@ users with an Intel AHCI/RAID system and an Intel SATA AHCI/RAID Controller, which is not supported by any original Intel AHCI/RAID driver or natively not supported by the requested newer/better Intel AHCI or RAID driver:
The problems:
- Although the actual Intel AHCI and RAID drivers are running fine with nearly all Intel Southbridges from ICH7R/M up, the installation fails for systems with various Intel SATA AHCI/RAID Controllers, because Intel didn’t write the needed HardwareIDs into the related information file (with the suffix .INF). This is the reason why the latest Intel AHCI drivers cannot be installed onto AHCI systems with an ICH8R, ICH8M, ICH9R or ICH10R Southbridge and the Intel RAID drivers of the v11 and v12 series cannot be installed onto X79 RAID systems.
- Some manufacturers of computers, mainboards and notebooks wanted to save money and integrated instead of the fully functional Intel ICH8R/ICH8M, ICH9R/ICH9M or ICH10R SATA Controller Chips the cheaper, but somehow "castrated" ICH8, ICH9 or ICH10 revisions. Although many of these systems without a letter behind the "ICH" do support the AHCI standard features and have a BIOS with the option to enable the AHCI mode, the owners are not able to get any original Intel AHCI driver installed or integrated into the Windows image. Obviously Intel doesn't want to support these low-priced AHCI Controller revisions.
The solution:
To make even the newest Intel AHCI and RAID drivers installable (and hopefully usable) for nearly all owners of an AHCI or RAID capable Intel chipset system, I have customized the related INF files by adding the missing HardwareIDs. This modification doesn’t affect the real AHCI or RAID driver named iaStor.sys resp. iaStorA.sys itself, but just the associated information files with the suffix .INF and for XP compatible drivers additionally the text file named TXTSETUP.OEM, which is absolutely needed for the XP installation onto any AHCI or RAID system. That is the reason why the “driver modification” doesn’t have any negative impact on the function of the absolutely untouched Intel AHCI and RAID driver.
Relevance of the driver’s “Digital Signature”:
The latest Windows Operating Systems from Win8 up have a feature named “Driver Signature Enforcement”, which does not allow to get any driver installed, which has no valid digital signature. Since any modification of the associated INF file automaticly breaks the digital signature of the driver, there is only one way to get a “modded” driver installed onto any Windows OS from Win8 up without the need of disabling the automaticly active “Driver Signature Enforcement”: The modded driver has to be digitally signed by a trustworthy person or Company.
Notes:
- All modded 32/64bit Intel AHCI/RAID drivers, which I am offering here, have been digitally signed by me, but without the assistance of the Forum members mrces2, Zwulf and George_King I wouldn’t have been able to to it. Big thanks to all of them!
Consequence: It should be possible to get these drivers installed without any problems (no need to disable the “Driver Signature Enforcement”)! - Nevertheless you may get the message while trying to get any "mod+signed" driver installed, that "the best driver is already installed". This always will happen, when you want to replace
a) a WHQL certified driver or
b) a newer driver by an older one.
Solution: Force the installation of the “mod+signed” driver by using the “Have Disk” button.
How to benefit from the digital signature of these drivers:
To get full benefit from the driver’s digital signature it is necessary to import the related Certificate, which declares the signature as being valid and the signer as being trustworthy. You can find a short guide about how to import the Certificate within all my offered mod+signed driverpacks. So there is nothing to download or to look for separately.
Important:
This procedure has to be done only once, but before you are trying to get the first “mod+signed” driver installed.
Users, who want to know more about this topic, should look into the start post of >this< thread.
Additional remarks:
- Although I have done my very best while preparing the “modded” drivers, I cannot give any guarantee, that they will work flawlessly with any Intel AHCI or RAID system. That is why the usage of these drivers will be at the user’s own risk.
- If you want to know, which Intel RST/RST(e) driver versions I recommend to use for the different Intel AHCI or RAID systems, you should look >here< (general information) or >here< (performance comparison tests).
Changelog:
- new: Generic 32/64bit Intel RST AHCI drivers v11.2.0.1006 mod+signed by me
- new: Generic 32/64bit Intel RST RAID drivers v11.2.0.1006 mod+signed by me
- freshly digitally signed: all offered drivers
Note: You have to use WinRAR from v5.xx up or 7-Zip from v18xx up to get the drivers extracted.
