@ all RAID users, who have installed or are going to install Win7/Win8 in UEFI mode:
Intel EFI “RaidDriver” (=“SataDriver”)
BIOS Modules
(only for Intel Chipsets from 6-Series up)
(last updated: 04/18/2022)
Note: The Intel GopDrivers can be found >here<.
Introduction
Actual Intel RAID systems, where Win7 or Win8 has been installed in EFI mode, do not use the “LEGACY” Intel RAID ROM module, which usually is within the CSMCORE file of the BIOS. The RAID Configuration Utility is managed by a separate BIOS module named “RaidDriver” (formerly and sometimes still named “SataDriver”).
Important:
Contrary to the conventional Intel RAID ROM the “RaidDriver” is no PCI ROM module! Users, who want to insert, replace, delete or extract a “SataDriver” BIOS module by using the Aptio MMTool, have to make sure, that the “For Option ROM only” section is completely unchecked.
Remarks regarding the Intel UEFI “RaidDriver/SataDriver” module:
- Many Intel RAID users, who are going to install Win7 or Win8 in UEFI mode, have the choice, whether their Intel SATA RAID Controller shall be managed by the LEGACY Intel RAID ROM or by the Intel EFI RAID “SataDriver”.
- The first “SataDriver” module version, which has been released by Intel, was v11.6.0.1702. That means, that a SataDriver module v11.6.0.1702 or higher is required within the BIOS to get for Intel RAID systems the fast boot option in “UEFI mode”.
- Advantage of the EFI RAID SataDriver option: The boot time for RAID systems will be very short, because the UEFI RAID Utility named “Intel(R) Rapid Storage” is part of the BIOS and not an extern utility anymore (no Ctrl+I required).
- Intel RAID users, who have installed Win7/Win8 in EFI mode or are going to do it, can get access to the Intel EFI RAID Utility named “Intel(R) Rapid Storage” by entering the BIOS, choosing “Advanced Options” and hitting the right (or left) arrow navigation keyboard button until they see the new tab, which is outside the usually shown UEFI tabs.
Precondition: The BIOS settings within the “Boot” section have to allow the boot off UEFI media and the use of “EFI” instead of the “LEGACY” OROM modules. - It is possible to insert the EFI “RaidDriver” (resp. “SataDriver”) file into an UEFI mode capable BIOS, which doesn’t yet contain such module, and this inserted SataDriver will work! The exact procedure was detected by the user ney2x and layed down >here<.
Consequence: All users with a Z68 RAID system probably are able to install Windows 8 in EFI mode and to get rid of the typical boot delay caused by the detection of the RAID array, whether the original BIOS already contains an EFI RAID module named “SataDriver” or not. - Note: Contrary to the Intel RST RAID ROM modules, which are usable with all DEV_2822/282a RAID Controllers, different Intel RAID systems may need a different sort of the same “SataDriver” module version. According to SoniX (>LINK<) the big majority of the Intel 6-Series and 7-Series Chipset BIOSes need a “SataDriver” module with a GUID starting with 90C8D3394 (the hex code of the uncompressed file begins with 94 D3 C8 90), whereas the Gigabyte BIOSes usually need a “SataDriver” with a GUID starting with 91B4D9C1 (hex code: C1 D9 B4 91).
Download Links
Since the EFI “RaidDriver”/“SataDiver” module version of the BIOS is not always up-to-date, I offer here the latest/best ones.
General notes:
- To get the *.rar archives properly unzipped, you have to use WinRAR v5.xx.
- The archives just contain the related *.FFS file (with a special GUID header) resp. *.EFI file (without GUID header) for the replacement of the complete GUID specific AMI UEFI BIOS “RaidDriver” module (formerly named “SataDriver”) resp. its body (unique EFI module part without GUID header).
