.

https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Gaming-Laptops/Win10-1903-upgrade-is-now-blocked-on-some-Intel-RST-drivers/td-p/4486603

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woody

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Under Chip set SATA RAID Controller, my driver version installed right now is 14.5.0.1081 and under Storage Space Controller, it’s 10.0.17763.592. I’m going to assume that since the numbers don’t fall between the range you mentioned that I will be okay if and when the time comes and I want to go to 1903.

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[Alex5723]

Tex265 wrote:

Where do I check for this driver and what version I have?

Device Manager?   Under what name/category?

I don’t see any device that includes Intel or RST.

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000031599/memory-and-storage.html

• This reply was modified 5 years, 7 months ago by Alex5723.
• This reply was modified 5 years, 7 months ago by Microfix.
• This reply was modified 5 years, 7 months ago by woody.

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pHROZEN gHOST, Tex265

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Thanks, but I’m still confused.

My system built by Maingear is a desktop.  Has an ASUS ROG STRIX Z370-E Motherboard, so Intel 300 Series Chipset.  An intel i7-8700 CPU so Intel 8th generation Core processor. With SATA AHCI non-RAID 2 HDD setup.

So looks like several matches, but

Intel support page “How to check the Intel Rapid Storage Technology (Intel RST) driver version” says Option 1:

1) Open Device Manager, 2) Expand Storage Controllers, 3) Right click Intel Chipset SATA/PCIe RST Premium Controller 4) Click Properties, 5) Select the Driver tab.

However, my Device Manager does not have an Intel Chipset SATA/PCIe RST Premium Controller entry.

Option 2:

Check for and open the Intel Rapid Storage Technology application from the Start Menu.

I don’t have that either.

Option 3:

If you have the Intel “Optane” Memory and Storage Management application open the application.

I don’t have that one either.

Any other way to check on this or do I not have Intel RST to worry about?

What is it for anyway?

—–

PS: Alex slipped his reply in to my original question while I was typing this follow up, his link is part of what I am referring to in my references above.

 

Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP)

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[Alex5723]

Tex265 wrote:

However, my Device Manager does not have an Intel Chipset SATA/PCIe RST Premium Controller.

Mine doesn’t either, so you don’t have Intel RST installed and so do I.
I don’t need it. RST is usually for RAID and none efficient with SSDs.

• This reply was modified 5 years, 7 months ago by Alex5723.
• This reply was modified 5 years, 7 months ago by woody.

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rc primak

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Microfix wrote:

Ok so lets just clarify what chipsets this applies to before the thread goes pear-shaped: https://downloadmirror.intel.com/28966/eng/ReadMe.txt Excerpt taken from Intel Readme file linked above

Microfix wrote:

Don’t have any of these chipsets in you computer, it don’t apply to your PC

Based on my computer build comments and those from Alex, one can meet the Chipsets, etc enumerated in the excerpt and still not have Intel Rapid Storage installed on their system.

If you have the Chipsets, etc and a RAID array you most likely do.  If you have an SATA AHCI set up (check for Device Manager entry > IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers) you most likely don’t have RST, but you may depending on how the manufacturer set up the system.

Assuming you first meet the criteria referrenced by Microfix, seems best way to determine RST is per the Intel options outlined in my original post and also the link referred to by Alex.

Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP)

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I’m getting a similar report over on Twitter. Do you get the standard “What needs your attention” message?

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Have you tried going to your PC manufacturer’s site?

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Yes.

I just did that. It’s an Omen laptop bought last year. They had an online check, and after it had run and checked all my drivers it confirmed what I already knew from Intel. I have the latest drivers and NO UPDATES ARE AVAILABLE. Exact words that were used.

So as of now I am blocked from updating Windows, and told by Windows that my installation will soon expire and be unsupported.

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rc primak

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Are you running version 1803? It expires in four months.

If so, I have recommended – and continue to recommend – that you move to 1809.

If you’re running Win10 1709 or earlier, upgrading to 1809 is a good move, too.

Don’t worry. We’ll get you upgraded. But 1903 may not be ready for you yet….

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Interesting thread over there.

I’m going to escalate this to a main blog post. Thanks!

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[rc primak]

@krzemien — After any MS Update or Feature Update driver installs, check with Intel for their own versions of those drivers. Intel versions work better than Windows versions in almost every instance.

Did actually anybody explore what the issue here is exactly?

Also, these drivers are not only applicable for Optane drives.

As noted in this thread, this driver does not only apply to systems with Optane in use. My Intel NUC uses M2 form factor SSD and (has a slot for) HDD or SSD which I think is SATA III or IV. RST drivers are available and installed. This is a Skylake 6th-gen core-i5 based system.

I plan on waiting a few more months before installing Windows 10 Version 1903. This latest flap (or is it a kerfuffel? or a dustup?) is one more reason to confirm I am correct in my approach.

-- rc primak

• This reply was modified 5 years, 7 months ago by rc primak.
• This reply was modified 5 years, 7 months ago by rc primak.

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Great info from additional comments since mine. It looks like what I have will suffice for my hardware.

Byte me!

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