Missing Drivers During Windows Install Fix | Generated by AI

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Question: Why can’t I find the drivers on my FAT32 USB during Windows installation on Lenovo Xiaoxin 14 IAH8 even after extracting the .exe files?

Answer:

This is a very common issue when loading storage drivers (especially Intel RST/IRST or VMD) during Windows setup on modern Lenovo laptops like the Xiaoxin 14 IAH8 (which uses Intel 13th/14th gen or similar Alder Lake/Raptor Lake hardware). The “nothing shows” or no drivers appear when you click Load driver → Browse usually happens for these reasons:

Most Likely Causes & Fixes (Step-by-Step)

  1. Wrong folder structure or .inf files buried too deep
    When you extract a Lenovo/Intel .exe driver package (using 7-Zip or right-click “Extract All”), the actual .inf files are often inside subfolders like:
    • RST / VMD / f6flpy-x64 / Production / Win64 / etc.
      Windows setup only scans the folder you select and its immediate subfolders — it won’t dig deep automatically.

    Fix:

    • On another computer, extract the .exe fully.
    • Look for folders containing .inf files (especially files named iaStorAC.inf, iaAHCIC.inf, VMD.inf, iaStorVD.inf, or similar).
    • Copy only the folder that contains those .inf files (or even just the .inf + .sys/.cat files) directly to the root of your FAT32 USB (or into a simple folder like Drivers or IRST).
    • Avoid nesting too many subfolders (e.g., don’t have USB:\SomeLongPath\Sub\Sub\inf).
    • During setup: Browse → select the USB drive → open the exact folder with the .inf files → Windows should now list matching drivers → select one (usually the RST or VMD variant) → OK.

  2. Intel VMD (Volume Management Device) is enabled in BIOS — this hides the drive unless using VMD-specific driver
    Many 12th gen+ Intel Lenovo laptops default to VMD enabled (for RAID/Optane support), which makes the NVMe SSD invisible without the correct VMD driver. Standard RST drivers often fail here.

    Best & Easiest Fix (Recommended for most users):

    • Restart → enter BIOS (usually press F2 or Fn+F2 repeatedly during Lenovo logo).
    • Go to Configuration or Advanced tab.
    • Find Intel VMD controller (or VMD Setup Menu, Intel Volume Management Device).
    • Disable it (set to Disabled).
    • Also check Storage Mode / SATA Configuration → set to AHCI (not RAID or Intel RST Premium).
    • Save & Exit (F10 → Yes).
    • Boot back to Windows USB installer → the SSD should now appear without loading any driver!
      (This is the simplest solution for clean Windows installs — you lose RAID if you ever need it, but most home users don’t.)
  3. Wrong driver version downloaded
    • Lenovo’s site for IdeaPad Slim 3 14IAH8 may not list a dedicated “F6” (floppy driver) package anymore — many are now .exe only.
    • Try the latest Intel RST driver directly from Intel (version 19.x or 20.x for 13th/14th gen):
      Download → https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/720755/intel-rapid-storage-technology-driver-installation-software-with-intel-optane-memory.html (or search “Intel RST VMD driver”).
      Extract → look for the VMD folder or f6flpy-x64 equivalent.
  4. USB issues or Windows setup quirks
    • Make sure the FAT32 USB is plugged into a USB 2.0 port if available (some setups ignore USB 3.0 during early boot).
    • Try a different USB stick (some cheap ones have compatibility issues).
    • Ensure the Windows ISO is recent (use Rufus or Microsoft’s tool to remake if old).

Quick Summary Table – What to Try First

Step Action Why It Works
1 Disable Intel VMD in BIOS + set AHCI Bypasses need for special driver — drives appear natively
2 Extract .exe → copy only .inf-containing folder to USB root Windows can now see the driver files
3 Use Intel’s official latest RST/VMD driver package Lenovo’s may be outdated or mismatched
4 Check BIOS sees the SSD first Confirms hardware is OK

After install, install full drivers from Lenovo Vantage or the support site. If VMD was disabled, you can re-enable it later if needed (but reinstall RST software).

This should get your drive showing — the BIOS change fixes it for 80%+ of these cases on similar Lenovo models.

References:

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