Modded Intel AHCI and RAID Drivers (digitally signed)

Fernando's Win-RAID Forum (Storage Drivers - BIOS Modding) � Important Drivers (AHCI/RAID, NVMe, USB etc.) � Specific: Intel AHCI/RAID Drivers � Modded Intel AHCI and RAID Drivers (digitally signed)

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#1 | Modded Intel AHCI and RAID Drivers (digitally signed) datum

Wed May 01, 2013 11:13 am (Last edited: Sat Nov 19, 2016 10:50 am)

@ users with an Intel AHCI/RAID system and an Intel SATA AHCI/RAID Controller from ICH7 up, which is not supported by any or by the actual original Intel AHCI/RAID drivers:

The problems:

Although the actual Intel AHCI and RAID drivers are running fine with nearly all Intel Southbridges from ICH7R/M up, the installation fails for systems with various Intel SATA AHCI/RAID Controllers, because Intel didn't write the needed HardwareIDs into the related information file (with the suffix .INF). This is the reason why the latest Intel AHCI drivers cannot be installed onto AHCI systems with an ICH8R, ICH8M, ICH9R or ICH10R Southbridge and the Intel RAID drivers of the v11 and v12 series cannot be installed onto X79 RAID systems.
Some manufacturers of computers, mainboards and notebooks wanted to save money and integrated instead of the fully functional Intel ICH8R/ICH8M, ICH9R/ICH9M or ICH10R SATA Controller Chips the cheaper, but somehow "castrated" ICH8, ICH9 or ICH10 revisions. Although many of these systems without a letter behind the "ICH" do support the AHCI standard features and have a BIOS with the option to enable the AHCI mode, the owners are not able to get any original Intel AHCI driver installed or integrated into the Windows image. Obviously Intel doesn't want to support these low-priced AHCI Controller revisions.

The solution
To make the newest Intel AHCI and RAID drivers usable for nearly all owners of an AHCI or RAID capable Intel chipset system, I have customized the related INF files by adding the missing HardwareIDs. This modification doesn't affect the real AHCI or RAID driver named iaStor.sys resp. iaStorA.sys itself, but just the associated information files with the suffix .INF and for XP compatible drivers additionally the text file named TXTSETUP.OEM, which is absolutely needed for the XP installation onto any AHCI or RAID system. That is the reason why the "driver modification" doesn't have any negative impact on the function of the absolutely untouched Intel AHCI and RAID drivers,

Relevance of the driver's "Digital Signature"
The latest Windows Operating Systems from Win8 up have a feature named "Driver Signature Enforcement", which does not allow to get any driver installed, which has no valid digital signature. Since any modification of the associated INF file automaticly breaks the digital signature of the driver, there is only one way to get a "modded" driver installed onto Win8/8.1/10 without the need of disabling the automaticly active "Driver Signature Enforcement": The modded driver has to be digitally signed by a trustworthy person or Company.
Notes:

All modded 32/64bit Intel AHCI/RAID drivers, which I am offering here, have been digitally signed by me according to mrces2's guide (not available for the public) by using the extremely helpful ModDriverSignTool, which had been written by our Forum member Zwulf for this purpose. Big thanks to them both!
Consequence: It should be possible to get these drivers installed without any problems (no disabling of the "Driver Signature Enforcement" required)!
Nevertheless you may get the message while trying to get any "mod+signed" driver installed, that "the best driver is already running". This always will happen, when you want to replace
a) a WHQL certified driver or
b) a newer driver by an older one.
Solution: Force the installation of the "mod+signed" drivers by using the "Have Disk" button.

How to benefit from the digital signature of these drivers:
To get full benefit from the driver's digital signature it is necessary to import the related Certificate and to declare it as trustworthy.
Important: This procedure has to be done only once, but before you are trying to get the first "mod+signed" driver installed.
>Here< you can find all needed informations about how to import the Win-RAID CA certificate. Since all required files are present within a separate folder of my "mod+signed" driverpacks, nothing has to be downloaded separately.

Additional remarks:

Although I have done my very best while preparing the "modded" drivers, I cannot give any guarantee, that they will work flawlessly with any Intel AHCI or RAID system. That is why the usage of my "modded" drivers will be at the user's own risk.
If you want to know, which Intel RST/RST(e) driver versions I recommend to use for the different Intel AHCI or RAID systems, you should look >here< (gererall informations) or >here< (performance comparison tests).

