Windows 10: Intel RST installation set up incorrectly

Hi,

I've just bought a Dell refurbished XPS 15, but it seems like whoever reinstalled the system software did it incorrectly, and subsequently the machine is almost unusable. I'm hoping someone here can help me out with how to get it running properly.

The issue is that it has 2 drives, a 32GB SSD and a 1TB HDD. The SSD is supposed to be acting as a cache for the HDD using Intel RST, but the OS has been installed on this drive, so it is nearly full already and I can't even update windows. From what I can gather, the OS should be on the HDD, the SDD should be unallocated, and then IRST will work as expected. Apparently, I need to reinstall Windows (I have no install media except what's on the computer and have tried using the MS media creation tool to make one, but I don't even have enough space to do that!) and then set up IRST again. Is it possible to clone the SSD to the HDD to avoid losing anything that is installed on the OS partition?

This is my first Windows machine, so if someone could help me out with a by the numbers guide of what I need to do, I'd be most grateful.

Many thanks,

Owen

:)

 

LaCie 4Big Quadra external RAID connected to eSATA - not detected by Windows 10

Yes install latest Intell RST

Download Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (Intel® RST) User Interface and Driver

 

problem with my intel rapid storage technology

The RST Service and Tray Icon is missing on my set-up after the W10 Th2 upgrade but the storage controller device drivers are still the Intel 12.9.0.1001 I had installed so I'm assuming I can run the 12.9.0.1001 installer again to get my services and tray
icon back? Essentially just reinstalling the Intel Rapid Storage Technology software. What do you think?

My registry is also pointing to the correct installer package location so I guess in my case it is just the Intel RST software and service that has been uninstalled.

 

If you allow my opinion, I would let it as it is and completely forget that with Intel RST and Cache.
Most people that have a SSD use it for the OS and the secondary larger HDD for Storage of Data.
I agree that 32GB is a little too small for the demands but you can live with it.
I suggest you following steps to get best of your system:
a) In a Elevated Command Prompt, type: Powercfg /Hibernate off. That will free many GB on your SSD (With switch ON, you get Hibernate back, if you absolutely need it
b) go to System>Advanced System Settings>Performance[Settings]>Advanced>Virtual Memory[Change]:
For your SSD Drive choice "No Paging File" , press Apply
For your Secondary Drive, choice "System Managed", press Apply
After this , Windows will ask to reboot you may do so.
c) On that Tab "System Properties", there is also the "System Protection". Choice it. Now, press "Configure..". You may want to delete all "Restore Points" probably you do not need them.
d) Move all Your Personal Folders to Secondary Drive:
Open File Explorer and for each Item (Download, Documents, Pictures, a.s.o) , right Click on mouse, >Properties>Location now choose a Folder in 2nd Drive.
e) Install all you Software/Apps to 2nd Drive. If there is Software Installed, uninstall it and re-install poiting it to 2nd Drive.
f) Finally , do a Disk Cleanup, may be it is advisable to do a Extended Cleanup as here described: Disk Cleanup - Open and Use in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums
g)Concerning the Upgrades that Windows will not allow because of not enough HDD space, you must Download the FILE and Store to 2nd Drive and run it manually from there. If it is a ISO, you can Mount and run it.
Best luck, and forget the Chache with iRST.

 

Sounds like you have a Hybrid drive. The 32GB is only for Cache on the drive, not for use as an extra drive space.

Also Intel RST has been known to be buggy with Windows. It should not be needed, since Windows 10 has the tech built into the OS

 

Take a look at this necropost here: Compressing system and other seldom writable data.