A. Recommended for Intel 6-Series chipsets (except X79 running in RSTe mode):
-
Intel RST(e) EFI “RaidDriver” modules v12.9 series:
-
>Intel RST(e) EFI RAID “SataDriver” v12.9.0.2006 GUID 90C8D394< (>MIRROR<)
-
Modified version (new CPL0 method):
- a) uncompressed form (default):
>“Universally TRIM modified” Intel “SataDriver” v12.9.0.2006 GUID 90C8D394< (>MIRROR<) - b) compressed form (for BIOSes with space problem or UBU usage):
>“Universally TRIM modified” Intel “SataDriver” v12.9.0.2006 GUID 90C8D394 compr.< (>MIRROR<)
- a) uncompressed form (default):
-
Modified version (new CPL0 method):
-
>Intel RST(e) EFI RAID “SataDriver” v12.9.0.2006 GUID 91B4D9C1< (>MIRROR<)
-
Modified version (new CPL0 method):
- a) uncompressed form (default):
>“Universally TRIM modified” Intel “SataDriver” v12.9.0.2006 GUID 91B4D9C1< (>MIRROR<) - b) compressed form (for BIOSes with space problem or UBU usage):
>“Universally TRIM modified” Intel “SataDriver” v12.9.0.2006 GUID 91B4D9C1 compr.< (>MIRROR<)
- a) uncompressed form (default):
-
Modified version (new CPL0 method):
-
>Intel RST(e) EFI RAID “SataDriver” v12.9.0.2006 GUID 90C8D394< (>MIRROR<)
- >“pure” Intel RST(e) EFI “SataDriver” v12.9.0.1006 (without header)< (>MIRROR<)
B. Recommended for Intel 7-/8-/9-Series Chipsets (except X99 running in RSTe mode):
- Intel RST(e) EFI “RaidDriver” modules v13.1 series:
- Intel RST(e) EFI “RaidDriver” modules v13.2 series:
- Intel RST(e) EFI “RaidDriver” modules v13.5 series:
C. Recommended for Intel 100-/200-Series Chipsets:
- Intel RST(e) EFI “RaidDriver” modules v14.6 series: (thanks to plutomaniac for the source file)
- Intel RST(e) EFI “RaidDriver” modules v14.7 series: (thanks to Station-Drivers for the source file)
- Intel RST(e) EFI “RaidDriver” modules v14.8 series: (thanks to Station-Drivers for the source file)
- Intel RST(e) EFI “RaidDriver” module v15.0 series: (only for Intel 100-/200-Series Chipsets and Skylake Systems, thanks to plutomaniac for the source file)
- Intel RST(e) EFI “RaidDriver” module v15.1 series: (only for Intel 100-/200-Series Chipsets and Skylake Systems, thanks to Pacman for the source file)
- Intel RST(e) EFI “RaidDriver” module v15.2 series: (only for Intel 100-/200-Series Chipsets and Skylake/KabyLake Systems, thanks to Pacman for the source file)
- Intel RST(e) EFI “RaidDriver” module v15.5 series: (only for Intel 100-/200-Series Chipsets and Skylake/KabyLake Systems, thanks to Pacman for the source file)
- Intel RST(e) EFI “RaidDriver” module v15.7 series: (only for Intel 100-/200-Series Chipsets and Skylake/KabyLake Systems, thanks to plutomaniac for the source file)
- Intel RST(e) EFI “RaidDriver” module v15.8 series: (only for Intel 100-/200-Series Chipsets and Skylake/KabyLake Systems, thanks to Pacman for the source file)
- Intel RST(e) EFI “RaidDriver” module v15.9 series: (only for Intel 100-/200-Series Chipsets and Skylake/KabyLake Systems, thanks to Pacman for the source file)
D. Recommended for Intel 300/400/500-Series Chipsets:
-
Intel RST v16 platform EFI “RaidDriver” modules:
-
>“pure” Intel RST(e) EFI “RaidDriver” v16.0.7.3491 (without header)< (>MIRROR<)
Note: This module may not work with some Intel 100-Series Chipset systems. Thanks to Pacman for the source FFS file. -
>“pure” Intel RST EFI “RaidDriver” v16.3.0.3377 (without header)< (>MIRROR<)
Note: This module may not work with some Intel 100-Series Chipset systems. -
>“pure” Intel RST EFI “RaidDriver” v16.5.0.53439 (without header)< (>MIRROR<)
Note: This module may not work with some Intel 100-Series Chipset systems. Thanks to plutomaniac for the source file. -
>“pure” Intel RST EFI “RaidDriver” v16.7.0.3513 (without header)< (>MIRROR<)
Note: This module may not work with some Intel 100-Series Chipset systems. Thanks to Pacman for the source FFS file.
