Windows 10 update fails with error about iastora.sys after upgrading to recommended Intel Rapid Storage version

Anonymous
2019-07-26T19:17:02+00:00

I'm attempting to update Windows 10 to 1903. The update failed with the error message "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." This error led to a support page at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4514156/updating-to-windows-10-version-1903-on-devices-with-certain-versions-o recommending that the driver be upgraded to version 15.9.6.1044.

I have upgraded the driver accordingly (see attached screenshot), and rebooted the machine afterwards, but still receive the same error. I have also tried uninstalling and reinstalling the driver, and attempting the upgrade with the driver uninstalled, but receive the same error message no matter what version of this driver is installed, or indeed if it is installed at all.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Windows update

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Anonymous
2019-07-26T19:22:48+00:00

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

That's the buggy Windows Upgrade Advisor which is often wrong and wastes a lot of time. For this reason it's much more stable to Upgrade using the media itself and not buggy Windows Updates or Upgrade Advisor.

Install the Media Creation Tool from this link http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m..., choosing Download Tool Now, install the tool, open it and choose Upgrade this PC Now. . This will save your files and apps while bringing you up to the latest version by the most stable method. It will also bring all of your Updates current and solve most problems since it reinstalls Windows.

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...

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and keep me posted. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-07-29T16:41:27+00:00

    Your solution does not work!  If you can read, people have already installed the new Intel thingy and we are still getting the error message whether we click on your link to install the update or do it automatically.  Try again, please to fix this problem most likely affecting millions of people!!!  Nothing worse than a tech guy who sounds confident in his solution but fails miserably in the actual result.

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-07-29T16:00:35+00:00

    Yep, that is the version instaled

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-07-29T15:38:00+00:00

    This seems to be a headache of a problem for people, like me, who are nervous about editting files.  I would like to try the solution but am worried about turning my laptop into a very expensive brick.  I will wait a few days but if there is no new info I'm trying this solution after backing up everything essential.  My issue is that when I go into device manager there is no intel.  just Device Manager -> IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers -> SATA...

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-07-29T09:10:39+00:00

    Hi Todd.

    I had the same problem.

    The solution is to go to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\iastora.sys and rename it something like iastora_obselete.sys and restart and try windows update again, but dont do this until you make certain this file is unused... read on.

    This is not complicated.

    Windows update is finding the old unused iastora.sys file out of date in the folder C:\Windows\System32\drivers\iastora.sys.

    You have version 17, like me but the installer did not remove the old unused iastora.sys file. From versions 16 and higher I think the file they use is iastorac.sys (note the 'c' letter at the end), but installers leave the old unused file that windows is encountering. Double check the driver used is iastorac.sys in Device Manager -> IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers -> Intel... -> Driver Details. If it is using iastora.sys and the version is not your versions 17 then something is up.

    So again, my solution is to go to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\iastora.sys and rename it something like iastora_obselete.sys and restart and try windows update again.

    Good luck.

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