How Do I Install Intel Pre-SATA Driver on this build (& other issues)

[EnD]

How Do I Install Intel Pre-SATA Driver on this build (& other issues)

Hello,

Here is what has happened.

My computer was built last December, and has run like a clock, a very fast happy clock.
I went to download a new version of iTunes and encountered issues with iTunes not installing correctly. I then noticed I was missing my Open With... command, so I decided to do a re-install.

I downloaded every new driver from Gigabytes site, and just had horrible issues trying to get Intel Pre Install SATA driver & Intel Rapid Store installed.

I successfully got Intel Rapid Store installed, because I noticed that Gigabyte was not offering .NET 4.5 which Rapid Store needed. (Their download is .NET 4.0)

However, for past hour I have been struggling to get Intel Pre Install SATA in. (I think)
When I extract the file I am greeted by this-
A folder that says 64 Bit
Inside that folder is the following-
iaahcic
iaAHCIC
iaStorA.sys
iastorac
iaStorAC
iaStorF.sys

I know when I first built this system I always had setup, or some exe file and would just click that and items would install. What do I do with these files?
I even tried to go to device manager and click update drivers, but when I direct it to this location nothing happens. (Or at least I don't think anything does). How do I know if it installed? Everything else I install (Intel INF, Management, Marvell etc... I can see in Programs & Features.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

**EDIT**
One quick non related question if I may-
The 100MB partition that Windows makes (sometimes) is it better to have it make that or just format my drive before installing Windows so I don't have it. I must have been telling the installer to format my drive the last few times, because I have not seen that partition show up in a long time. This new install, however has it. If it is better not to have it though, I am so at the beginning of installing I would have no problem starting over.

Thanks again

 

[Anshad Edavana]

The IRST Pre-Install driver is meant to be used with RAID. For example, if you set your storage configuration as RAID 0, Windows setup will ask to provide the Pre-install driver. When we do a regular install in AHCI mode, Windows will use it's own generic AHCI driver "msahci.sys" to access the SATA interface. After install completes and IRST installed, SATA driver will be updated to the latest version instead of generic one. In short, you don't need to manually install the F6 floppy version of IRST.

The 100 MB partition may came handy if you enable full disk encryption with "Bitlocker". Unless you need to create four primary partitions on the disk, there is no real benefit in excluding this partition.

 

[EnD]

The IRST File is the Intel Rapid Store (which I have installed)
The Intel SATA Pre Install for AHCI/RAID mode is the one I am having trouble with. When it is extracted I get a folder that says 64bit

When I went to Gigabyte's site and used their scan tool, (I was trying everything) this was one of the files it said I needed. I only use one HDD, and have no plans to set up a RAID.

So, you are saying I should just ignore the Intel SATA PRE Install driver?
I can't recall what I did when I first built the system, (I did manually install all drivers, I did not use their update tool) I always prefer to do things that way, but I would think I would have downloaded all 11 drivers and put them in. Yet, I can't recall ever running into a situation where I had no Setup.exe file.

So I am still a little confused.

 

[Anshad Edavana]

So, you are saying I should just ignore the Intel SATA PRE Install driver?

Yes, if latest version if "Intel Rapid Storage Technology" and "Intel chipset" driver is already installed, there is no need to mess with the "Pre-install" driver. Open "Device Manager" and expand the "IDE/ATAPI" controller and check whther your SATA controller is listed as "Standard AHCI Controller" or with a specific name like "Intel XXX SATA controller".

If you are not sure, use "Snipping Tool" to capture a snapshot and post with next reply.

 

[EnD]

Under IDE ATA/ATAPI it says...
Intel(R) 8 Series/C220 Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller


I still have to say though, I recall the 2 PRE install drivers (from when I built this machine) the Marvell, and this one, and I am sure I would not have skipped either of them. These drivers are much newer than the ones I originally used, but I can only recall when installing Windows the first time on this computer, it all just went easy peasey.

