Update to Windows 10 1903 requires updated Intel Rapid Storage Technologies

Anonymous
2019-07-27T03:09:50+00:00

After receiving the notification, I updated my Dell Inspiron 5000 series with an update from Dell.  This update installed successfully as indicated:

However, the file that is blocking the Windows update, iasota.sys, is the old version that was present before I updated RST (note that other iasot*.sys files are newer):

Any idea on what can be done to workaround the problem?

Is the iaStorA.sys file obsolete and no longer needed now that the RST driver has been updated?  If yes, should I simply rename the file to iaStorA.old and attempt to update Windows again?

Do newer versions of Intel RST still use the older iaStorA.sys file resulting in the Windows Setup not recognizing that a compatible version of RST has been installed?  If yes, then do I have to wait for Microsoft to modify the Setup program so that it assesses RST compatibility by looking at something other than the iaStorA.sys version (e.g., the iaStorAC.sys version, which is the file that serves as the driver for the I/O SATA AHCI Controller?

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Windows update

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-07-27T19:14:32+00:00

    Hi Marcel,

    Seems like a very elegant solution and is consistent with my thought that iaStorA.sys is either not needed or that the version I have does not need to be updated when RST is updated.  But, I need a bit more info to implement it.

    I just tried the following:

    1. uninstalled RST (temporarily ignoring the prompt to restart for the change to take effect)
    2. renamed the 4 iaStor*.sys to iaStor*.old
    3. restarted computer for changes to take effect

    Unfortunately, the computer would not restart so I had use a restore point to get it back.

    Before I try again, please answer the following:

    1. do I restart immediately after uninstalling RST and before renaming the iaStor*.sys files?
    2. is changing .sys to .old an okay rename?
    3. do I ignore the instruction to restart and install Windows immediately after steps 1 and 2 of your procedure?
    4. whether I restart at any point, should I rename only 3 of the 4 iaStor*.sys files, leaving iaStorAC.sys alone (since it is the driver being used by I/O SATA AHCI Controller)?

    Thanks very much for your continuing assistance,

    Maurice

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-07-27T09:06:31+00:00

    "Update to Windows 10 1903 requires updated Intel Rapid Storage Technologies"

    Sorry, I have to disagree. I have the v.1903 update, and I do not have Intel RST. In fact, when I did my original clean install of Windows 10, I did not include RST, even though it originally shipped with my computer.

    If you don't have a RAID setup, and don't plan on having one, you don't need RST.

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-07-27T04:38:50+00:00

    Hi Maurice -

    What's the SATA controller setting in UEFI/BIOS Setup?

    http://www.isunshare.com/windows-password/four-...

    https://www.mydigitallife.net/comprehensive-lis...

    This bulletin just came out yesterday about this: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/451415... I guess those with IRST were gated until now.

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-07-27T04:33:55+00:00

    Thanks for your advice and quick response.  I had done most of what you recommended before my most recent attempt at updating:

    • made sure I had the most recent BIOS and other drivers by scanning computer at Dell website.
    • downloaded the Media Creation tool and used it to make an ISO
    • installed the latest Intel RST update
    • ran the install from the mounted ISO

    After doing all this, I still got the message about the iasota.sys file: "The inbox storage driver iastora.sys doesn't work on these systems and causes stability problems on Windows. Check with your software/driver provider for an updated version that runs on this version of Windows."

    After receiving your suggestions, I used the Intel Driver Utility  and found that the only drivers needing an update were Bluetooth and the wireless card.  I performed these updates, but have not attempted to update Windows again.  I do not believe these changes will have any impact.

    I am not ready to go through the torture of a clean install, especially since I believe that even that will stop because of the iastora.sys version issue.  What I believe is required is a workaround for this particular problem.  To reiterate, the two options I can think of are:

    1. the iaStorA.sys file is obsolete and no longer needed now that the RST driver has been updated and the iaStorAV.sys file is the current driver.  If true, I could simply rename the file to iaStorA.old and attempt to update Windows again.
    2. the updated RST driver still uses the old iaStorA.sys file, which is perfectly functional.  In this case, I believe the only way to do an install would be to wait for an update to the SetUp program that assesses the RST compatibility by using criteria other than the iaStorA.sys file.

    Finally, I did download the f6flpy-x64.zip file for RST version 15.9.6.1044 (the one Microsoft recommended to use) to see if it contained an iaStorA.sys file that I could use to replace mine.  It did not (nor did the zip file for the RST version that I did install).  This is what leads me to believe that the old iaStorA.sys file is either no longer used by RST or is still used, but is perfectly functional with newer RST versions (in which case it should not be used to assess the installed version of RST).

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  5. Anonymous
    2019-07-27T03:13:19+00:00

    Hi Maurice. I'm Greg, an installation specialist and 10 year Windows MVP here to help you.

    Update the chipset and BIOS from the or motherboard maker's Support Downloads web page for your exact model.

    If that's not enough try the Intel Driver Update Utility here:

    http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/...

    Then I would manually upgrade to the latest version 1903 by opening the Media Creation Tool from this link: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m..., choose Download Tool Now, then open the tool and choose Upgrade This PC Now. This saves your files, apps and most settings in place, is the most stable method to change versions, brings your Updates current, resolves most problems.

    If any problems report back the verbatim error and number, then continue with these steps for overcoming Version Upgrade problems: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

    If the Version has problems I will work with you to try to resolve them. If the problems are intractable, you have ten days to roll it back in Recovery settings.

    Most problems are resolved by doing this gold standard Clean Install which should get you past all difficulties as it has millions of others who have followed the steps in this link and never come back to report another problem: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki... . So read it over and see if its something you want to learn to do.

    I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and keep me posted. If you'll wait to rate whether my post helped you, I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

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