[Solved] Remade ISO can't be installed on the C drive of a new PC

tired-it

tired-it

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Well I'm back again and having fun messing with ISO files. I did a routine update to my current production ISO while keeping all the presets the same. Basically just adding the newest cumulative updates from Windows. I received a new laptop to test it out on: a Dell Latitude 5350. As usual the BIOS can see the flash drive made by Rufus and I can boot into it, but the install hangs when finding the disk to install on.

The Windows 11 24H2 ISO has an unattended file that selects Disk 0 for installation. All disk configuration settings were set to defaults. This has worked fine on other client PCs, but this new Dell doesn't get past this screen. In the past, I had a few Dell desktops that were on RAID 0 mode by default and had to be switched to AHCI mode in BIOS in order for Disk 0 (an NVMe in this case) to be selected and installed to. The Dell Latitude does not have a options for AHCI or RAID 0 so I don't think that's the issue? I suspect I am missing some sort of storage driver here?

I have combed through my NTLite presets and did not find anything that I can think of that affects the boot or disk detection with the exception of a registry tweak to bring back the classic OOBE.

Any ideas?

edit: SATA to AHCI
 
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Perhaps check the BIOS to see if RAID mode for the controller isn't enabled. If so, switch it to AHCI (if possible)
Otherwise, download the Intel RST drivers for your laptop and integrate them into boot.wim (see also install.wim)
But it might be something else

EDIT : Read too quickly for RAID mode, to see for RST drivers
 
tistou77 said:
Perhaps check the BIOS to see if RAID mode for the controller isn't enabled. If so, switch it to AHCI (if possible)
Otherwise, download the Intel RST drivers for your laptop and integrate them into boot.wim (see also install.wim)
But it might be something else

EDIT : Read too quickly for RAID mode, to see for RST drivers
Click to expand...
Well, I did check the BIOS and those options were nonexistent. How can I tell what mode the laptop is on?
 
If you still have the OEM Windows installed, you can look in the device manager, see if it says RAID or other for the controller

PS : Okay, the Latitude are set to RAID by default, and it seems there's an option in the BIOS to switch to AHCI
Don't you have "SATA Operator" or "Storage" in the BIOS (left column) ?

And RST drivers should be that WIN64_20.0.0.1038

To retrieve the files and integrate them with NTLite, you can use this command
exe_file_name -extract destination_path (eg : IntelRST.exe -extract C:\Drivers)
 
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tistou77 said:
If you still have the OEM Windows installed, you can look in the device manager, see if it says RAID or other for the controller

PS : Okay, the Latitude are set to RAID by default, and it seems there's an option in the BIOS to switch to AHCI
Don't you have "SATA Operator" or "Storage" in the BIOS (left column) ?

And RST drivers should be that WIN64_20.0.0.1038

To retrieve the files and integrate them with NTLite, you can use this command
exe_file_name -extract destination_path (eg : IntelRST.exe -extract C:\Drivers)
Click to expand...
Yeah, all I get in the BIOS for Storage is Drive Information (device type and name) and Storage Interface (Port Enablement option), nothing else. No mention of AHCI or RAID.

Under Device Manager I see Intel RST VMD Controller 07D0B and a basic Microsoft Storage Spaces controller. So I assume from the Intel RST that it's in RAID mode with no way of swapping back.

Thank you for the info on extracting the driver though, I was about to ask about that haha. I assume I am using CMD for that?
 
Just to be sure, I am supposed to also place the drivers into [boot.wim 2. Microsoft Windows Setup] not [boot.wim 1. Microsoft Windows PE]?
 
Strange and a shame that there is no option, in other versions of latitude, the option is present

Yes, the controller is in "RAID/VMD" mode
Absolutely, open a command prompt (either from the directory where the .exe file is located or by specifying the directory path in the command prompt)

EDIT : Yes, Microsoft Windows Setup (2), and also in install.wim
You can load install.wim (or boot.wim) and use the option in Apply page, to integrate into the other .wim
 
Yep, looks like the Intel RST driver was solution.

Just a heads up for anyone extracting Dell driver EXE files, the following command is what works for me:
Code: 
delldriver.exe /s /drivers=C:\yourpath

To make it easier, I place a folder on the root of the drive and CD into it using CMD. Then I run the above command to extract the driver contents specifically.
 
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tistou77 said:
Perhaps check the BIOS to see if RAID mode for the controller isn't enabled. If so, switch it to AHCI (if possible)
Otherwise, download the Intel RST drivers for your laptop and integrate them into boot.wim (see also install.wim)
But it might be something else

EDIT : Read too quickly for RAID mode, to see for RST drivers
Click to expand...
Your Dell is definitely in RAID mode and not AHCI. If you've never changed it, it's definitely still RAID because all Dell computers ship with RAID by default. If it's an older Dell, look for "System Management" and scroll down until you find it. On a newer Dell, you'll see it in the "Storage" section. Once you put it in AHCI mode, it will never ask for the RST driver again at boot. Or, use NTLite and add the RST driver and forget it.
 
FTSWAW said:
Or, use NTLite and add the RST driver and forget it.
Click to expand...
The problem, as often noted on Dell community forums, is knowing which RST or VMD driver is correct for you. Sometimes the driver ranking order results in the "wrong" driver getting loaded because Windows thinks it's a better match. Some research on the Dell support website may be needed.

Of course, disabling RAID mode works if you can't figure out the RST/VMD driver issue.
 
garlin Does the "vPro" indicate that you would need the VMD driver?
If you are getting your driver from Dell or Lenovo using the service tag(dell) or serial number(lenovo) then you should be getting the correct driver for that system.

Untitled.jpg
 
The main technology of vPro is AMT (Active Management Technology) and there are drivers for that
For RAID/VMD drivers, it all depends on how the assembler configured the BIOS for the controller.
Generally, Dell/Lenovo sets the VMD in the bios (but not an obligation, depends on the series/models it seems)
 
The problem is there are multiple Intel driver families. What I would do is look up the Dell or Lenovo driver for your PC, and find out the driver series (ie. 16, 17, 18, 19, 20).

Then check if the current RST/VMD driver offered by your OEM, is the same or older than Intel's current driver for the same series. Jumping to a different driver family might not work out better for you. Sometimes if you combine two different drivers for Intel RST/CMD on the same image, Windows won't load the right driver. So it's best to keep added storage drivers to a minimum to avoid conflicts.

Win-RAID has a good thread for background reading:
Intel RST/RSTe Drivers (latest: v20.2.8.1028/ v9.2.0.10270)
 
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