iastor.sys related BSOD

[Dave76]

Looks like it will be helpful.

The Definitive Guide to Clean Install OS on a mSSD Cache Equipped Laptop (dv6t-7000, dv7t-7000, Envy17-3200)

This will help you solve the problem of Windows installation reporting “No drive is found” or only showing the second hard drive (if you have one installed).

It is actually not necessary to enable/disable RAID configuration in BIOS, as it is being done in Intel Rapid Storage Technology software in Windows. So the entire process is very painless.

1. Back up the SWSetup folder from your C:/ drive.
2. Type in Intel Rapid Storage Technology at the start menu to access it.
3. Under the “Accelerate” tab, select “Disable acceleration”. (see attached screenshot)
4. After step 3, you should see a new option “Make available” on the same tab. Click on that, now you have completely disassociated the mSSD from the cached drive. Restart computer.
5. (Optional) Reformat the mSSD in Windows’s Disk Management (type in Disk Management in start menu). When prompted, choose MBR as the initialization type. Now you can use the mSSD as a drive. (see attached screenshot)
6. From here, perform your upgrade. You can swap out the mSSD or the system hard drive, or simply proceed to the next step to reinstall Windows. For demonstration purposes, I am just going to swap in an old 160 GB drive I have around and clean install Window 8 Release Preview.
7. During POST screen, hit ESC and then select “Boot Device Options” and choose the device to boot from. I have the Windows image on a USB drive, so I am going to boot from that. If you want to perform a recovery with your recovery media. Go to the same place and boot from the recovery media. (see attached shot of the screen). Note that I have to use the USB 2.0 port for the USB drive to show up in BIOS.
8. Install Windows or perform recovery as usual. Attached screenshot shows that both the mSSD and my 160 GB drive being available for OS install. (see attached shot of the screen)
9. Install necessary drivers.
10. Go to Intel Rapid Storage Technology (you have to install this). Enable acceleration again under the “Accelerate” tab, if you need to. I wanted to show a picture of enabling SSD acceleration in Windows 8, but the NET Framework that is required for Intel Rapid Storage Technology doesn’t play nice under Windows 8. (see attached screenshot)

...you'd need a Win 7 disk with SP1 for the mSATA driver so the install can go through.

 

[flightmedic]

Thank you Dave. It was when I was deactivating the acceleration that the BSOD happened. After that point I am not able to boot Windows. I am not able to do a clean install because it is not finding the C: drive, and recovery and repair also end up in BSOD.

Diskpart shows "no disks listed".

Jim

 

[gregrocker]

If this Intel RAID software was part of customization done by the previous owner, it would be helpful if he would link you to it's Manual. I would search for it online by the name and model of the software if necessary.

Thinking about it I never reinstall hard drive bloatware after a Clean Reinstall as it isn't needed and can cause problems. Maybe if you uninstall it the problem will go away. But it wouldn't explain why your HD is not seen in a booted install - which doesn't see the HD crapware.

Have you confirmed the installer boots and sees HD on another PC?

I would wipe the HD to see if boot code is interfering. You can back up a Win7 image first: Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

 

[flightmedic]

I booted to cmd and ran disklist..."no disk listed".

In the link that Dave posted, I had followed the instructions and was "deactivating acceleration" when the BSOD happened. At this point, I am not able to boot my system, enter recovery or load the DVD. It gets to "windows starting" and then BSOD.

James

 

[gregrocker]

Reset the BIOS to defaults: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

In BIOS setup look for a way to disable the other HD's to install directly to the target HD. What settings are there for the HD's? These may need to be adjusted to get the target HD to show up during booted install.

If you cannot disable or remove the Intel RAID software then you'll need to search for the Manual for it, read it to understand how to install on it or decide you want it removed.

 

[flightmedic]

I am not able to boot to BIOS via f10. Attached is a screen capture of what I see when I turn the computer on. This occurs when hitting any of the f keys.

 

[gregrocker]

This happens when opportunity is missed to trigger BIOS setup and it attempts to boot Win7. The specific error means it has likely lost it's RAID when you followed Dave's steps.

Try again to enter BIOS setup. If not then clear the CMOS using another method given. You need to get into BIOS to let us see all of the choices for HD/storage.

If you want you can also try booting the installer again to see if it now sees the HD's. If not try wiping the HD from installer Command Line accessed by pressing Shift + F10 at it's first screen to see if Diskpart sees the HD's and will wipe the target.

 

[flightmedic]

diskpart is not able to see the disk.

went into f10 BIOS and setting to defaults was not able to reset it. I'm gonna try and take it apart and see if I can find it physically.

 

[gregrocker]

What are the various HD/Storage settings choices?

 

[flightmedic]

f10 options are save changes, save and discard changes or load default settings.