I. “Classical” Intel RST AHCI/RAID drivers (w/o SCSI Filter driver)
- Mod+signed Intel RST drivers v11.2.0.1006 dated 05/30/2012:
Note:
The natively merged “pure” AHCI and RAID driver files were split by me to make the installation easier (no selection of the matching *.inf file) and to avoid a “wrong driver” BSOD during the installation.- a) "pure" drivers for Intel SATA Controllers running in AHCI mode:
- >Generic 32bit Intel RST AHCI driver v11.2.0.1006 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Generic 64bit Intel RST AHCI driver v11.2.0.1006 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Generic 32bit Intel RST RAID driver v11.2.0.1006 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Generic 64bit Intel RST RAID driver v11.2.0.1006 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- All above listed driverpacks contain the latest and best “classical” RST drivers (without SCSI Filter driver named iaStorF.sys).
- The generic AHCI and RAID drivers have been configured, modded and digitally signed on 08/05/2023. Only the associated text files were modified, the original drivers themselves named iaStor.sys stayed untouched.
- The offered mod+signed “pure” generic drivers should support
a) the Intel SATA AHCI/RAID Controllers of all Intel Chipsets and
b) all 32/64bit Windows Operating Systems from W2k/XP up. - My own tests were done with an Intel Z170 chipset PC running Win11 v23H2, the on-board Intel SATA Controller had been set to “AHCI” mode.
- Although I am rather sure, that the “pure” generic Intel RST drivers will be usable from scratch by users, who want to install W2k or XP, we need their feedback to get it verified. If you should encounter any problem with these drivers, please send me a PM and don’t forget to give me the required information (Intel chipset, SATA mode and error message).
b) "pure" drivers for Intel SATA Controllers running in RAID mode:
c) Complete AHCI/RAID Drivers and Software Set:
(installable once the OS is up, the RST Control Panel additionally needs .NET Framework 3/3.5)Remarks:
II. Intel AHCI/RAID drivers from the RST(e) Series (with SCSI Filter driver)
- Notes regarding the below listed drivers:
- Although I have added the needed HardwareIDs to allow the support of all Intel SATA/RAID Controllers from ESB2/ICH7R/M up, I am not sure, whether the below listed drivers are the best choice for very old Intel chipset systems.
- The installation and the usage of Intel’s new RST(e) drivers from v11.5 up is not as easy as with the “classical” Intel RST generation. You can find >here< some general remarks and advices.
- Supported: All known Intel SATA AHCI and RAID Controllers from ESB2/ICH7 Southbridges up.
- Usable with: Windows Operating Systems from Win7 up (valid for all Intel RST(e) drivers up to the v15 platform). The v16/17 platform drivers are only supported by the latest Windows (Win8/10) and Server Operating Systems.
- Mod+signed Intel RST(e) drivers v11.7.4.1001 dated 03/05/2013:
Note:
The natively merged “pure” AHCI and RAID driver files were split by me to make the installation easier (no selection of the matching *.inf file) and to avoid a “wrong driver” BSOD during the installation.- a) "pure" drivers for Intel SATA Controllers running in AHCI mode:
- >Universal 32bit Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v11.7.4.1001 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Universal 64bit Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v11.7.4.1001 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Universal 32bit Intel RST(e) RAID driver v11.7.4.1001 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Universal 64bit Intel RST(e) RAID driver v11.7.4.1001 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- The v11.7.4.1001 RST(e) drivers are the latest ones from the v11 development platform. They were modded by me on 01/16/2020 and freshly signed on 08/05/2023.
- Supported are all Windows Operating Systems from Win7 up and all Intel SB/Chipset systems from ESB2/ICH7 up.
c) Complete AHCI/RAID Drivers and Software Set:
(installable once the OS is up, the RST Control Panel additionally needs .NET Framework 3/3.5)Remarks:
- Mod+signed Intel RST(e) drivers v12.9.4.1000 dated 04/24/2014:
Note:
The natively merged “pure” AHCI and RAID driver files were split by me to make the installation easier (no selection of the matching *.inf file) and to avoid a “wrong driver” BSOD during the installation.- a) "pure" drivers for Intel SATA Controllers running in AHCI mode:
- >Universal 32bit Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v12.9.4.1000 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Universal 64bit Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v12.9.4.1000 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Universal 32bit Intel RST(e) RAID driver v12.9.4.1000 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Universal 64bit Intel RST(e) RAID driver v12.9.4.1000 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
c) Suitable original Software Installer Sets:
(can be run after having manually installed the matching mod+signed driver) - The v12.9.4.1000 RST(e) drivers are the latest ones from the v12 development platform. They were modded by me on 01/16/2020 and freshly signed on 08/05/2023.
