1 Rookie
•
43 Posts
0
10248
Fresh Windows10 install fails with IAstoravc.sys problem
Hi all
First, let me kick myself. I managed to kill my long-serving XPS8700 when trying to sort out mouse lag and stutter which has plagued my system for the last month, rendering it almost unusable. Anyway, after trying all the software and driver solutions in the forums and various websites, I was left with possible hardware failure or imminent failure as a possible explanation, including a dead or dying CMOS battery. So I changed the battery and, hey-ho, the system tripped up on restart, tried to repair itself and then went very dead... I suspect I reset the BIOS and the rest is history….
Second, I tried various repair, reset and recovery options but all failed, leaving me only with the option of a fresh install. And this is where I have my new problem, on which I seek help.
My system was bang up to date in terms of Windows 10 64 bit (the latest feature release, 2004); and all driver updates etc. It's a standard 8700 except that I have two RAID arrays - one 120gb SSD RAID for software, and another 2Tb HD RAID for data. Up until the mouse problem, it had been working well.
So I downloaded the latest Win10 installation ISO and burnt it to a DVD. I transferred the drivers folder from my old C: drive to the installation DVD and then forced a reboot which prioritised booting from the Windows Installation disk. All seemed to go well, with files being copied and getting to the point where the Installation process requires a reboot. Something starts to happen (presumably the next stage of the installation) but then I get the blue "Oops" screen saying that iaStoravc.sys is causing a page problem. I can't seem to get past this point. I think the Intel ATA drivers need to be different…
By choosing RAID in the boot option, I can get the familiar Intel start-up screen showing the RAID status, although if I select AHCI I don't get this screen. I still have access to Boot options, through f2, and sometimes f12 will work as well. But I cannot seem to get past this iaStor problem, which I presume has to do with the incorrect Intel ATA drivers. I downloaded the latest drivers from Dell support, and used the command prompt to run the installation but it reported that the drivers were incompatible with the version of windows ! Si I am in catch 22... I can’t install Windows, and I can’t install the drivers I need to get Windows working…
So, here are my questions:
- which boot settings should I use to properly deploy and assist my new Windows installation with RAID ?
- how can I avoid the iaSTor problem - and ensure the right drivers are installed at the time Windows does its fresh install ?
My fear, of course, is that I'll achieve all this only to find that I still have mouse lag, but let's not get ahead of ourselves...
All help much appreciated
Thanks
speedstep
9 Legend
9 Legend
•
47K Posts
0
July 21st, 2020 14:00
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/29634/Chipset-INF-Utility?product=53
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1D02 = "Intel(R) C600 Series Chipset SATA AHCI "
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E02 = "Intel(R) 7 Series/C216 Chipset Family SATA AHCI "
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_8C02 = "Intel(R) 8 Series/C220 Chipset Family SATA AHCI "
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_8C03 = "Intel(R) 8 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI "
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_8C82 = "Intel(R) 9 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI "
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_8C83 = "Intel(R) 9 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI"
The 4 partitions are:
Paritition 1 - Recovery
Partition 2 - System - The EFI System partition that contains the NTLDR, HAL, Boot.txt, and other files that are needed to boot the system, such as F6 drivers.
Partition 3 - MSR - The Microsoft Reserved (MSR) partition that reserves space on each disk drive for subsequent use by operating system software.
Partition 4 - Primary - Where Windows is to be installed to.
It is imperative that these 4 partitions remain in the exact order
Bootable UEFI USB2 Flash Drive for Installing Windows
Requirements:
At least a 16GB no larger than 32GB USB flash drive
64-bit Windows DVD
https://www.newegg.com/microsoft-windows-10-pro-64-bit-reinstall-recovery-disc-only-no-license-key-included/p/N82E16832350238
32-bit is not supported.
Set the boot mode to use UEFI and not CSM (Compatibility Support Module) in your UEFI firmware settings.
Temporarily disable Secure Boot in your UEFI firmware settings.
Some motherboards will not boot from a USB unless you do this first.
When the Windows installation is finished, you can enable secure boot if you like.
If you have fast boot or ultra-fast boot enabled in your UEFI firmware (if supported), then you may need to temporarily disable it until Windows has finished installing to be able to boot from a USB flash drive at boot.
7zip is recommended but not required
https://www.7-zip.org/download.html
speedstep
9 Legend
9 Legend
•
47K Posts
0
July 21st, 2020 14:00
Advanced Format Drives aka SSD require Bios SATA OPERATION Set to AHCI.
WIN2004 DCH drivers will not be forthcoming for all of the legacy video and intel chipset and ati video and nvidia video drivers.
DCH only applies to 6th gen and newer INTEL HD Graphics etc.
8 Series Chipsetpreboot F6 driver is necessary for installation on Windows 7 , 8/8.1 and 10.
https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=28j5r
https://www.dell.com/support/article/en-us/how13364/winpe-10-driver-pack?lang=en
You cannot point to an exe or zip or cab file.
