Windows 11 installer does not recognize my NVME.

Question

I was using Windows 11 on my desktop and it got corrupted when trying an update. This installation had originally been done as Windows 10 and was upgraded to 11. I tried all the possibilities I found but it didn't come back. I noticed that I had Kernel files missing. Now I'm trying to do a clean install. I downloaded the ISO from the Microsoft website. Now it is only possible to download the latest version (I don't know why they did this; my case illustrates well the need to be able to download releases of different versions). The Windows 11 installer does not recognize my NVME. I am an IT professional. My motherboard is an ASUS PRIME H410M-E. I tested 2 Kingston NVMEs models, one NV1 and one NV2. I'm already on the latest motherboard firmware. I've tried every possible combination of BIOS options for booting. I already downloaded the motherboard drivers and tried to load them during the installation process. The problem is not with the NVMEs, because booting into Linux I can read and write normally. The BIOS always recognizes both. Checking with the Kingston tool, they are perfect. It's also not the motherboard, as I can read and write to the devices. It's not an Intel RST problem, as my processor generation is 10th, it's not supported. No RAID options in MB, just the simple options. If I try to boot to install Windows 10, it recognizes NVMEs. But I want to use Windows 11. The problem is in the currently available Windows 11 ISO 23H2. It simply doesn't recognize the NVME devices I have. I can't say if it only happens with Kingston or others as well. Could anyone help? If Microsoft made old releases of Windows 11 available, I would test it, but at the moment, I have nothing else to do but wait for a new release. I'll try to find an ISO of a previous version, but it's a bit dangerous, because I can't guarantee that it has not been modified if I can't download it from official site. Thank you!

Answer 1

Hi Jorge, Thanks for your post. Can I know what the CPU model is of your computer. Intel's 10th, 11th and 12th gen processors are using a new Intel technology called "Intel Volume Management Device". This technology needs to have a special driver in order for the drive to be detected. Get the latest Intel Rapid Storage Technology (IRST) driver from Intel download center here : https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/downloa... Load the driver (.inf) on an USB key.
Then, with the USB key, load the driver during Windows installation and see if the driver can be detected.

Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it. Best Regards, Ian Xue

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Answer 2

I'd tried with indicated drivers but no success. Tried with more than one version of drivers, nothing. I also tried driver from the Asus support site: Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver software V18.6.1.1016 For Windows 11 64-bit. https://www.asus.com/motherboards-components/motherboards/prime/prime-h410m-e/helpdesk_download?model2Name=PRIME-H410M-E . Tried with Windows 10 version, nothing. Always Windows 11 installation media is used it continues to not find NVME. Windows 10 installation media finds the NVMEs. Is there some shortcut I can use while installing Windows 10 so I can see what drivers the installation process is using? Something like dmesg in Linux, or lsmod. There are things so simple that Microsoft turns into extremely difficult. Appreciate any help.

Answer 3

It seems I may have the exact same issue.
I have had Win 11 on my HDD all working,
I installed a secondary M.2 NVMe SSD.
Win 11 can see it, and can write to it.
The BIOS is upgraded to the latest version and BIOS can see both drives.
I extracted the Drivers for IRST from several sources (HP, Intel 1, Intel 2)

I created a Win 11 Installer USB from the latest Media Creation tool 23H2 and Win 10 form 22H2.
(I even tried using the settings to install
I loaded the IRST drivers on the stick.
When booting off the stick the installer does not see ANY of my drives, not the HDD nor the SSD, it keep on saying the signed drivers could not be found on the stick.

I have tried any and all BIOS settings even removing Secure Boot, nothing is working to get the installer to see the drives..

Next I am trying the FULL ISO download of Win 11

That also did not work..