Universally usable
Intel AHCI/RAID drivers

(modded and digitally signed)
(last updated: 11/19/2016)

I. Intel AHCI/RAID drivers from the "classical" Intel RST Series (using just 1 single driver named iaStor.sys)

Notes regarding the below listed drivers:

Supported: All known Intel SATA AHCI and RAID Controllers from ICH7R/M up to Intel X99/100-Series Chipsets.
Usable with: All Windows Operating Systems from XP up.

Here are the latest and probably best "classical" Intel RST AHCI/RAID drivers:

Modded+signed Intel RST drivers v11.2.0.1006 (dated 05/30/2012, re-modded and signed at 10/26/2015)
>Universal 32bit Intel RST AHCI+RAID driver v11.2.0.1006 mod+signed by Fernando< (>MIRROR<)
>Universal 64bit Intel RST AHCI+RAID driver v11.2.0.1006 mod+signed by Fernando< (>MIRROR<)
>Universal Intel RST Drivers+Software Set v11.2.0.1006 mod+signed by Fernando<(>MIRROR<)

II. Intel AHCI/RAID drivers from the RST(e) Series (having an additional SCSI Filter driver named iaStorF.sys)

Notes regarding the below listed drivers:

Although I have added the needed HardwareIDs to allow the support of all Intel SATA/RAID Controllers from ESB2/ICH7R/M up, I am not sure, whether the below listed drivers are the best choice for old Intel chipset systems.
The installation and the usage of Intel's new RST(e) drivers from v11.5 up is not as easy as with the "classical" RST generation. You canl find >here< some general remarks and advices.
Supported: All known Intel SATA AHCI and RAID Controllers from ICH7R/M up.
Usable with: All WindowsOperating Systems from Win7 up.

Here are the most important Intel RST(e) drivers, which I have "universally modded" and digitally signed for you:

Modded+signed Intel RST(e) drivers v11.7.4.1001 (dated 03/05/2013, re-modded and digitally signed at 10/26/2015, latest Intel RST(e) drivers from the v11 development platform):
>Universal 32bit Intel RST(e) AHCI+RAID drivers v11.7.4.1001 mod+signed by Fernando< (>MIRROR<)
>Universal 64bit Intel RST(e) AHCI+RAID drivers v11.7.4.1001 mod+signed by Fernando< (>MIRROR<)
>Universal Intel RST Drivers+Software Set v11.7.4.1001 mod+signed by Fernando< (>MIRROR<)
Modded+signed Intel RST(e) drivers v12.9.4.1000 (dated 04/24/2014, re-modded and digitally signed at 10/26/2015, latest Intel RST(e) drivers from the v12 development platform):
>Universal 32bit Intel RST(e) AHCI+RAID drivers v12.9.4.1000 mod+signed by Fernando< (>MIRROR<)
Suitable original 32bit RST Software Installer: (can be run after having manually installed the matching mod+signed driver)
>Universal 32bit Intel RST Software v12.9.4.1000< (>MIRROR<)
>Universal 64bit Intel RST(e) AHCI+RAID drivers v12.9.4.1000 mod+signed by Fernando< (>MIRROR<)
Suitable original 64bit RST Software Installer: (can be run after having manually installed the matching mod+signed driver)
>Universal 64bit Intel RST Software v12.9.4.1000< (>MIRROR<)
Modded+signed Intel RST(e) drivers v13.2.4.1000 (dated 07/25/2014, freshly digitally signed at 10/26/2015, from the same development branch as the Win10 in-box Intel RAID driver v13.2.0.1022):
>Universal 32bit Intel RST(e) AHCI+RAID drivers v13.2.4.1000 mod+signed by Fernando< (>MIRROR<)
Suitable original 32bit RST Software Installer: (can be run after having manually installed the matching mod+signed driver)
>Universal 32bit Intel RST Software v13.2.4.1000< (>MIRROR<)
>Universal 64bit Intel RST(e) AHCI+RAID drivers v13.2.4.1000 mod+signed by Fernando< (>MIRROR<)
Suitable original 64bit RST Software Installer: (can be run after having manually installed the matching mod+signed driver)
>Universal 64bit Intel RST Software v13.2.4.1000< (>MIRROR<)
Modded+signed Intel RST(e) drivers v13.6.3.1001 (dated 03/26/2015, freshly digitally signed at 10/26/2015, latest Intel RST(e) drivers from the v13 development platform):
>Universal 32bit Intel RST(e) AHCI+RAID drivers v13.6.3.1001 mod+signed by Fernando< (>MIRROR<)
Suitable orignal 32bit RST Software Installer: (can be run after having manually installed the matching mod+signed driver)
>Universal 32bit Intel RST Software v13.6.3.1001< (>MIRROR<)
>Universal 64bit Intel RST(e) AHCI+RAID drivers v13.6.3.1001 mod+signed by Fernando< (>MIRROR<)
Suitable original 64bit RST Software Installer: (can be run after having manually installed the matching mod+signed driver)
>Universal 64bit Intel RST Software v13.6.3.1001< (>MIRROR<)
Modded+signed Intel RST(e) drivers v14.8.12.1059 (dated 08/23/2016, modded and digitally signed at 09/16/2016, latest Intel RST drivers from the v14 development platform):
>Universal 32bit Intel RST(e) AHCI+RAID drivers v14.8.12.1059 mod+signed by Fernando< (>MIRROR<)
Suitable original 32bit RST Software Installer: (can be run after having manually installed the matching mod+signed driver)
>Universal 32bit Intel RST Software v14.8.12.1059< (>MIRROR<)
>Universal 64bit Intel RST(e) AHCI+RAID drivers v14.8.12.1059 mod+signed by Fernando< (>MIRROR<)
Suitable original 64bit RST Software Installer: (can be run after having manually installed the matching mod+signed driver)
>Universal 64bit Intel RST Software v14.8.12.1059< (>MIRROR<)
Modded+signed Intel RST(e) drivers v15.2.2.1030 (dated 10/21/2016, modded and digitally signed at 11/19/2016, currently latest Intel RST drivers from the v15 platform):
>Universal 32bit Intel RST(e) AHCI+RAID drivers v15.2.2.1030 mod+signed by Fernando< (>MIRROR<)
Suitable original 32bit RST Software Installer: (can be run after having manually installed the matching mod+signed driver)
>Universal 32bit Intel RST Software v15.2.2.1030< (>MIRROR<)
>Universal 64bit Intel RST(e) AHCI+RAID drivers v15.2.2.1030 mod+signed by Fernando< (>MIRROR<)
Suitable original 64bit RST Software Installer: (can be run after having manually installed the matching mod+signed driver)
>Universal 64bit Intel RST Software v15.2.2.1030< (>MIRROR<)

