Cannot Install RST Driver on Non Booting HP Spectre x360 Laptop

[DofW]

I tried installing HP specified RST driver (sp135584.exe, v.18.6.1.1016 Rev.D) via the windows media creation tool (MCT) via a 64GB flash drive.  The appropriate .inf files appear to be in the RST package VMD folder.  When I get to the point on the MCT install process to select the RST driver .inf files, after selecting either of the two files, neither will install.  Either no action occurs, or on other attempts a progress bar repeats itself without any meaningful action.  At the suggestion of the Microsoft copilot I also tried creating an ISO MCT, but it did not help my effort to install the RST driver.  I have also tried a couple of different versions of the RST package found on the intel site at the 10th-11th generation level specified for windows 11. Neither of those installed either.  I have over 10 hours of time spent on trying different USB flash drives and different arrangements of content without success.  Will appreciate useful suggestions as I continue to scrounge around. BTW, the HP AI bot was not at all helpful.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Try the drivers I zipped up and attached below.

If that still doesn't work and your notebook came with Windows from HP, it should be supported by the HP cloud recovery tool which you can use to create a bootable USB installation flash drive that will restore the HP factory software image on the drive.

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

HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool in Windows | HP® Support

[DofW]

Greetings and Thanks, Paul, for your initial assistance.  I was not successful using the RST driver you offered in addition to re-downloading and re-trying the original RST driver packaged I referenced in my initial post.  I also tried using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool, which was available to me. It didn't work either.  I have tried testing hardware and could not find anything obviously wrong.  I have also been working with Microsoft Copilot tor try to trouble shoot, without success.  I now have nearly 20 hours of time invested.  Your continued expertise will be greatly appreciated.  Below is a technical summary of my efforts with Copilot that it helped cobble together:

Following up on my earlier post (model details already provided). I’ve worked through a full set of troubleshooting steps, but the internal SSD still isn’t detected during Windows setup.

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✅ Current behavior

• BIOS detects the internal SSD normally
• Windows 11 installer boots successfully
• At disk selection:

  "We couldn’t find any drives"

• diskpart → list disk shows only the USB installer (no internal disk)

---

✅ What I have already tried

1. Installation media

• Rebuilt USB multiple times using Rufus:
  • GPT/UEFI (initial)
  • MBR/BIOS+UEFI (final working configuration)
• Installer now launches consistently

---

2. Driver injection (DISM)

Injected Intel RST/VMD drivers successfully into:

• boot.wim (Index 2)
• install.wim (Indexes 1 and 6)

All DISM operations completed without errors.

---

3. Manual driver loading (Setup → Load Driver)

Tested multiple sources:

A. HP “dchu_VMD” driver

• iaStorVD.inf loads without errors
• No SSD appears afterward

B. F6 driver package you provided

Three driver options appear:

• Intel RST VMD Controller (9A0B)
• Intel RST VMD Managed Controller (09AB)
• Intel Optane extension

Tried:

• 9A0B → no disk
• 09AB → no disk

Also attempted via command line:

BAT

drvload <path>\iaStorVD.inf

Show more lines

Result:

• Driver loads successfully
• No disk appears (even in diskpart)

---

4. BIOS investigation

• No Advanced menu available
• No option to:
  • Disable VMD
  • Switch to AHCI
  • Change RST/RAID mode

👉 VMD appears enabled and locked by firmware

---

5. HP Cloud Recovery Tool

• Attempted separately
• Did not resolve the issue (still no disk detected)

---

🎯 Key observation

• Drivers load without error
• But:

  They do not bind to the storage controller

• SSD remains invisible to:
  • Windows Setup
  • diskpart
  • post-driver load

---

❓ What I’m trying to determine

1. Is there a specific RST/VMD driver version required for this model/CPU that differs from the standard HP package?
2. Should one of the following be matching a specific hardware ID?
   • 9A0B vs 09AB
3. Any known issue with:
   • Newer Windows 11 installers (e.g., 24H2)
   • HP firmware locking VMD with no BIOS toggle
4. Is there a known working method besides HP Cloud Recovery for this model?

---

✅ Summary

• Installer works
• SSD visible in BIOS
• Driver injection and loading both succeed
• SSD still not detected

👉 The remaining issue appears to be:

Driver compatibility / VMD binding mismatch

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

If you ran the F2 diagnostics program and the SSD passed the long and short DST, unfortunately, I don't have any other suggestions for you to try.

The drivers I gave you are newer than the sp135584 file you used, and the ones I gave you are good for all PC's with an Intel 11th>13th gen core processor.

If you have one of those combination Intel Optane memory/NVMe SSDs, it may have failed, because the drive should be showing up.

If you decide to replace the drive, just get a regular Gen 4 NVMe SSD.

I believe the Intel discontinued the NVMe/Optane SSDs.

[DofW]

Thanks again, Paul.  Not happy about replacing the drive as it tested fine on the F2 tests.  The issue really is not hardware related as best I can tell. It's a matter of getting the exact match between the .inf files and the optane drive.  Doesn't make sense that all of a sudden I have a boot failure and no hint of performance issues nor blue screens.  I am wondering if the RST Driver Package recommended on the HP site for my specific laptop is not the same as the driver package that was installed in my laptop when built - this would explain why the .inf files are not exact for acceptance by the optane drive.

If I do have to replace the drive, do you know what form factor it would need to be?

Cheers,

-Doug

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome, Doug. 

Check your notebook's service manual. 

It should be M.2 2280.