Solved Intel Rapid Storage Technology (pre-OS) driver installatio

Nero666

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My desktop machine is built on Gigabyte GA-Z87-UD3H and Gigabyte provides the latest driver for Intel Rapid Storage Technology (IRST), which I installed after installing the OS. Same goes for my Lenovo Thinkpad-T420. And for both machine, checking the controller device under the IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers section in Device Manager I see the driver has been updated to the latest version.


  • I set the SATA controller to AHCI from BIOS
  • On the desktop machine I have one WD 2TB BLACK & one WD 3TB Green
  • I don’t use RAID, & no chance of using in near future, but according to Intel IRST improves performance in single disk scenario too.

Now I have the following questions –

  1. What is the actual purpose of IRST (pre-OS install) driver that doesn’t get served with a post-OS driver that I installed? There must be some difference, otherwise there wouldn’t be a pre-OS version of the driver. Right?
  2. In the pre-OS procedure (loading the drivers at OS-installation time) after successfully completing the OS installation, do I need that post-OS driver? Because after installing from that one I got a quick launch icon that runs the IRST configuration application. Where do get that after installing the pre-OS driver?
  3. As it is “pre-OS”, when I load it at OS-installation time, does it updates anything at BIOS level or anywhere other than HDD? That’s because I’m going to dual boot Windows 7 with Windows 8.1, and after installing Windows 7 when I install Windows 8.1 & load the IRST driver for that, is there any chance of any “overwriting” or OS-incompatibility? In short, is there anything specific to follow while installing the second OS?
 
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Core i7 4770
    Motherboard
    GA-Z87X-UD3H
    Memory
    Team Elite DDR3 1600 8GB x2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell S2240L
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    WD Black 2TB WD2003FZEX
    WD Green 3TB WD30EZRX
    PSU
    Corsair CX500
Hi Nero666 and welcome to the forum! I don't like IRST myself especially if not using RAID. The times I've tried it, got nothing but problems. Just because it is put out by Intel doesn't mean it is good. Recommend not installing it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V3 771G-6443
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
    ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
    PSU
    90 watt brick
    Mouse
    Bluetooth
    Antivirus
    Comodo
    Other Info
    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
Hi Nero666 and welcome to the forum! I don't like IRST myself especially if not using RAID. The times I've tried it, got nothing but problems. Just because it is put out by Intel doesn't mean it is good. Recommend not installing it.
Sadly, that really doesn't answer any of the questions I have in my head.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Core i7 4770
    Motherboard
    GA-Z87X-UD3H
    Memory
    Team Elite DDR3 1600 8GB x2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell S2240L
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    WD Black 2TB WD2003FZEX
    WD Green 3TB WD30EZRX
    PSU
    Corsair CX500
Just install the driver and not the full software and you'll be fine.

Personally I find Intel's RST (driver only) is faster than Windows default SATA driver especially with SATA 300/600 speeds and SSD's, the default MS AHCI driver comes from Vista (yes they still use the same old MS AHCI driver dated from 2006 in Windows 8.1).

The only new default drivers from Windows 8.1 with Update 1 I find on my system is the USB 3.0 driver it's dated from 2014 which means Update 1 updated the default USB 3.0 driver from Windows 8.1/8.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-2670QM
    Memory
    Samsung 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GT 555M
    Hard Drives
    Intel 525 120GB | HGST Travelstar 1TB
    Mouse
    CM Storm Xornet | Microsoft Sculpt Comfort
    Internet Speed
    25 Mbps | 600 Kbps
    Other Info
    Seagate Backup Plus 1TB
IRST drivers is needed by your motherboard's Intel SATA controllers for AHCI features like NCQ to increase system performance and stability.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
Just install the driver and not the full software and you'll be fine.

Personally I find Intel's RST (driver only) is faster than Windows default SATA driver especially with SATA 300/600 speeds and SSD's, the default MS AHCI driver comes from Vista (yes they still use the same old MS AHCI driver dated from 2006 in Windows 8.1).

The only new default drivers from Windows 8.1 with Update 1 I find on my system is the USB 3.0 driver it's dated from 2014 which means Update 1 updated the default USB 3.0 driver from Windows 8.1/8.

Thanks. That was helpful.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Core i7 4770
    Motherboard
    GA-Z87X-UD3H
    Memory
    Team Elite DDR3 1600 8GB x2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell S2240L
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    WD Black 2TB WD2003FZEX
    WD Green 3TB WD30EZRX
    PSU
    Corsair CX500
Just install the driver and not the full software and you'll be fine.

Personally I find Intel's RST (driver only) is faster than Windows default SATA driver especially with SATA 300/600 speeds and SSD's, the default MS AHCI driver comes from Vista (yes they still use the same old MS AHCI driver dated from 2006 in Windows 8.1).

The only new default drivers from Windows 8.1 with Update 1 I find on my system is the USB 3.0 driver it's dated from 2014 which means Update 1 updated the default USB 3.0 driver from Windows 8.1/8.

How do you install the Intel Rapid Storage technology driver only? There is no option to install the driver only in the software, and I am annoyed that there is an app attached to it that uses resources and I would like to get rid of it as it seems useless (If I don't know about something (like some secret advantages of having the app compared to driver only) please tell, but I am not using RAID, I just have this on a single drive with AHCI enabled). Please provide some information on this, as I haven't found anything yet on the internet.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Build by myself
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-2300
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-Z68AP-D3
    Memory
    Kingston HyperX KHX1600C9D3/4GX 4GB @ 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Palit nVIDIA GTS 450
    Sound Card
    Build in on motherboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG L1918S and BenQ FP72G+D
    Screen Resolution
    each monitor has 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Seagate ST3500418AS (465 GB)
    PSU
    Chieftec and I don't remember how many W, either 500 or 550W
Just install the driver and not the full software and you'll be fine.

Personally I find Intel's RST (driver only) is faster than Windows default SATA driver especially with SATA 300/600 speeds and SSD's, the default MS AHCI driver comes from Vista (yes they still use the same old MS AHCI driver dated from 2006 in Windows 8.1).

The only new default drivers from Windows 8.1 with Update 1 I find on my system is the USB 3.0 driver it's dated from 2014 which means Update 1 updated the default USB 3.0 driver from Windows 8.1/8.

How do you install the Intel Rapid Storage technology driver only? There is no option to install the driver only in the software, and I am annoyed that there is an app attached to it that uses resources and I would like to get rid of it as it seems useless (If I don't know about something (like some secret advantages of having the app compared to driver only) please tell, but I am not using RAID, I just have this on a single drive with AHCI enabled). Please provide some information on this, as I haven't found anything yet on the internet.

Very sorry for bumping such an old thread but I have the very same question as EShirou. I want to install RST but without the software UI. I know it has to be done through the Device Manager but when donwloading the RST zip file, there are 2 INF files and I don't know which one to choose from.

Any ideas on this?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 (Update 1) Pro 64 bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel i5 3570K
    Motherboard
    Asrock Pro4 Z77
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Geforce GTX 660Ti
    Hard Drives
    Hitachi HDS921010DLE630
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