Warning:
The Intel RST drivers of the v15 platform have been designed and optimized by Intel just for the newest Intel 100-/200-Series Chipsets. Due to the modification of the related INF files the above listed Intel RST drivers will be installable onto older Intel Chipset AHCI/RAID systems, but may not properly work.
Users with an older Intel Chipset system should better take a driver, which belongs to the v13 or v14 platform. I am not responsable for potential problems they may get after the installation of these newest mod+signed drivers.

Additional advices:

Although I do not really recommend to install any RST(e) driver of the v13, v14 or v15 line onto systems with an old Intel chipset, interested users may try them nevertheless. A feedback regarding the result is much appreciated.

III. Intel AHCI/RAID drivers from the old "Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager" (MSM) platform

Notes regarding the below listed drivers:

Supported: All known Intel SATA AHCI and RAID Controllers from ICH6R/M and ESB2 up.
Usable with: All Windows Operating Systems from W2k up.

Here are the download links:

Modded+signed Intel MSM Drivers v8.9.8.1005 (dated 04/05/2010, freshly digitally signed at 10/26/2015, latest Intel MSM drivers):
>Universal 32bit Intel MSM driver v8.9.8.1005 mod+signed by Fernando< (>MIRROR<)
>Universal 64bit Intel MSM driver v8.9.8.1005 mod+signed by Fernando< (>MIRROR<)
>Universal Intel MSM Drivers+Software Set v8.9.8.1005 mod+signed by Fernando< (>MIRROR<)

Any feedback is much appreciated.

Have fun with the "mod+signed" drivers!
Dieter (alias Fernando)

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#2 | RE: Modded Intel AHCI and RAID Drivers datum

Fri Jun 21, 2013 7:54 pm

Today (06/21/2013) I have updated the start post of this thread.

Changelog:

new: "Universal" 32/64bit Intel RST drivers v11.2.0.1006 mod by Fernando (with added support of 8-Series Chipset systems to allow the installation of Windows XP or XP x64 in AHCI or RAID mode)
new: "Universal" Intel RST Drivers & Software Set v11.2.0.1006 mod by Fernando (with added support of 8-Series Chipsets)

Have fun with these updated Intel RST drivers, which do support all Intel AHCI and RAID systems from ICH7 up!
Fernando

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#3 | RE: Modded Intel AHCI and RAID Drivers datum

Thu Jul 04, 2013 10:28 pm (Last edited: Thu Jul 04, 2013 10:30 pm)

Today (07/04/2013) I have updated the start post of this thread.

