Cannot find RST driver for Windows 11

[st6f9n]

Hello,

I need to reinstall Windows 11. I followed these instructions: https://support.hp.com/gb-en/document/ish_4859717-4859823-16.  However, I cannot find the driver in the extracted data of this file: sp161493.exe (Driver for Intel Rapid Storage Technology, 20.2.4.1019 Rev.A, 14.1 MB, July 17, 2025). Is sp161493.exe the wrong file? What is the name of the driver I need?

Many thanks in advance.

Martin

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Martin:

I don't believe that is the problem.

Try installing the Intel Neural Processing Unit (NPU) Driver from your PC's support page.

HP EliteDesk 8 Tower G1i Desktop AI PC Software and Driver Details

Use the free 7-Zip file utility to extract the exe file into its driver folder, or run the file and cancel out of the installation.

Then copy the driver folder to a USB flash drive.

When you are at the point where Windows can't find any drives to install on, browse to the sp158291 driver folder>src>driver>npu.inf (setup information file) and hopefully that is the right driver needed for Windows to find the drive.

[st6f9n]

Hi Paul,

thank you very much for your support ! The driver file npu.inf is recognized, but unfortunately the message “Error installing driver” appears, as can be seen in the screenshot (in German).

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Unfortunately, I wouldn't know what to do about that problem.

If your PC came with Windows from HP, I recommend that you use the HP cloud recovery client software to make a bootable USB recovery drive to reinstall Windows.

Here is an info link for how to use the utility:

HP Business PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Client in Windows 11 and Windows 10 | HP® Support

You can download the software from your PC's support page:

HP EliteDesk 8 Tower G1i E Desktop AI PC Software and Driver Details

[st6f9n]

I was too impatient, so when I clicked “Install” for the second time, I got an “Error installing driver” message. When I tried again, I got the message (see photo) "A media driver your computer needs is missing. This could be a DVD, USB, or hard disk driver. If you have a CD, DVD, or USB flash device with the driver on it, please insert it now." Does that mean I need a different driver after all? Then I guess I'll have to try the HP Cloud Recovery Client.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Yes, that message indicates that you need to install a different driver, but what it is I do not know. 

I've given that driver to a couple of other forum members with different model AI PCs, and it worked. 

[st6f9n]

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_4374279-4216685-16:

"Note: If you download the recovery media on a different computer than the computer you want to recover, check the I need to enter the serial number for my HP system box. Then, manually type in the information for the affected system"

I entered the serial number, then the error message “Error during initialization” appeared. I've never had so many problems with a W11 desktop before. I've been an IT administrator for a very long time (btw, Ubuntu 24.04 recognizes everything without any problems). I'm going to try to return the desktop.

[st6f9n]

The HP Support was also unable to get the cloud recovery tool to run using remote access: “initialization failed.”

According to HP Support, my firewall could be the problem, but I don't have any special settings. Is there a log file from the cloud recovery tool? Any ideas ?

[st6f9n]

The HP cloud recovery tool does not appear to work on Windows VMs (“Error during initialization”). I have tested it on Virtualbox and Proxmox VMs.  It seems to work on a physical Windows computer, but unfortunately I cannot plug in a USB stick remotely 😞 I have installed many computers in my life (Linux, Windows, MacOS), but never has it been as frustrating as in this case.

[st6f9n · Accepted solution]

I was able to successfully use the HP cloud recovery tool on an external computer. I don't know why it didn't work at home, but it doesn't matter now 🙂