Windows 10: New W10 Install - Hard Drives Show Up As Removable

I just completed an update installation on a desktop PC running Windows 7. Now my hard drives show up as removable drives.

Normally this is due to the need to install an AHCI driver. And that is normally the Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver for Intel chipsets. The driver was installed in Windows 7.

Is this a case where I need to manually install a new IRST Driver for Windows 10?
If so, should I uninstall the existing first, or will the new one overwrite the old?

:)

 

My hard drives are showing up as removable.

Sorry Mike! Some times I don't get it right the first time. Glad you got your issue solved!

Glad you know how to use search. Some of our members don't!

garybear

Thanks for your reply!

 

My hard drives are showing up as removable.

Hi! See if this helps

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/3083627/internal-sata-drives-show-up-as-removeable-media

 

OK dudes and dudettes - I solved this problem.

I had to reinstall the ICH10R SATA AHCI Driver for my motherboard (Asus P6T).

Trouble was, the most recent Intel driver version was showing for the Intel ICH10R SATA AHCI Controller device in Device Manager.
I started by going to the Asus P6T website and downloaded the current driver package (for Windows 7 64 bit - the newest OS available), and unzipped it to a file on the desktop.

Then in Device Manager I went to Properties for the Controller > Update Driver >
Initial attempts resulted in "The best driver is installed"
Now I selected "Browse my Computer" and I then went beyond that to "Let me pick from a list of drivers for this device" > selected the SATA AHCI device > Next
This installed the generic Windows 10 driver (10.0.10586.0). > Restart > problem remains.

Back in Device Manager > Search my computer > navigate to the folder on the desktop > highlight driver folder > Next > Restart

Problem solved. Intel Driver installed. No more removable drives.

The driver version is the same as it was, but now the AHCI part is working as expected.
Go figure.

So I can leave IRST alone (uninstalled), as I have read that Windows 10 does not need it.