How disable VDM protect

[Doniyor1]

I don't want windows on my notebook, i would like to install any operating system I like but the SSD cannot be detected by the installers. This is dues to the Intel VMD controller. I NEED to disable this controller and it should be an option in my BIOS to be able to do so but for what ever reason HP does not give this option or make any advanced settings accessible.

HP Please allow me to change my storage settings on the notebook I paid alot of money for.

Victus 16-d1xxx

Please help mee

[Deep_World]

Hi @Doniyor1,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

Sorry for the inconvenience caused don’t worry let me help you.

To better understand the issue, could you please provide a few more details?

• Which operating system are you trying to install ?
• Do you see the SSD at all in BIOS, or is it missing entirely?
• Have you already tried loading storage drivers during installation?

Here are a few troubleshooting steps you can try:

1. Check BIOS settings: Even if VMD disable isn’t exposed, confirm that “UEFI/Legacy Boot” and “Secure Boot” options are available. Switching Secure Boot off sometimes helps installers detect drives.
2. Load Intel RST drivers during install:  Windows installers require you to manually load the Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST) driver so the SSD is recognized.
3. BIOS update: Ensure your BIOS is on the latest version from HP’s support website sometimes newer firmware exposes additional storage options.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 

Best regards,

Deep_World


 

[Doniyor1]

Hi Deep_World,

Thank you so much for your quick reply and suggestions! 😊

I tried a few things and finally got it working. Here's what helped me:

- I booted into the Linux Mint live USB (Try Mint mode) — the SSD was detected there without any extra drivers.

- Then I installed Linux Mint normally, and during installation it saw the SSD perfectly (no VMD driver needed in live mode).

- Now I'm planning to set up dual boot with Windows (which I will install first or second, depending on space).

The main issue was indeed the Intel VMD controller — HP really should add an option to disable it in BIOS for Victus models (16-d1xxx series), because many people want to install Linux without Windows or dual boot easily. It would make things much simpler for users who paid a lot for these laptops.

Thanks again for your help! If anyone else has the same problem, try booting into live mode first — it often detects the drive without issues.

Best regards,

Doniyor

[Deep_World]

Hi @Doniyor1,

Thanks for letting us help you out! If you're all set, please mark this post as 'Accepted Solution' so I can do a virtual happy dance! 

If you need anything else, I'm all ears (or rather, all text). Just let me know! 

You're awesome, and I'm honored to have been your go-to guide today! 

Stay fantastic, and have an amazing day ahead! 

Best Regards,

Deep_World

[Doniyor1]

Hi @Deep_World,

Thank you again for your help!

I managed to install Linux Mint using the live mode workaround, and now I'm planning to set up dual boot with Windows.

For the Windows part, I need the Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST) VMD drivers to make the SSD visible during Windows installation (since VMD is enabled and BIOS has no disable option on my Victus 16-d1xxx).

Could you please provide or attach a zip file with the necessary RST drivers (especially iaStorVD.inf and related files for VMD controller)? It would be really helpful for dual boot setup and for other Victus users with the same issue.

If you can share a direct download link or the zip, I would greatly appreciate it. If everything works, I'll happily mark this as Accepted Solution.

Thank you so much in advance!

Best regards,  

Doniyor

[Deep_World]

Hi @Doniyor1,

Thanks for your response.

You can also check the HP Support page https://support.hp.com/in-en/drivers  for your Victus 16‑d1xxx model. Sometimes HP provides validated driver bundles specifically for your hardware, which can be safer than generic Intel packages.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 

Best regards,

Deep_World

[Doniyor1]

Hi @Deep_World,

Thank you for the link!

I checked the HP Support page for my Victus 16-d1xxx model, but the Intel RST driver there is the same SetupRST.exe installer. I need the extracted drivers (especially iaStorVD.inf and related VMD files) in a zip file to load during Windows installation for dual boot with Linux Mint.

Could you please attach or provide a direct zip file with the validated Intel RST VMD drivers for Victus laptops? It would make dual boot setup much easier and help other users too.

If you can share it, I'll mark this as Accepted Solution right away.

Thanks in advance!

Best regards,  

Doniyor

[Deep_World · Accepted solution]

 Hi @Doniyor1,

Thanks for your response. It looks like you’re still having issue in finding the downloading file however support for the open source OS is limited. 

To get you the best assistance, we need to take this conversation to a private chat. We're inviting you to a private message to protect your privacy and ensure that any sensitive information remains confidential. 

To access your private message, just click the little blue envelope icon on the upper right corner of your HP Community profile, next to your profile name. Alternatively, you can click on this link. 

You can use this link as well: 

Private Messages - HP Support Community

We're looking forward to helping you resolve this issue! 

Stay tuned, and thanks for your patience! 

Best regards,

Deep_World

[Deep_World]

A huge thank you for marking this post as the 'Accepted Solution'! We're thrilled that we could help resolve your issue. 

If you have any more questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to ask. We're here to help! 

Thanks again for your confirmation, and we wish you an amazing day ahead! 

Best Regards,

Deep_World