You MUST extract the files using 7zip and save in the root of a usb flash drive PRE install.
https://www.7-zip.org/download.html
https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=cr5pj
Otherwise you MUST INSTALL the version of INTEL RST Driver for it to work.
Intel Chipset SATA RAID Controller (iaStorAVC) Service is VERY specific.
You cannot set current windows 10 to RAID or IRRT without providing the F6 driver on flash drive.
This is called F6 pre install driver.
https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=21Y1M
Intel USB 3.0 xHCI
https://www.dell.com/support/home/drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=F81X8
Intel GMA HD 4600
https://www.dell.com/support/home/drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=J7G23
Add-In Graphics Cards
https://www.dell.com/support/home/product-support/product/xps-8700/drivers
Realtek ALC3861 HD Audio
https://www.dell.com/support/home/drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=313J8
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Recon3D PCIe Audio Card Driver
https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=241T2
Realtek RTL8111F-CG Gigabit Platform LAN Network
https://www.dell.com/support/home/drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=WP9GX
Vic384
1 Rookie
1 Rookie
•
3.2K Posts
0
July 21st, 2020 10:00
It seems to me that you don't have two RAID arrays, you have an SSD and an HDD but that does not make a RAID array. Dell seems to prefer setting SATA Mode to RAID, but I would set SATA Mode in the BIOS to AHCI and try installing Windows again. I would disconnect the HDD before installing Windows, although I think a 120GB SSD is a little small for a Windows 10 boot drive; 120GB will leave little space for installing applications.
By the way, removing the CMOS battery will definitely reset your BIOS settings but that should not have caused a disaster.
RioJoe
1 Rookie
1 Rookie
•
43 Posts
0
July 21st, 2020 12:00
Thanks. Maybe I should have been clearer. There are two RAID arrays. One has 2x128gb SSDs for the OS and software; the other has 2x2tb HDDs for data. Each pair was set up as a RAID array (drive C for OS/software; and drive D for data). The data array uses the 32gb M-SATA accelerator which came with the original setup.
For the most part the 128gb SSDs have been OK for storage of Windows and Apps (even with a heavy software load, I usually have around 10-15gb spare) although I have been thinking of swapping in some 256gb ones to accommodate the software that insists on storing data on drive C.
Any thoughts on how to overcome the driver problem ?
Thanks again
Vic384
1 Rookie
1 Rookie
•
3.2K Posts
0
July 21st, 2020 12:00
Perhaps this article can help: https://www.dell.com/support/article/en-us/sln155274/how-to-configure-raid-on-a-dell-pc?lang=en#reinstall
Note that the instructions are different if you are installing Windows 7 or Windows 8/10. Click on 'Newer Systems sold with Windows 8 / 10 installed on UEFI'.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
•
17K Posts
0
July 21st, 2020 13:00
I suggest ...
Backup data as plain/straight-file copies.
Break the RAIDs.
Install SSDs . At least for bootable C-Drive . Also, for D-Drive if you want (as 2.5inch SATA-3/600 SSDs are cheap). Only use (slow) spinning HDDs for things like Media-files, data-files, and backups (maybe even that large-game you rarely play).
Clean install Windows-10 64bit without Intel-RST .
Done.
RioJoe
1 Rookie
1 Rookie
•
43 Posts
0
July 24th, 2020 12:00
Hi all
well the adventure continues. Having struggled to find a loadable version of the f6 SATA drivers, I finally managed to get Windows reinstalled and working. To do so, I went into BIOS settings and accepted all the defaults, except to turn off secure Boot. This time installation went ahead without the f6 driver and seemingly without a problem.
After installation, I reconnected my 2 HDDs, but it became clear that one of them was stopping the system from booting. After disconnecting the errant disk, the system booted and at first recognized the remaining HDD as my old drive D, with all its contents intact.
However, and despite loading a running the various drivers from the Dell site, after various restarts I cannot get the system to recognize my HDD. It doesn't show up in Disk Management, but it does show in the Intel Rapid Storage App, but as "incompatible".
Nor can I seem to find a way to activate (or reactivate) RAID volumes, neither during Boot or through the Intel app. Changing the Boot setting to RAID rather than AHCI simply causes the boot to cycle around going nowhere...
Any thoughts on what next ?
Thanks
Vic384
1 Rookie
1 Rookie
•
3.2K Posts
0
July 24th, 2020 13:00
First, apparently you installed Windows with SATA Mode set to AHCI. After Windows is installed you cannot change the SATA Mode in the BIOS because the Windows OS is installed with AHCI drivers.
Second, you cannot activate RAID volumes again because SATA Mode and the Windows OS is in AHCI mode.
If you really need RAID, you either have to install Windows with SATA Mode set to RAID or try switching the Windows installation you already have from AHCI to RAID operation. Try Googling 'switch from AHCI to RAID without reinstalling Windows'. I have switched from RAID to AHCI and I know that works, but I have not done the reverse.
RioJoe
1 Rookie
1 Rookie
•
43 Posts
0
July 24th, 2020 13:00
If anyone is interested in why I didn't pursue the f6 driver solution suggested above, I did, but when I tried to obtain the driver I got the message "This driver is not applicable for XPS 8700 with Windows 10, 64-bit." So it wasn't a viable path for me.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
•
17K Posts
0
July 24th, 2020 13:00
Any thoughts on what next ?
=====================
Well, you can do all that again, or try fighting with RAID and Intel-RST in different ways. Who knows, maybe you will get lucky.
Or, just do this and hopefully get back to using your computer.
https://www.dell.com/community/XPS-Desktops/Fresh-Windows10-install-fails-with-IAstoravc-sys-problem/m-p/7653820/highlight/true#M52150
RioJoe
1 Rookie
1 Rookie
•
43 Posts
0
July 25th, 2020 10:00
Thanks again for comments.
I've read so many times that AHCI supports RAID operations and that there's no need to select "RAID" as part of Boot options, but OK let's go with that thought and see what I can do next...
I am thinking of trying another fresh install, this time selecting RAID mode but using the "Add driver" option during Win10 Installation to load up the f6 pre-boot drivers for Intel SATA.
I've looked everywhere for a version of the DELL-approved drivers that can be used during Windows installation. The DELL support site suggests an exe file which installs the drivers:
"XPS-8700_Serial-ATA_Driver_C2JM0_WN32_14.5.0.1081_A00.EXE" (ie version of 1/20/2020)
This seems to be drivers which can be installed after Windows has been installed. But I can't find the DELL drivers in their raw state which can be loaded during Windows installation.
The following Intel site offers driver installation and the f6 versions in a Zip file, but for a later version of the Intel software (Version: 16.8.3.1003 (Latest) Date: 7/2/2020)
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/28992/Intel-Rapid-Storage-Technology-Intel-RST-User-Interface-and-Driver?product=86825
So, my first question is "where and how can I get the required f6 drivers in a form that can be loaded during Windows installation ?"
My second question is "which specific driver files should be selected during Windows installation?". I note for example that the Intel Zip file contains the several INF files (iaAHCIC.inf; iaStorAC.inf; iaStorSW.inf; iaStorSwExt.inf). So which of these (if any) should be installed during Windows installation ?
My third question is "are there any other essential drivers I should loading during Windows installation, which can't be added or installed through DELL update after Windows finishes its installation?"
Thanks for any help you can offer.
speedstep
9 Legend
9 Legend
•
47K Posts
0
July 27th, 2020 07:00
IASTOR is the INTEL RST F6 pre install driver
; Copyright (C), Intel Corporation. All rights reserved.
; *************************************************************************************
; ** Filename: iaStorAC.inf
; ** Revision: 04/10/2017,14.8.16.1063
; ** Abstract: Windows* INF File for AHCI Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology Driver
;Intel RST AHCI RAID Controller Miniport + RST Filter Driver
; *************************************************************************************
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2822&CC_0104.DeviceDesc = "Intel Chipset SATA RAID Controller"
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_282A&CC_0104.DeviceDesc = "Intel Chipset SATA RAID Controller"
RioJoe
1 Rookie
1 Rookie
•
43 Posts
0
July 31st, 2020 19:00
Well, something seems to have worked... I have been able to reinstall Windows, with RAID volumes..
I first tried a fresh install with boot mode set to RAID, and installed the most recent drivers (iastor) I could find on my old (ie pre-crash) system disks. That got so far then the Windows installation cried foul and would go no further, just asking me to start the reinstall again. I repeated, hoping that a second time around would work, but same error..
I then tried reinstalling windows (still with boot mode as RAID) but this time pre-loading the drivers I'd obtained from the Intel site. Weirdly, this didn't seem to work at first, but then the system rebooted a few times, then went into automatic repair, then went to a blank screen for what seemed like an age, and then suddenly (just as I was about to hit the big red button) up came the Cortana welcome screen, the one that asks for your Windows preferences. I let it carry on, and I now seem to have my working system again, with RAID.
To check, I installed the Intel software but this time from the Dell site, and ran it to see if indeed the new RAID setup had worked. It warned me that I was overwriting a newer (ie the Intel own-brand) software, but I let it do that. Bingo ! The rapid storage interface shows all the disks, and with the option of creating new RAID volumes. So I have successfully recreated my 2xSSD system volume, with the OS, and the PC is now in the process of rebuilding the 2xHDD data volume.
So now I just have the painful job of recreating all my software installations, which I guess at least leaves me with a clean install which should improve performance.
And I don't seem to have the mouse lag and stutter which caused all these headaches in the first place.
Thanks, all, for the help along the way.