Intel RST service doesn't remember setting to "start"

Hi there,

I have first searched the issue here on the forum but because of the -as suspected- big number of hits on RST issues, decided to start a thread anyway. Even more so because I feel it's a very specific one.

So every time I boot, the Intel RST icon in the system tray reports that the Intel RST service is not running. A quick jump to the services module (services.msc) and enabling the specific service, fixes it.
The problem however is that although I set the start of the service to "automatic", it doesn't at next boot and the issue starts all over again. So for some reason that particular service is being reset it seems every next boot, because as soon as I take a look at it again after boot, it is again set to "disabled".

The action I already attempted failed miserably: to reinstall the latest RST driver from Intel.com. Installation goes fine, but then W8.1 no longer boots, being stuck at the Windows logo with the swirling dots. It stays there forever I guess; I gave it half an hour and then reset the machine. After a couple attempts It went to automatic repair where I performed a system restore because the RST installation had provided one just prior.

My machine is booting from a Kingston HyperX Predator PCI-E SSD and has dual Velociraptors in RAID, for which I intend to use the RST software for.

Thanks in advance for suggestions.

Event viewer says it's a .NET issue:

Application: IAStorDataMgrSvc.exe
Framework Version: v4.0.30319
Description: The process was terminated due to an unhandled exception.
Exception Info: System.NullReferenceException
at IAStorUtil.SystemDataModelListener.ProcessSystemDataModelChanges()
at IAStorUtil.SystemDataModelListener.LoadSavedSystemState()
at IAStorDataMgr.EventRelay.<Start>b__0(System.Object)
at System.Threading.QueueUserWorkItemCallback.WaitCallback_Context(System.Object)
at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.RunInternal(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object, Boolean)
at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object, Boolean)
at System.Threading.QueueUserWorkItemCallback.System.Threading.IThreadPoolWorkItem.ExecuteWorkItem()
at System.Threading.ThreadPoolWorkQueue.Dispatch()
at System.Threading._ThreadPoolWaitCallback.PerformWaitCallback()

I tried installing some newer versions but not that latest one as that one causes system to hang at boot. Probably because I'm still on an "old" X58 platform.

For the moment I'm using a workaround with a batch file in my startup folder that starts the service for me.

Any help in getting it properly resolved would be massively appreciated !