Disable VMD in BIOS temporarily. Reboot → Press F2 during boot → Go to Advanced → VMD Configuration → Set Enable VMD to Disabled . Save and exit. Note: After disabling VMD, Windows will use the standard NVMe driver. Performance may slightly drop, but compatibility improves.
Microsoft occasionally overwrites the Intel RST driver with a generic PCIe driver. Download the latest N20C5 driver from Acer, then use wushowhide.diagcab (Microsoft’s tool) to block automatic driver updates for that specific device.
If you do not have access to another computer to download the driver, or if you prefer a driverless installation, you can disable the VMD controller entirely via the laptop firmware. Shut down your Acer laptop completely.
Once Windows is installed, use the or Intel Driver & Support Assistant to keep your storage controllers updated. This prevents blue screen errors (BSOD) and maintains the peak read/write speeds of your NVMe SSD. acer n20c5 storage driver
If Device Manager shows a yellow exclamation mark next to the Intel RST controller with an error like “This device cannot start,” try the following:
The (primarily corresponding to models in the Aspire 5 A515-56 or Aspire Vero AV15-51 series) requires a specific storage driver to be visible during Windows installation. Because these laptops use 11th Generation Intel Core processors (Tiger Lake), they utilize Intel Volume Management Device (VMD) technology, which often results in the "We couldn't find any drives" error during a fresh OS setup. Core Storage Driver Details
Outdated storage drivers can prevent your NVMe SSD from reaching its full read/write speeds or cause high DPC latency. Disable VMD in BIOS temporarily
⚠️ Disabling VMD after Windows is already installed will cause a “blue screen of death” (INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE) because Windows was originally configured to use the VMD controller. Only disable VMD before performing a clean Windows installation.
There are several reliable methods to obtain and install the correct driver. Always prioritize using official sources to avoid malware or unstable drivers.
: Look for the "IRST" driver listed under the "Driver" tab. 2. Prepare the Driver for Installation Note: After disabling VMD, Windows will use the
If you are missing the storage driver, you are likely encountering an issue where the hard drive or SSD is not detected during a Windows installation, or it is running in a slower compatibility mode within the Device Manager. This series primarily utilizes Intel Rapid Storage Technology (IRST) drivers.
A: Boot your computer into Safe Mode. Go to Device Manager, right-click your storage controller, and select "Properties" > "Driver" > "Roll Back Driver" . If that fails, you may need to perform a System Restore to a point before the update.
If your computer is already running Windows but you are experiencing issues (slow performance, blue screens), you should update the driver.
What is the found on your laptop's lower back sticker (e.g., Aspire A515)? Share public link