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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

53 answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2019-07-27T17:34:17+00:00

    Hi Maurice,

    I have got the same problem as you, so :

    1. I have uninstalled Intel RST
    2. Renamed the four files iaStor*.sys
    3. Installed the windows 10 update
    4. Installed the last Intel RST (https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/55005/Intel-Rapid-Storage-Technology-Intel-RST-)

    This works for me.

    Regards

    Was this answer helpful?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. 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

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2019-07-27T19:38:22+00:00

    Hi,

    After you uninstall, if needed, you restart of course to finalize the procedure.

    Next, you rename the four files, and you can update windows.

    Renaming is a security for you, when you'll install the last RST (after the Windows 10 update), the four files will be the last and you'll be able to delete the renamed files.

    Regards,

    Marcel

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2019-07-28T02:57:10+00:00

    Hi again Marcel,

    Thanks for the clarification.  I guess I got overzealous by changing the filenames before restarting to complete the uninstall; obviously at least one of these iaStor*.sys files are essential even if RST is not present).  Did it the correct way and it worked like a charm.

    Interestingly, the Windows update reinstalled the iaStorA.sys, iaStorAVC.sys and iaStorV.sys files, but did not install the Intel RST program.  I guess that RST is not needed for my hardware configuration.

    Even more interesting: the version of iaStorA.sys post-Windows update was the same version (15.2.0.1020) as the one that Windows said needed to be updated.  And, this is the version that is now serving as the driver for the I/O SATA AHCI Controller.  I seems that if the RST software is not installed, Windows 1903 is perfectly compatible with this iaStorA.sys file (and this file is essential even if you do not have RST).  But, if iaStorA.sys 15.2.0.1020 is compatible with Windows 10 1903 and if the newest update to RST does not update iaStorA.sys, one has to wonder why Microsoft designed the Windows Setup program to use the iaStorA.sys version as the criteria for whether the update could proceed.  A major bug; clearly it should test the RST version another way.

    Another interesting observation: after the Windows update, when I went to delete the iaStor* files that I had renamed, 2 were no longer there.  Of course, I deleted the 2 remaining ones.

    To the others who answered my query:

    • S-and-S: my system did not use RAID even though it had RST installed so based on your suggestion, I do not plan to reinstall RST.
    • Andre for Directly: thanks for your suggestions.  Had Marcel not come up with this work-around, I would have followed your suggestion to wait for a fix before updating.  I don't think the latest Intel update to RST changes the iaStorA file because (a) I did update successfully and changed other files and (b) the zip file for the update package did not contain an iaStorA.sys file (it did contain at least one other iaStor*.sys file).
    • Greg: thanks for your 2nd reply.  Obviously there is no longer a need for me to check the SATA control setting in BIOS.

    Was this answer helpful?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2019-07-31T18:49:56+00:00

    Hi Maurice,

    I have got the same problem as you, so :

    1. I have uninstalled Intel RST
    2. Renamed the four files iaStor*.sys
    3. Installed the windows 10 update
    4. Installed the last Intel RST (https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/55005/Intel-Rapid-Storage-Technology-Intel-RST-)

    This works for me.

    Regards

    Can you provide the steps for doing this?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments