topic Re:IRST will not open will only function with an in place upgrade in Rapid Storage Technology

IRST will not open will only function with an in place upgrade

arrzrbck — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 22:09:50 GMT

i have been having problems with IRST, Windows 11, not functioning on a reboot (see attached error code screen shot). This issue has been ongoing for almost a year.

I have uninstalled it with Reveuninstaller and reinstalled it on multiple occasions. The only way to get it to function again is to do an in-place upgrade with WIN 11 via iso version 25H2. After the upgrade, it works for a day; however, when i start the computer the next day IRST no longer functions. The RAID is normal and shows in POST. VMD enabled in BIOS. BIOS is updated to the most current BIOS from the ASUS website for my motherboard (ROG Strix Z790-A WIFI II)

The non functionality of the software is not affecting operating performance of the computer; however it is annoying and I'm at a loss as to how to keep this issue from reoccurring

your assistance in solving this issue would be sincerely appreciated

System Specs:

Processor 13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-13900KF (3.00 GHz)
Installed RAM 48.0 GB (47.8 GB usable) Patriot Memory Viper Elite 5 RGB DDR5 RAM 48GB (2X24GB) 6000MT/s

Motherboard: ROG Strix Z790-A WIFI II

Device ID 3D921F8F-47D6-45D8-9C4E-945C15F0801D
Product ID 00331-20210-00000-AA069
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Edition Windows 11 Pro
Version 25H2 Installed on ‎4/‎20/‎2026 OS build 26200.8246
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.26100.297.0

Re:IRST will not open will only function with an in place upgrade

BrenzL_Intel — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 01:14:48 GMT

Hello arrzrbck,

Thank you for reaching out to the Intel Community Forum.

We understand how frustrating it can be to experience ongoing issues with Intel® Rapid Storage Technology, especially when the problem reoccurs after troubleshooting and system upgrades. We appreciate the detailed information you have already provided regarding your system, BIOS configuration, and the steps you have taken so far.

To further investigate the error you are experiencing, please provide the following information:

Current Intel RST version
- Please confirm the exact version of Intel® Rapid Storage Technology currently installed on your system.
Source of the RST application
- Where was the RST application downloaded from?
  - Intel website
  - OEM support page (ASUS)
Windows update status
- Have you tried rolling back recent Windows updates to check whether the issue persists? If so, please let us know the result.

Once we have this information, we will be better positioned to analyze the root cause and advise on a more permanent solution.

We look forward to your reply and appreciate your cooperation.

Best regards,

Brenz L.

Intel Customer Support Technician

Re: Re:IRST will not open will only function with an in place upgrade

arrzrbck — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 07:19:12 GMT

Current Intel RST version: 20.0.1024.0

Source of the RST application: Asus OEM webpage

Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology Driver V19.5.7.1058 for Windows 10 64-bit, Windows 11 64-bit.(WHQL)

i do no believe windows updates are not the cause of the issue. Its been doing this from day one.

The only thing i haven't tried is a clean installation. That's a 3 day laborious process for me due to data, software and setup.

An inplace upgrade of WIN 11 solves the problem; however, it is only a temporary solution. It reverts back to the original error.

the following are the list of HDD and SSD hardware:

Installed with RAID 1 and a system backup on the other

3 SAMSUNG 990 PRO w/ Heatsink SSD 2TB, PCIe Gen4 M.2 2280 Internal Solid State Hard Drive, Seq. Read Speeds Up To 7,450MB/s for High End Computing, Workstations, Compatible w/ PlayStation 5, MZ-V9P2T0CW

Installed with RAID 1

2 Western Digital 10TB WD Black Performance Internal Hard Drive HDD - 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, 256 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD101FZBX

2 Samsung Electronics 870 EVO 2TB 2.5 Inch SATA III Internal SSD (MZ-77E2T0B/AM)

Hope this helps

Re:IRST will not open will only function with an in place upgrade

BrenzL_Intel — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 23:23:15 GMT

Hello arrzrbck,

Thank you for providing detailed response.

I will do further research on this matter and post the response on this thread once it is available.

If you have questions, please let us know. Thank you.

Best regards,

Brenz L.

Intel Customer Support Technician

Re:IRST will not open will only function with an in place upgrade

BrenzL_Intel — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 23:11:06 GMT

Hello arrzrbck,

Thank you for your continued cooperation.

After reviewing the information you provided, you may try the recommendation below. Please note the following before proceeding:

Important:

Please ensure that all data and files are backed up before performing any of the steps outlined below.

If the issue was encountered while launching or opening Intel® Optane™ Memory and Storage Management, please update the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (RST) driver to the latest version available for your platform. Additionally, always verify that the system BIOS is properly configured for your specific platform.

Restart the RstMwRpc Service:

Open the Windows menu and search for the Services app.
Select the Services application.
Click Yes if the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears.
Locate the RstMwRpc service.
Right-click the service and select Restart.

Once completed, without making any additional changes, you may also consider installing the Intel® generic driver version 20.2.6.1025.

After completing these steps, please let us know the results.

Best regards,

Brenz L.

Intel Customer Support Technician

Re: Re:IRST will not open will only function with an in place upgrade

arrzrbck — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:04:58 GMT

opened services app, no RstMwRpc service

uninstalled Current Intel RST version: 20.0.1024.0 with Revouninstallerd and deleted all leftovers
Restarted.
downloaded Asus OEM drivers for Intel RST:
https://rog.asus.com/us/motherboards/rog-strix/rog-strix-z790-a-gaming-wifi-ii/helpdesk_download/
installed IRST driver
rebooted
still no RstMwRpc service

Installed generic driver Intel® generic driver version 20.2.6.1025.

Rebooted

still no RstMwRpc service

even tried installing the INTEL RST app from the M$FT store, received same initial error code

Re: IRST will not open will only function with an in place upgrade

arrzrbck — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 21:20:07 GMT

after much research, i was able to find RstMwRpc in task manager. tried to start service. it tries to start and immediately stops.

tried to start the middleware service and received the attached error code:
Windows could not start the Intel Storage Middleware Service service (This service is set to automatic) on local computer.

Error 1067: the process terminated unexpectedly

Decided to complete an in-place upgrade ( WIN 11 25H2) to check the integrity of the RAID (only way to get Software working) and completed an in-place upgrade WIN 11 25H2
IRST works fine (see screenshot)

I shut down computer for the night and this am when starting the computer and clicking the Intel icon, i received the following error code that started this process:

same error code this am (see screenshot) : 0xA00906BB3

Re: IRST will not open will only function with an in place upgrade

arrzrbck — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 07:30:13 GMT

More information on IRST not working:

Description
Faulting Application Path: C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\iastorvd.inf_amd64_f28d27d12c1c64c5\RstMwService.exe

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: RstMwService.exe
Application Version: 20.2.6.1025
Application Timestamp: 67f90799
Fault Module Name: RstMwService.exe
Fault Module Version: 20.2.6.1025
Fault Module Timestamp: 67f90799
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 00000000000c1fe3
OS Version: 10.0.26200.2.0.0.256.48
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: 0380
Additional Information 2: 0380f2d37d7b1a14f3a7d96c3bc216bd
Additional Information 3: 30f6
Additional Information 4: 30f65e56cbd065918f57d39092e7f878

Extra information about the problem
Bucket ID: ddc0046ed7e52acd11dc8bf8dda670a5 (1287057494507942053)

Re:IRST will not open will only function with an in place upgrade

BrenzL_Intel — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 23:45:49 GMT

Hello arrzrbck,

Thank you for the update.

I will do further research on this matter and post the response on this thread once it is available.

If you have questions, please let us know. Thank you.

Best regards,

Brenz L.

Intel Customer Support Technician

Re:IRST will not open will only function with an in place upgrade

BrenzL_Intel — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 20:12:24 GMT

Hello arrzrbck,

Thank you for your continued cooperation.

As all available troubleshooting recommendations have already been provided and completed, we kindly ask you to consider the following steps as a last‑resort solution for your concern:

1. Update the BIOS

Please visit your system manufacturer’s official website and check for the latest BIOS version available for your device.

Carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions when performing the BIOS update, as this may help resolve potential compatibility issues with hardware components and drivers.

2. Reinstall Windows 11 (Version 25H2)

As a final measure, we recommend performing a clean installation of Windows 11 version 25H2 using the latest available build. This step can help address possible compatibility issues between the operating system and drivers, including Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (IRST).

After the installation is complete, please ensure that all drivers are updated to the latest versions to maintain system stability and proper functionality.

Once the above recommendations have been completed, please let us know the results so we can further evaluate the situation and determine the next possible steps if the issue persists.

We look forward to your update and appreciate your cooperation.

Best regards,

Brenz L.

Intel Customer Support Technician

Re:IRST will not open will only function with an in place upgrade

BrenzL_Intel — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 19:49:00 GMT

Hello arrzrbck,

Could you please confirm if you have reviewed the information I posted? Your feedback at your earliest convenience would be greatly appreciated so we can decide on the best way to proceed with resolving this matter.

Best regards,

Brenz L.

Intel Customer Support Technician

Re: Re:IRST will not open will only function with an in place upgrade

arrzrbck — Fri, 01 May 2026 03:21:15 GMT

Yes i received your message. it left me puzzled.
you can see my from my initial post that my BIOS and all drivers are updated
you can see i have performed an inplace upgrade on multiple occasions and it fixes IRST for a day but fails on next startup

you can also see that reinstalling windows is a three day laborious process with my setup, data, and software.

Is it possible to escalate to a more senior person?

Re:IRST will not open will only function with an in place upgrade

StanleyB_Intel — Sat, 02 May 2026 04:41:10 GMT

Hello arrzrbck,

I've taken note of what you've shared and I'll dive into another thorough investigation on our end to get to the bottom of this.

Best regards,

Stanley B.

Intel Customer Support Technician