How to Extract Intel RST (VMD) Driver from SetupRST.exe Executable

When installing Windows 11 (or Windows 10) on modern Intel-based systems, many users run into a common problem: the installer does not detect the SSD. This usually happens because the system is using Intel VMD (Volume Management Device), which requires the Intel RST driver to be loaded manually during Windows setup.

Intel typically provides this driver as a single executable file called SetupRST.exe, but Windows Setup cannot use .exe files directly. It needs the raw driver files (.inf, .sys, .cat). That’s why extracting Intel RST (VMD) drivers from the SetupRST.exe executable becomes necessary.

In this detailed guide, we’ll explain why extraction is required and show you multiple reliable ways to extract Intel RST (VMD) drivers properly.

What Is Intel RST (VMD) and Why You Need to Extract It

Intel Rapid Storage Technology (Intel RST) is a storage driver that allows Windows to communicate with Intel-managed storage controllers. On newer systems, Intel uses VMD to manage NVMe SSDs, especially on laptops.

Because Windows Setup does not include VMD drivers by default, your SSD may not appear unless you manually load the Intel RST driver. However, Windows Setup only accepts driver folders, not executables—hence the need to extract SetupRST.exe.

What Files You Need After Extraction

After extraction, you should see files such as:

• .inf (driver installation file)
• .sys (actual driver)
• .cat (catalog file)

These files are what Windows Setup recognizes when you click Load driver.

1. Extract Intel RST (VMD) Using Command Prompt (Official & Clean)

This is the safest and most reliable method.

1. Download SetupRST.exe from Intel’s official website.
2. Place the file in an easy-to-access folder, such as C:\RST.
3. Press Windows + X and select Terminal (Admin).
4. Navigate to the folder containing the file: cd C:\RST
5. Run the extraction command: SetupRST.exe -extractdrivers C:\RST\Extracted
6. Press Enter and wait for the process to complete.

After this, open C:\RST\Extracted and you will find the required driver files.

2. Extract Intel RST Driver Using 7-Zip or WinRAR

This is the easiest method if you prefer a graphical interface.

1. Install 7-Zip or WinRAR.
2. Right-click on SetupRST.exe.
3. Select Extract Here or Extract to “SetupRST\”.
4. Open the extracted folder and navigate through subfolders.

Look for folders named VMD, Drivers, or F6flpy-x64. These usually contain the .inf files needed for Windows Setup.

3. Extract Intel RST Driver Using Device Manager (If Windows Is Installed)

This method works only if Windows is already installed and using the RST driver.

1. Press Windows + X and open Device Manager.
2. Expand Storage controllers.
3. Right-click Intel RST VMD Controller and choose Properties.
4. Go to the Driver tab and click Driver Details.
5. Note the driver file location (usually under C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore).
6. Copy the entire driver folder to a USB drive.

This copied folder can be used during Windows Setup on another system.

Using the Extracted Driver During Windows Installation

Once extracted, follow these steps during Windows setup:

1. Boot into Windows installer.
2. When you reach the Where do you want to install Windows? screen and see no drives, click Load driver.
3. Insert the USB drive containing the extracted Intel RST driver.
4. Browse to the folder containing the .inf file.
5. Select the driver and click Next.

Your SSD should now appear.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Trying to load SetupRST.exe directly in Windows Setup
• Extracting only one file instead of the full folder
• Using the wrong architecture (x86 instead of x64)
• Using an outdated Intel RST version incompatible with your chipset

Always use the latest Intel RST version that matches your platform.

Alternative: Disable VMD in BIOS (Optional)

If you don’t want to deal with Intel RST at all:

1. Enter BIOS/UEFI.
2. Locate VMD Controller or Intel RST settings.
3. Disable VMD and switch storage mode to AHCI.

This may break existing Windows installations, so only do this on fresh installs.

Wrapping Up

Extracting Intel RST (VMD) drivers from SetupRST.exe is a crucial step when installing Windows on modern Intel systems using VMD-managed storage. Since Windows Setup cannot read executables, providing the raw driver files is the only way to make your SSD visible.

Whether you use the command-line extraction, 7-Zip, or Device Manager, once you have the .inf files, loading the driver becomes straightforward. Follow the steps carefully, and you’ll be able to install Windows without disabling VMD or changing BIOS settings.