Unable to update to Windows 10, version 1903 (Intel RST) (iastora.sys)

[HJonathanH]

Hi,

I am attempting to update to update 1903 as Windows notes that "You're currently running a version of windows that's nearing the end of support." I am currently on 1803. However, I received an error dialog related to Intel Rapid Storage Technology and a link to this MS article: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4514156/updating-to-windows-10-version-1903-on-devices-with...

The error dialog I have is the same as in that link.

On HP's product support page, the storage driver hasn't been updated since 2016.

https://support.hp.com/au-en/drivers/selfservice/omen-by-hp-15-ax000-laptop-pc-series/10862325/model...

I have downloaded and installed the driver (SetupRST.exe) that the above MS article links to, but the update is still unable to go through. I tried both the exact version that MS links to, 15.9.6.1044 and the latest, 17.5.1.1021, but neither works.

I found the file that the error dialog seems to be referring to in the location:

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\iaStorA.sys

But the version listed on that is 15.2.0.1020, not the versions that I tried to install. I suspect that this means that I need a HP provided version of Intel RST, but as noted above, it doesn't seem to exist.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Toby1013]

Do like I am going to, buy an apple from now on.  Last 4 computers HP always no support after a couple years

[Adams_Myth]

Wow.... the silence is deafening from HP staff...

[Kingbobdole]

I have a fix.  Download the newest setupRST.exe from intel and uninstall the software.  Then go to the windows/system32/drivers folder and delete the iastorA.sys file.  If you mouse over it, it will tell you its for the intel RST stuff and the version 15 number.  Seems when you update or install this software it doesn't clean up this file which confuses the windows update that you still have the older version.

[g0d5m15t4k3]

I can confirm this fix suggested by Kingbobdole.

I tried just updating the Intel RST driver from the Intel website. I downloaded the EXE, went through it, rebooted, just as it was rebooting, I got a system error but it continued reboot.

When I went to re-try the Windows 10 update, it still failed at 25% saying I was on the old Intel RST driver. But I manually confirmed that I was indeed on the latest driver. See this lovely screen shot that shows all the dumb in one picture:

Intel RST version mismatch causing Win10 update failure.

I indeed had to delete the iastorA.sys file. It showed the old 15.2.0.1020 version. Well, I cut and paste it to my desktop just in case stuff got messed up and I needed to revert. I did notice the  iastorAC.sys had the latest driver version reflected 17.5.1.10.21. And the iastorA.VCsys 15.44.0.1010. Which was wrong no matter what. It didn't match the old version nor the new version!

I deleted (edit: I didn't delete, I cut the file out of that location and pasted it on my desktop just in case I needed to revert the changes) the first outdated file, iastorA.sys, and hit refresh on my Windows update and it didn't work. I deleted  the other outdated file, iastorA.VCsys, (edit: I didn't delete, I cut the file out of that location and pasted it on my desktop just in case I needed to revert the changes) and hit refresh on my Windows update and that didn't work either. So I exited out of the Win10 update totally. Then re-initiated it.

Cool. Now I can finally update to Windows 10 version 1903. I might not needed to have removed the other outdated file. But I'm 50% into my Windows update whereas before I got snagged on 25%.

Update: The Windows 10 update was successful!

Two notes: You must have Admin access to delete or cut the "bad files" out of the System 32 folder. You must reboot at the end of your Windows update.

Successful update of the file that caused the Windows 10 update to fail.

I doubt HP will care to create a hotfix or anything for this any time soon as the workaround is pretty straight forward: Manually update the Intel RST driver, remove a file that the OS uses to [incorrectly] identify the RST version number, run the Windows 10 update, reboot the machine. 

Reasons why you should trust me: I've worked in software support and this kind of work around is pretty common, I am not being paid by HP, and I am taking my own sweet time to show screen caps of before and after in order to prove the fix is valid.

Good night, and good luck!

[g0d5m15t4k3]

The fix includes deleting two artifact SYS files that cause the Win10 update to think its still on an old version of Intel RST. I posted a full fix below with a screencap.

[g0d5m15t4k3]

Yeah I don't know if they get paid to reply to Forums Threads or not. Sucks.

The fix includes deleting two artifact SYS files that cause the Win10 update to think its still on an old version of Intel RST. I posted a full fix below with a screencap.

[Adams_Myth]

Thank you to all for helping out here. I was under the impression that we would get no further with it.

Currently up to my ar$e in alligators trying to drain the swamp with a work project, but I will get back and try this once I reach dry land
😄

[HJonathanH]

Thanks Kingbobdole and g0d5m15t4k3. I'm currently on holiday, so don't have access to my laptop, but I will try out this solution when I get back and mark one of your replies as a solution if all works out. Reminder to anyone else following along to backup windows and your important files if you are messing around with Windows system files (search for Windows recovery disk).

[teresawillard]

I had this issue yesterday. Updated my bios and 1903 updated. Took about two hours for the whole process though.