Symptoms
When installing Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows 11 on your system, you may discover that there are two Dell SATA controller drivers available to download for your system.
Cause
To clarify and lend context, when Windows is first installed on a system, it will often request a specific driver for the storage controller so that Windows can identify the hard drive and utilize it for the installation. When the Windows installer pauses to ask for this driver, it (Windows XP) used to prompt the user to tap the F6 key. This is why it is sometimes called the F6 driver or preboot driver. Later Windows installers prompt with a Load Drivers button.
Newer F6 drivers have two components, the smaller driver used for the installation and a second driver package that also contains a management console for use within the operating system after the Windows installation is complete.
Only the preboot F6 driver is necessary for installation when required, the management console will not work for installing Windows.
Resolution
Note: For drives larger than 1.99 terabytes, the F6 preboot driver is required in Windows 7 and recommended in Windows 8/8.1 and 10. For drives smaller than 2 terabytes, the F6 preboot is optional (but recommended) for all versions of Windows.
Using the example of the Precision M2800:
- The Intel Rapid Storage Technology F6 Driver for x64 Windows would be downloaded
- The driver would then be extracted and the files copied to a USB drive
- The USB drive would then be plugged into the machine during the Windows install process and selected with the Load Drivers button when prompted
The Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver and Management Console (Driver) would be downloaded and extracted on the system and the setup.exe file run from the C:\DELL\DRIVERS\341WV folder.
For the latest version of the Drivers please visit www.dell.com/support/home