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Windows 11 Cannot Detect NVMe SSD — Intel VMD

3 min read

Windows 11 Setup lists only USB storage, not the internal NVMe SSD, yet Ubuntu sees it fine. Use this note before touching partitions: the fault is usually the storage-controller layer (Intel VMD), fixed by loading the right driver.

The big picture

① WINDOWS SETUP: SSD MISSINGWindows Setupsees USB storage onlyIntel VMD controller8086:9A0B · NVMe RAIDInternal NVMe SSDnot listedno VMD driver② UBUNTU: SAME SSD IS VISIBLEUbuntulsblk lists the SSDIntel VMD controllerkernel driver in use: vmdInternal NVMe SSDvisible ✓vmd driver③ FIX: LOAD THE RST/VMD DRIVERWindows SetupLoad Driver → VMD folderIntel VMD controllernow reachableInternal NVMe SSDappears ✓ installRST/VMD driver
1 Read the symptom2 Linux checks3 Find the right driver4 Load Driver
  • Layers: CPU → Intel VMD / storage controller → NVMe SSD → partition → filesystem → OS.
  • Fast path: Windows can’t see SSD → can Linux? yes → lspci shows VMD? yes → load the Intel RST/VMD driver.
  • Key lesson: if Setup can’t see the physical SSD, don’t troubleshoot partitions or filesystems yet. Check the controller first.

1. Read the symptom

My case: HP Pavilion x360 14-dy0xxx, Intel i7-1165G7. Ubuntu saw the internal NVMe SSD; Windows Setup saw only USB storage.

  • Linux sees SSD, Windows doesn’t → storage controller / driver
  • Linux can’t see it either → hardware / BIOS / SSD
  • Windows sees it but can’t install → partitions / filesystem / layout

2. Quick Linux checks

lsblk -o NAME,SIZE,MODEL,TYPE          # can Linux see the physical NVMe SSD?
lspci -nnk | grep -A4 -Ei "vmd|raid|non-volatile|storage"

Mine showed:

Intel Volume Management Device NVMe RAID Controller [8086:9A0B]
        Kernel driver in use: vmd
  • → the SSD was behind Intel VMD. [8086:9A0B] is the PCI hardware ID.

3. Find the right driver

  • Windows Setup needs the Intel RST/VMD pre-install storage driver.
  • Use the current compatible OEM/Intel package, and point Setup at the dedicated VMD storage-driver subfolder with the matching INF/SYS/CAT files.

Not every iaStorVD.inf is the right one

An OEM RST package may bundle several components. Pick the INF in the dedicated VMD storage-driver folder.

4. Load it in Windows Setup (what fixed it)

Current HP WHQL Intel RST-VMD package → extract → locate the dedicated VMD
storage-driver folder → Windows Setup → Load Driver → select it → SSD appears

Don't waste time on these first

Deleting Windows partitions, creating NTFS partitions from Ubuntu, changing the filesystem, or assuming the SSD is dead when Linux can see it. None help if Windows can’t reach the storage controller.

Prompt for next time

Windows Setup cannot detect my internal NVMe SSD, but Linux can. Before
suggesting partition changes, help me identify the storage controller using
lspci -nnk and lsblk, check whether Intel VMD/RST is involved, identify the
PCI hardware ID, and determine the correct Windows pre-install storage driver.