- Supported are all Windows Operating Systems from Win7 up and all Intel SB/Chipset systems from ESB2/ICH7 up.
- Mod+signed Intel RST(e) drivers v13.1.0.1058 dated 05/02/2014:
Note:
The natively merged “pure” AHCI and RAID driver files were split by me to make the installation easier (no selection of the matching *.inf file) and to avoid a “wrong driver” BSOD during the installation.- a) "pure" drivers for Intel SATA Controllers running in AHCI mode:
- >Universal 32bit Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v13.1.0.1058 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Universal 64bit Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v13.1.0.1058 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Universal 32bit Intel RST(e) RAID driver v13.1.0.1058 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Universal 64bit Intel RST(e) RAID driver v13.1.0.1058 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
c) Suitable original Software Installer Sets:
(can be run after having manually installed the matching mod+signed driver) - The v13.1.0.1058 RST(e) drivers are the latest ones, which support 7-Series/C216 chipset systems. They were modded by me on 01/16/2020 and freshly signed on 08/05/2023.
- Supported are all Windows Operating Systems from Win7 up and all Intel SB/Chipset systems from ESB2/ICH7 up.
- Mod+signed Intel RST(e) drivers v13.2.8.1002 dated 07/09/2015:
Note:
The natively merged “pure” AHCI and RAID driver files were split by me to make the installation easier (no selection of the matching *.inf file) and to avoid a “wrong driver” BSOD during the installation.- a) "pure" drivers for Intel SATA Controllers running in AHCI mode:
- >Universal 32bit Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v13.2.8.1002 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Universal 64bit Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v13.2.8.1002 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Universal 32bit Intel RST(e) RAID driver v13.2.8.1002 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Universal 64bit Intel RST(e) RAID driver v13.2.8.1002 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
c) Suitable original Software Installer Sets:
(can be run after having manually installed the matching mod+signed driver) - The v13.2.8.1002 RST(e) drivers are the latest completely available ones from the v13 platform. They were modded by me on 01/16/2020 and freshly signed on 08/05/2023.
- Supported are all Windows Operating Systems from Win7 up and all Intel SB/Chipset systems from ESB2/ICH7 up.
- Mod+signed Intel RST(e) drivers v14.8.18.1066 dated 09/06/2017:
Note:
The natively merged “pure” AHCI and RAID driver files were split by me to make the installation easier (no selection of the matching *.inf file) and to avoid a “wrong driver” BSOD during the installation.- a) "pure" drivers for Intel SATA Controllers running in AHCI mode:
- >Universal 32bit Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v14.8.18.1066 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Universal 64bit Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v14.8.18.1066 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Universal 32bit Intel RST(e) RAID driver v14.8.18.1066 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Universal 64bit Intel RST(e) RAID driver v14.8.18.1066 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
c) Suitable original Software Installer Sets:
(can be run after having manually installed the matching mod+signed driver) - The v14.8.18.1066 RST(e) drivers are the latest ones from the v14 platform. They were modded by me on 01/17/2020 and freshly signed on 08/06/2023.
- Supported are all Windows Operating Systems from Win7 up and all Intel SB/Chipset systems from ESB2/ICH7 up.
- Mod+signed Intel RST(e) drivers v15.9.8.1050 dated 07/31/2019:
Note:
The natively merged “pure” AHCI and RAID driver files were split by me to make the installation easier (no selection of the matching *.inf file) and to avoid a “wrong driver” BSOD during the installation.- a) "pure" drivers for Intel SATA Controllers running in AHCI mode:
- >Universal 32bit Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v15.9.8.1050 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Universal 64bit Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v15.9.8.1050 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Universal 32bit Intel RST(e) RAID driver v15.9.8.1050 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Universal 64bit Intel RST(e) RAID driver v15.9.8.1050 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
c) Suitable original Software Installer Sets:
(can be run after having manually installed the matching mod+signed driver) - The v15.9.8.1050 RST(e) drivers are the latest ones from the v15 platform and the last one, which supports Win7. They were modded by me on 05/02/2021 and freshly signed on 08/06/2023.