Changelog:

new: Intel's RST(e) AHCI & RAID drivers v12.7.0.1022 dated 06/12/2013 mod by Fernando (hopefully do support all Intel AHCI and RAID systems from ICH7R/M up)
new: Mirror links to all drivers and complete packages

Have fun with these new modded Intel RST(e) drivers!
Fernando

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#4 | New: Modded Intel RST(e) drivers v12.7.0.1036 datum

Mon Jul 15, 2013 10:05 pm

Today (07/15/2013) I have updated the start post of this thread.

Changelog:

new: Intel's 32/64bit RST(e) AHCI & RAID drivers v12.7.0.1036 dated 06/27/2013 mod by Fernando (hopefully do support all Intel AHCI and RAID systems from ICH7R/M up)

Have fun with these new modded Intel RST(e) drivers!
Fernando

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#5 | New: Modded Intel RST(e) drivers v12.7.1.1000 datum

Thu Aug 01, 2013 11:14 am

Yesterday (07/31/2013) I have updated the start post of this thread.

Changelog:

new: Intel's 32/64bit RST(e) AHCI & RAID drivers v12.7.1.1000 dated 07/10/2013 mod by Fernando (hopefully do support all Intel AHCI and RAID systems from ICH7R/M up)

Any feedback is much appreciated!

Regards
Fernando

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#6 | New: Modded Intel RST(e) drivers v12.8.0.1016 datum

Sat Aug 10, 2013 1:04 pm

Today (08/10/2013) I have updated the start post of this thread.

Changelog:

new: Intel's 32/64bit RST(e) AHCI & RAID drivers v12.8.0.1016 dated 08/02/2013 mod by Fernando (hopefully do support all Intel AHCI and RAID systems from ICH7R/M up)

Any feedback is much appreciated!

Regards
Fernando

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#7 | RE: Modded Intel AHCI and RAID Drivers datum

Sat Aug 10, 2013 1:38 pm

Hello everybode, hello Fernando!

I have just a question: I use Lenovo ThinkPad T500 with ICH9M-Chipset and only simple 320GB-Single-HDD.

Normaly I'm a "driver-junkie" and I always want to install newest driver for each device - so, as I searched for RST-drivers, I found these page with modded RST-drivers.

Before I used RSTe 11.7.4.1001 and it work's without any problems.

Yesterday I've modded the 12.8.0.1016 and installed, and they worked also without problems (first tests).

Now my question: Is there any real advantage in my case (Single-HDD), to use RSTe-driver higher 11.7.4.1001?

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#8 | RE: Modded Intel AHCI and RAID Drivers datum

Sat Aug 10, 2013 2:35 pm (Last edited: Sun Aug 11, 2013 10:45 pm)

@ ole258:
Welcome at Win-RAID Forum!

<blockquote><font size="1">Zitat von <a class="nopad" href="u167_ole---.html" style="color:">ole258</a> im Beitrag <a class="nopad" href="t2f23-New-official-Intel-RST-e-Drivers-v-WHQL-available-5.html#msg1105">#81</a>

Yesterday I've modded the 12.8.0.1016 and installed, and they worked also without problems (first tests).[/quote]Thanks for your feedback.
By the way: Since a few hours I am offering "modded" Intel RST(e) drivers v12.8.0.1016 within Modded Intel AHCI and RAID Drivers thread.

Zitat von ole258
Now my question: Is there any real advantage in my case (Single-HDD), to use RSTe-driver higher 11.7.4.1001?

I am not sure regarding the answer.
On the one hand I would answer "Yes", because Intel's RST driver development staff are still optimizing their products and solving issues of previous versions.
On the other hand I would answer "No", because nobody at Intel cares actually about Pre-5-Series Intel Chipsets and your ICH9M SATA AHCI Controller, when they are going to develop new AHCI or RAID drivers.
So my answer is: You have to test it yourself and report here regarding your results.
All I am doing is to make the actual AHCI/RAID drivers compatible with all Intel Southbridges from ICH7R/M up. The question, if they will run fine or even better than the old Intel AHCI/RAID drivers, can only be answered by the users themselves.

Regards
Fernando

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#9 | RE: Modded Intel AHCI and RAID Drivers datum

Sat Aug 10, 2013 8:45 pm (Last edited: Sun Aug 11, 2013 10:46 pm)

Thank you, for your answer!

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#10 | RE: Modded Intel AHCI and RAID Drivers datum

Sat Aug 10, 2013 10:39 pm (Last edited: Sun Aug 11, 2013 10:56 pm)

Zitat
So my answer is: You have to test it yourself and report here regarding your results.

Okay - but what can/should I test?

First of all, the driver should not cause any problems/bsod.