 

[gregrocker]

Wow, not much there. So I'm assuming the hybrid SSD was a customization by the seller and is controlled by its software only. How is it installed, in a third drive bay? Try uninstalling it so that only the two HD's are installed.

Some PC's have a RAID controller that pops up during booting which may be RAIDing it at boot when the Intel Software can't. This can be disabled. Have you seen it pop up?

 

[flightmedic]

Thanks for your help.

I think I'm going to take it to a shop. I get kind of squeamish with taking it apart.

I disconnected the CMOS battery which was easily accessible but it did not reset my BIOS. I tried again to boot from DVD and f10 and diskpart still did not see the disk. I pulled the primary HD out and could not find where the SSD is connected to.

Thanks for everyone's help.

Jim

 

[gregrocker]

Jim -

I wish we had more intensive hardware help for you here right now.

Often times the SSD on one of these hybrid drives is only a cache onboard the HD. But you have the exact instructions to reinstall to such a drive from Dave, so there must be something else interfering. The Definitive Guide to Clean Install OS on a mSSD Cache Equipped Laptop (dv6t-7000, dv7t-7000, Envy17-3200)

You can wait for Dave to come back around, or I can put out a call in our lounge for any experienced on this type of drive if you want to give it a bit longer.

Please let us know what you find out so others can benefit.

 

[flightmedic]

Thank you Greg. I'm very appreciate of everyone's time and attention on this.

I think some of the issue was when I was disabling the acceleration, it was interrupted by a BSOD which corrupted the operation. But I'm not a Windows guru.

Jim

 

[gregrocker]

Another poster in the Comments section at The Definitive Guide to Clean Install OS on a mSSD Cache Equipped Laptop (dv6t-7000, dv7t-7000, Envy17-3200) had the same crash during disabling Acceleration and resolved it in another thread which could be searched out. You also have your post there awaiting reply.

Meanwhile you could also make a rescue reinstall to the other HD, install the software there to see if you can stablize the other HD enough to do a booted install to it. Since it will have the drivers, it may even seen the SSD cached HD when running the installer from the other 750gb HD.

Might be worth pursuiing these and waiting for Dave's expertise before spending a bunch of money in a shop which will likely be reading these threads to try to fix it.

 

[flightmedic]

Thank you Greg for the encouragement.

I'm downloading Ubuntu and going to try that. Been reading the other forum looking for info.

Thanks,

Jim

 

[gregrocker]

Actually I would install a Win7 rescue install to the other HD, so that we can help you troubleshoot installing the Intel software to try to get control of the other HD.

I am asking for more help with Intel controller now.

 

[flightmedic]

OK. I thought I wouldn't be able to do that without losing all the data on it. I have 300GB of work critical stuff as well as my whole movie and itunes library LOL.

 

[TVeblen]

I have no answers, but I have questions.

I have looked at the specs for the laptop here:
HP Pavilion dv7t-7000 Quad Edition Entertainment Notebook PC | HP® Official Store
and note the new and strange hard drive options:

View attachment 233976

1. What is a 1.5TB "dual hard drive"? (Note: singular) Is this a single drive partitioned into 2 - 750GB "drives", or do you have 2 physical hard drives? It does look like the former to me.

2. What is "ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection"? Could this be some firmware protection program that may be interfering with the normal procedures?

3. What is a "Solid State Drive Flash Module"? This does not sound like a 2.5" hard drive as we typically see. It sounds like a chip on the motherboard.

Also keep in mind that the system uses a pure UEFI BIOS. These are highly customizable by the manufacturer. There are no "rules" anymore. This kind of system setup is new and strange (to me anyway) if any of the above items are true.

It would be of great help if we had a better idea of what the physical system looks like, in terms of the hard drives in the questions above.

 

[flightmedic]

I have no answers, but I have questions.

I have looked at the specs for the laptop here:
HP Pavilion dv7t-7000 Quad Edition Entertainment Notebook PC | HP® Official Store
and note the new and strange hard drive options:

View attachment 233976

1. What is a 1.5TB "dual hard drive"? (Note: singular) Is this a single drive partitioned into 2 - 750GB "drives", or do you have 2 physical hard drives? It does look like the former to me.

2. What is "ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection"? Could this be some firmware protection program that may be interfering with the normal procedures?

3. What is a "Solid State Drive Flash Module"? This does not sound like a 2.5" hard drive as we typically see. It sounds like a chip on the motherboard.

Also keep in mind that the system uses a pure UEFI BIOS. These are highly customizable by the manufacturer. There are no "rules" anymore. This kind of system setup is new and strange (to me anyway) if any of the above items are true.

It would be of great help if we had a better idea of what the physical system looks like, in terms of the hard drives in the questions above.

2 separate hard drives. I actually removed the 2nd hard drive that I was using for data storage.

The sold state drive flash module, I believe is a 32GB SSD used for flash data rather than storage.

I think the protect smart is to protect the device and date from shock damage if the laptop is dropped.