Intel Driver Support Assistant Proves Helpful
Once I saw the error message “Stopped Working” from IAStorDataMgrSvc.exe in Performance Monitor, I went searching for a fix. Turns out this module is part of the Intel Rapid Storage Technology environment (aka Intel RST). “Hmmm,” thought I to myself, “It’s been a while since I’ve updated any Intel storage drivers. Could that be worth looking into?” I did, and it was. I visited the Intel Driver & Support Assistant web page. The first thing it had me do was to update itself. Then I scanned my system for Intel drivers, and it recommended an update to Intel RST. Because this matched up with what I’d already wondered about, I happily complied. The program downloaded and installed the necessary drivers (and removed an outdated version). That’s what leads me to assert that Intel Driver Support Assistant proves helpful. Here’s what the aftermath looked like in Perfmon:
Careful examination of the sequence of events shows the update to the Driver & Support Assistant starts things in motion.
Why Intel Driver Support Assistant Proves Helpful
In fact, the sequence of events shown in the screen capture runs from 4:40 – 4:42 PM on 6/5. It runs like this:
1. A new Intel Driver & Support Assistant gets installed
2. Intel installs a telemetry/reporting widget called the Intel Computing Improvement Program
3. The two periods (“..”) indicates removal of an application — in this case, the earlier version of the Intel RST code.
4. Intel installs a Intel 100 Series/C230 chipset family SATA AHCI controller for one set of bus links.
5. Intel installs a Standard SATA AHCI Controller for the non-Intel storage controller on my Asrock 7+ Extreme motherboard.
6. Intel installs another Intel 100 Series/C230 chipset family SATA AHCI controller for a second set of bus links (my system has a LOT of SATA ports: 8 from Intel, 3 or 4 more from 3rd parties).
7. Finally, Intel installs a new/current version of the Intel RST application.
BTW, Reliability Monitor is a great way to learn what updates and changes get made to a system when updates are applied, drivers added or updated, and so forth. This little snippet of information provides a pretty darn good demonstration of what the tool can tell you about your system. I was tickled to see the level of detail provides an enduring record of what the Intel installer shows only in transitory form. Keep this in mind as you ponder — or make — updates to your Windows 10 systems.