-
>“pure” Intel RST(e) EFI “RaidDriver” v16.0.7.3491 (without header)< (>MIRROR<)
-
Intel RST v17 platform EFI “RaidDriver” modules: (only for Intel’s latest/upcoming Chipsets)
-
>“pure” Intel RST EFI “RaidDriver” v17.0.1.3764 (without header)< (>MIRROR<)
Note: This module may not work with some Intel 100/200-Series Chipset systems. Thanks to plutomaniac for the source file. -
>“pure” Intel RST EFI “RaidDriver” v17.2.5.4046 (without header)< (>MIRROR<)
Note: This module may not work with some Intel 100/200-Series Chipset systems. Thanks to Pacman for the source file. -
>“pure” Intel RST EFI “RaidDriver” v17.3.0.4092 (without header)< (>MIRROR<)
Note: This module may not work with some Intel 100/200-Series Chipset systems. Thanks to plutomaniac for the file. -
>“pure” Intel RST EFI “RaidDriver” v17.5.5.4401 (without header)< (>MIRROR<)
Note: This module may not work with some Intel 100/200-Series Chipset systems. Thanks to westlake for the source file. -
>“pure” Intel RST EFI “RaidDriver” v17.7.0.4404 (without header)< (>MIRROR<)
Note: This module may not work with some Intel 100/200-Series Chipset systems. Thanks to biozzz for the source BIOS file. -
>“pure” Intel RST EFI “RaidDriver” v17.8.4.4671 (without header)< (>MIRROR<)
Note: This module may not work with some Intel 100/200-Series Chipset systems. Thanks to virginlulu for the source file
-
>“pure” Intel RST EFI “RaidDriver” v17.0.1.3764 (without header)< (>MIRROR<)
-
Intel RST v18 platform EFI “RaidDriver” modules:
-
>“pure” Intel RST EFI “RaidDriver” v18.31.3.5434 (without header)< (>MIRROR<)
Note: This module will not work with 100-/200-Series Chipset systems. Thanks to Koekieezz for the file.
-
>“pure” Intel RST EFI “RaidDriver” v18.31.3.5434 (without header)< (>MIRROR<)
E. Recommended for Intel 600-Series Chipsets:
-
Intel RST v19 platform EFI “VmdDriver” modules:
-
>“pure” Intel RST EFI “VmdDriver” v19.0.1.5466 (without header)< (>MIRROR<)
Note: This module will only work with the newest Intel Chipsets. Thanks to westlake for the file.
-
>“pure” Intel RST EFI “VmdDriver” v19.0.1.5466 (without header)< (>MIRROR<)
F. Only for Intel X79/X99/X299 Chipsets running in RSTe mode:
- Latest Intel RSTe EFI “RaidDriver” modules from the v3 platform:
- Latest Intel RSTe EFI “RaidDriver” modules from the v4 platform:
- Latest Intel RSTe EFI “RaidDriver” modules from the v5 platform:
- Latest Intel RSTe EFI VROC “RaidDriver” modules from the v6 platform:
- RSTe v6.3 series:
- Latest Intel RSTe EFI VROC “RaidDriver” modules from the v7 platform (only for X299 chipsets):
- RSTe v7.7 series:
Guides: How to update/insert an Intel EFI “RaidDriver/SataDriver” module
Here are short guides about how to update an already existing “SataDriver/RaidDriver” module and how to insert the desired “SataDriver/RaidDriver” module into a BIOS, where such file is missing:
How to update an Intel EFI “RaidDriver/SataDriver” module:
(requires the presence of such module within the UEFI AMI BIOS)
- Open the BIOS with the AMI Aptio UEFI MMTool and search for the FileName “SataDriver” resp. “RaidDriver” having a GUID usually starting with “90C8D394” or “91B4D9C1”.
- Important: Don’t check the “For Option ROM only” option (the SataDriver module is no Option ROM)!.
- Highlight the “SataDriver/RaidDriver” line, hit the tab “Replace” and navigate to the already extracted suitable “SataDriver” file you want to insert.
Use the file named “SataDriver90.ffs”(or similar) for a GUID starting with 90 and the “SataDriver91.ffs” for a GUID starting with 91. - Hit the button “Replace”.
- Save the updated BIOS file.
- Extract the freshly replaced/inserted “SataDriver/RaidDriver” module with the AMI Aptio MMTool by using the option "Extract UnCompressed"
- Open the extracted file with a hex editor and search for the text fragment “sata”.
- You will find the version number of the module on the right side very close to the searched word “sata”.
How to insert an Intel EFI “RaidDriver/SataDriver” module:
(when such file is missing within the AMI UEFI BIOS)
- Open the BIOS with the AMI Aptio UEFI MMTool and verify, that no module named “SataDriver” or “RaidDriver” is listed.
- Check the Volume number (leftmost column) of the file “CSMCORE”.
- Hit the tab “Insert”.
- Hit the button “Browse” and navigate to the file named SataDriver.ffs resp. RaidDriver.ffs you want to insert.
- Enter the Volume number of the file “CSMCORE” (will be 01 or 02) into the field “Vol. Index”.
- Go to the “Insert FFS Options” section and check the option “Insert Compressed”.
- Hit the button “Insert”.
- Save the modified BIOS file.
The inserted “SataDriver” resp. “RaidDriver” should now be listed by the AMI Aptio MMTool at the end of the related Volume Index numbers.
Note:
Users, who need a more detailed guide about how to insert an EFI module, can find it >here<. Since both modules (NVME and RaidDriver) are EFI ones, the procedure about how to insert them is exactly the same.
Good luck!
Fernando
P.S.: If you should see anywhere a newer Intel “RaidDriver” (=“SataDriver”) version, please let me know it.