Solved Intel Rapid Storage Technology (pre-OS) driver installation

[Nero666]

My desktop machine is built on Gigabyte GA-Z87-UD3H and Gigabyte provides the latest driver for Intel Rapid Storage Technology (IRST), which I installed after installing the OS. Same goes for my Lenovo Thinkpad-T420. And for both machine, checking the controller device under the IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers section in Device Manager I see the driver has been updated to the latest version.

- I set the SATA controller to AHCI from BIOS
- On the desktop machine I have one WD 2TB BLACK & one WD 3TB Green
- I don’t use RAID, & no chance of using in near future, but according to Intel IRST improves performance in single disk scenario too.

Now I have the following questions –
1. What is the actual purpose of IRST (pre-OS install) driver that doesn’t get served with a post-OS driver that I installed? There must be some difference, otherwise there wouldn’t be a pre-OS version of the driver. Right?
2. In the pre-OS procedure (loading the drivers at OS-installation time) after successfully completing the OS installation, do I need that post-OS driver? Because after installing from that one I got a quick launch icon that runs the IRST configuration application. Where do get that after installing the pre-OS driver?
3. As it is “pre-OS”, when I load it at OS-installation time, does it updates anything at BIOS level or anywhere other than HDD? That’s because I’m going to dual boot Windows 7 with Windows 8.1, and after installing Windows 7 when I install Windows 8.1 & load the IRST driver for that, is there any chance of any “overwriting” or OS-incompatibility? In short, is there anything specific to follow while installing the second OS?

 

[pbcopter]

The pre operating system drivers exist to allow installation of operating systems that do not already contain the appropriate drivers. Windows 7 contains the necessary drivers, therefore no additional pre OS drivers are required.

Adding the IRST after OS installation would essentially update those drivers to the latest (not always necessary).

If you manage to install the latest during the OS installation, then you would not need to update them later.

However, you would need to install the IRST software to get the configuration application.

Nothing is updated at the BIOS level when using pre OS drivers.

I would install both Windows 7 and 8 without messing with any pre OS drivers.

 

[Nero666]

The pre operating system drivers exist to allow installation of operating systems that do not already contain the appropriate drivers. Windows 7 contains the necessary drivers, therefore no additional pre OS drivers are required.

Adding the IRST after OS installation would essentially update those drivers to the latest (not always necessary).

If you manage to install the latest during the OS installation, then you would not need to update them later.

However, you would need to install the IRST software to get the configuration application.

Nothing is updated at the BIOS level when using pre OS drivers.

I would install both Windows 7 and 8 without messing with any pre OS drivers.

That really answers the questions I had in my head. Thanks a lot.

 

[gregrocker]

Do you have the 30gb caching chip that often accompanies IRST?

It requires special steps for reinstall: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/307529-install-windows-system-msata-isrt.html