- Supported are all Windows Operating Systems from Win7 up and all Intel SB/Chipset systems from ESB2/ICH7 up.
- Warning:
The Intel RST drivers of the v15 platform have been designed and optimized by Intel just for Intel 100-/200-Series and X99 Chipsets. Due to the modification of the related INF files the above listed Intel RST drivers will be installable onto older Intel Chipset AHCI/RAID systems, but may not properly work.
Don’t forget do set a “Restore Point” before trying to get these drivers installed! - Mod+signed Intel RST drivers v16.8.5.1014 dated 12/13/2022:
- >Generic 64bit Intel RST AHCI driver v16.8.5.1014 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Generic 64bit Intel RST RAID drivers v16.8.5.1014 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
These RST drivers are the latest ones from the v16 development platform and support all 64bit Windows Operating Systems from Win8 x64 up. They were modded by me on 04/22/2023 and signed on 08/05/2023.
Due to the *.INF file modification all currently in-use Intel SB/Chipset systems may be supported by this driver.
Warning:
The Intel RST drivers of the v16 platform have been designed and optimized by Intel for modern Intel chipsets from 300-Series up. Due to the modification of the related INF files the above listed Intel RST drivers will be installable onto older Intel Chipset AHCI/RAID systems, but may not properly work.
Don’t forget do set a “Restore Point” before trying to get these drivers installed! - Mod+signed Intel RST drivers v17.11.3.1010 dated 11/25/2022:
- >Generic 64bit Intel RST AHCI driver v17.11.3.1010 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Generic 64bit Intel RST RAID drivers v17.11.3.1010 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
These 64bit RST drivers are the currently latest from the v17 development platform. Only 64bit Windows Operating Systems from Win10 x64 up are supported. They have been modded by me on 04/23/2023 and freshly signed on 08/05/2023.
Due to the *.INF file modification all currently in-use Intel SB/Chipset systems should be supported by this driver.
Warning:
The Intel RST drivers of the v17 platform have been designed and optimized by Intel for modern Intel chipsets from 300-Series up. Due to the modification of the related INF files the above listed Intel RST drivers will be installable onto older Intel Chipset AHCI/RAID systems, but may not properly work.
Don’t forget do set a “Restore Point” before trying to get these drivers installed! - Mod+signed Intel RST drivers v18.37.7.1013 dated 02/06/2023:
- >Generic 64bit Intel RST AHCI driver v18.37.7.1013 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Generic 64bit Intel RST RAID drivers v18.37.7.1013 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
These 64bit RST drivers are dated 02/06/2023 and currently the latest ones from the v18 development platform. Only 64bit Windows Operating Systems from Win10 x64 up are supported. Both drivers have been modded by me on 04/29/2023 and freshly signed on 08/05/2023.
Definitively supported are all Intel Chipset systems from 100-Series up (tested myself), but it may work even with older Intel Chipsets/Southbridges.
Warning:
The Intel RST drivers of the v18 platform have been designed and optimized by Intel just for the newest Intel Chipsets. Due to the modification of the related INF files the above listed Intel RST drivers will be installable onto older Intel Chipset AHCI/RAID systems, but may not properly work.
Don’t forget do set a “Restore Point” before trying to get these drivers installed!
Here are the most important Intel RST(e) drivers, which I have “universally modded” and digitally signed for you:
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III. Old Intel AHCI/RAID drivers from the former MSM platform
(="Matrix Storage Manager")
Here are the latest and probably best old Intel MSM AHCI/RAID drivers:
- Mod+signed Intel MSM drivers v8.9.8.1005 dated 04/05/2010:
- >Universal 32bit Intel MSM AHCI driver v8.9.8.1005 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Universal 64bit Intel MSM AHCI driver v8.9.8.1005 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Universal 32bit Intel MSM RAID driver v8.9.8.1005 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Universal 64bit Intel MSM RAID driver v8.9.8.1005 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
- >Universal Intel MSM Drivers+Software Set v8.9.8.1005 mod+signed by me< (>MIRROR<)
Theses MSM drivers do support all Operating Systems from W2k up and all known Intel SATA AHCI and RAID Controllers from ICH6R/M and ESB2 up. They were modded by me on 01/16/2020 and freshly digitally signed on 08/05/2023.
Any feedback is much appreciated.
Good luck with the “mod+signed” drivers!
Dieter (alias Fernando)