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
    2019-07-28T20:48:39+00:00

    So, what I had to do was first uninstall the Intel Rapid Storage drivers (so that the files would not be in use) via the regular Add and Remove Programs utility, and then used grepWin on the entire C: drive to find any remaining copies of the file called "iastora.sys". There were three; two were in System32 or a subdirectory, and I'm afraid I don't recall where the third was. If you have access to the system directories, you should be able to find them if you run it on the whole system

    One was owned by SYSTEM and wouldn't even let me delete it with admin permissions, so I had to do a few backflips to get it deleted (change owner to admins, add full control to admins, then delete it). I first saved copies of all of them to a flash drive, then deleted those three copies of it and reran the upgrade. After doing that, the upgrade ran, and once the upgrade was complete I was able to reinstall the Rapid Storage drivers without any trouble.

    As with anything, be very careful messing around in system file areas, and have someone help you if you're not certain of what you should or shouldn't do. I would also strongly recommend backing up any important files before you proceed, just in case something does get broken and you need to do a clean install.

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-07-28T21:02:37+00:00

    I have the same problem, but my knowledge is not very good in this whole matter and I simply cannot solve it. Thanks Intel, thanks Microsoft :)

    Could someone explain it to me step by step as if I were 5 years old? I will not be offended if my intelligence is insulted

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-07-28T21:19:36+00:00

    Hello Virginia,

    Alright, we'll start from the beginning. Have you followed the instructions at Microsoft Support for upgrading to the recommended version of the Intel Rapid Storage driver?

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-07-28T21:41:17+00:00

    Yes I did (I think...), and the same message continues "The inbox storage driver iastora.sys doesn't work bla, bla, bla..."

    I installed version 17.5.1.1021, the first option: SetupRST.exe

    Was it the right one?

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