 

[Anshad Edavana]

Under IDE ATA/ATAPI it says...
Intel(R) 8 Series/C220 Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller

Don't try to fix something not broken mate

 

[EnD]

I have decided I will redo this system tomorrow.
Question
In my boot order and knowing my specs, in my BIOS for Boot Sequence it says-
UEFI: ATAPI (DVD Drive)
P0: WDC WD (The Velociraptor)
P1: Atapi (Same DVD Drive)

Should I choose UEFI: DVD or P1: DVD
Would it make a difference?
Doesn't UEFI use a different partition system?

It just seems I am having a much harder time than I should be.

Thank you

 

[Anshad Edavana]

Should I choose UEFI: DVD or P1: DVD
Would it make a difference?
Doesn't UEFI use a different partition system?

UEFI requires GPT partition scheme. To convert your current MBR partitioned to GPT, running DISKPART and deleting all current partitions is necessary. So unless you don't have any data to save, don't choose UEFI ( it is usually considered as a headache. Difficult to troubleshoot, dual boot etc ) .

 

[EnD]

That is what I thought, although I do use Diskpart and clean my HDD's before an install. Well, clean and clean all.

 

[Anshad Edavana]

Here is a nice tutorial on "UEFI" install - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...e-firmware-interface-install-windows-7-a.html

You need to boot from DVD with UEFI prefix. Make sure to run DIKPART CLEAN command at boot to revert the disk to "uninitialized" state.

Btw, why do you consider another re-install ?.

 

[EnD]

Btw, why do you consider another re-install ?.

I am nuts, tis why. Very OCD lol.

 

[gregrocker]

One other thing. Why are you forcing a bunch of drivers on a driver complete OS? Did you think it's like XP?

Win7 provides the drivers it wants from the installer and then via Window Updates when you enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3) then install all rounds of Important and Optional Windows Updates (except Bing), with reboots, until no more are offered.

Only then should you import any drivers still missing in Device Manager. Only import the chipset if components are missing or there are issues traced to it's deficiency.

Other tips here to get and keep a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 are same for retail, based on what's worked best in tens of thousands of installs we've directly helped with here since beta.

 

[jivex5k]

Listen to Anshad, you don't need those drivers. You don't need to reinstall again either. There is nothing wrong with your machine as far as sata drivers are concerned. Those drivers you can't install are only used to install Windows on a drive that is in a RAID array.

You are creating problems that aren't there.

 

[EnD]

Thank you for the help and advice everyone.

I am a bit OCD when it comes to computers (don't really know why, maybe b/c so much can go wrong hmm). I already did wipe the HDD so I will be starting over. Starting over is no biggie, I was not far along in putting anything back, and it literally takes minutes to install Windows 7 for me.

On the driver issues, I was always taught that you go to motherboard websites and download the latest drivers they recommend for their devices. Just like updating the BIOS. Perhaps, this is not necessary anymore, but I have never had any issue before. This really has been the only install where I ever came across something I downloaded from the motherboards website and it just did not install itself right off. (the Pre SATA I am referring to).

I will also add that on to the subject of the 100MB reserved partition, I must have been formatting my drives for quite some time. I have seen that before, and do know what it holds, but I have not seen one on a computer I have built in quite a while. I am sure it is no biggie if it is there or not, was just something I noticed this time.

Right now, my HDD has been cleaned by the Clean and Clean All command in Diskpart as I have done in the past. I have my boot order set for Atapi DVD drive first, then after install will make it the HDD.
It is a shame I even had to do all this. Wish I knew what happened to iTunes after I downloaded 11.2.3 and my Open With command. Computer as I said, was flying, and I was very happy.

Once again, thanks for all the help, and I appreciate any other advice.

 

[gregrocker]

Your stated assumptions are urban legends and XP methods that are outmoded and unnecessary unless indicated, just like forcing a bunch of drivers into the first driver-complete OS.

Nobody advised you to run Clean or Clean All commands which is overkill when all that's needed is deleting all partitions during install as it says in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 .

I will repeat: The tutorial I gave you compiles every step, tool and method that works best in Win7 based on tens of thousands of installs we've directly helped with here, without a single complaint. You will get and keep a perfect install to the exact extent you stick with those steps.

I understand it's hard to give up old ways but you came here to the top tech forums to do that if necessary, correct?