With one single hdd, the capabilities are limitied and also maybe problems: There is no raid-functionality needed, no trim...

Zitat
nobody at Intel cares actually about Pre-5-Series Intel Chipsets and your ICH9M SATA AHCI Controller, when they are going to develop new AHCI or RAID drivers

Is it possible, that older Controller will be "untouched" by newer RSTe-drivers and they have the same functionality as older Vs.?

(Sorry for my poor englisch - my german is much better)

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#11 | RE: Modded Intel AHCI and RAID Drivers datum

Sat Aug 10, 2013 10:49 pm (Last edited: Sun Aug 11, 2013 10:48 pm)

Zitat von ole258 im Beitrag #10
Zitat
So my answer is: You have to test it yourself and report here regarding your results.
Okay - but what can/should I test?

You can install one after the other 2 or 3 different driver versions (examples: v11.2.0.1006, 11.7.4.1001 and 12.8.0.1016) and compare them regarding stability and performance. If you do not realize performance differences, you can run a benchmark tool like HDTune or CrystalDiskMark.

Zitat von ole258
Is it possible, that older Controller will be "untouched" by newer RSTe-drivers and they have the same functionality as older Vs.?

No, I don't think so. Each new driver development series works somehow different. Of course new driver features, which require a more actual hardware, will not be supported by older SATA Controllers.

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#12 | RE: Modded Intel AHCI and RAID Drivers datum

Sun Aug 11, 2013 10:34 pm (Last edited: Sun Aug 11, 2013 10:56 pm)

Zitat
You can install one after the other 2 or 3 different driver versions (examples: v11.2.0.1006, 11.7.4.1001 and 12.8.0.1016) and compare them regarding stability and performance. If you do not realize performance differences, you can run a benchmark tool like HDTune or CrystalDiskMark.

Till now, stability is very good - but I never had problems with stability in older versions, too.

Differences in performance are so minimalistic*, that the can't noticed by real performance - only by benchmark. (* You surely knows, that new RSTe-driver wil not boost my HDD to SSD-performance)

You surely will agree, that it's care a pap, if Transfer-Rate is about 85 MB/s, 88 MB/s or 83 MB/s.

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#13 | RE: Modded Intel AHCI and RAID Drivers datum

Sun Aug 11, 2013 10:55 pm

Zitat von ole258 im Beitrag #12
Till now, stability is very good - but I never had problems with stability in older versions, too.
Differences in performance are so minimalistic*, that the can't noticed by real performance - only by benchmark. (* You surely knows, that new RSTe-driver wil not boost my HDD to SSD-performance)

Ok, then I will answer another way:
If I were you, I would prefer an actual Intel OROM/driver combination. This way you will participate in the technological innovation.

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#14 | RE: Modded Intel AHCI and RAID Drivers datum

Thu Aug 22, 2013 10:40 pm (Last edited: Thu Aug 22, 2013 10:42 pm)

Zitat von Fernando im Beitrag #13
Ok, then I will answer another way:
If I were you, I would prefer an actual Intel OROM/driver combination. This way you will participate in the technological innovation.

Vs. your comment like this:

Zitat

General personal statements:

The newest drivers are not always the best. Even if they should be the best for some hardware configurations, this is not automaticly valid for all hardware configurations.
Users with an older Intel chipset should always keep in mind, that the chipset manufacturer Intel only develops drivers for the newest and for the upcoming chipsets and not for the older ones. Although many of the new drivers are backwards compatible with older AHCI and RAID Controllers, they are not or may not be optimized for them.

So the real question is, to use Intel RST(e) drivers v11.7.4.1001 WHQL dated 03/05/2013 (for 5-Series) or always the newest?

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#15 | RE: Modded Intel AHCI and RAID Drivers datum

Thu Aug 22, 2013 11:08 pm (Last edited: Thu Aug 22, 2013 11:09 pm)

Zitat von ole258 im Beitrag #14
So the real question is, to use Intel RST(e) drivers v11.7.4.1001 WHQL dated 03/05/2013 (for 5-Series) or always the newest?

It is impossible to give a unique answer for all users with a 5-Series chipset system, because each hardware configuration may be different and the user's preferences as well.
Since I always like to participate in the technological innovation, I personally would try the newest drivers, which are announced to be compatible with my chipset. When I should realize any issues, I would decide to replace the driver by a product of a previous driver development branch.

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Intel RST/RSTe Drivers (newest: v15.2.2.1030 WHQL/v4.5.6.1004 WHQL) � � Got UEFI RAID Intel RST to work for Server 2016 / Win 10 on a MSI C236M after spending a few hours fighting a BSOD

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