| Feature | Non-VMD (this driver) | VMD driver | |---------|----------------------|-------------| | VMD enabled in BIOS | ❌ Not supported | ✅ Required | | Standard NVMe/AHCI | ✅ Works | ❌ May conflict | | Hot-plug NVMe | Limited | Full support |
When attempting a clean installation of Windows 10 or Windows 11 on a modern Intel-based PC, you may encounter a frustrating roadblock:
The during Windows 10 and Windows 11 installations. This guide explains how to extract, prepare, and load this critical storage driver to make your solid-state drive (SSD) or hard disk drive (HDD) visible to the Windows installer. Why Windows Fails to See Your Drive
Follow these steps to extract, load, and install the Intel RST F6 driver during your Windows installation. Step 1: Download the Correct Driver Package
Mastering the Intel Rapid Storage Technology F6 Setup: A Step-by-Step Installation Guide
Hence, you need the IRST driver to “unlock” your NVMe drive during installation.
The Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST) is a software and driver layer that manages storage devices on Intel-based systems. On modern chipsets, it acts as the essential communication bridge between your operating system and the storage controller built into your motherboard, particularly when using advanced features like RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) or Intel Optane memory.
During the setup process, you may see an error stating: