Intel Rapid Start Technology (IRST / IRSTRT) on Samsung Notebooks

Are you using V2 released in August 2012? If not, install it. It fixes various bugs. I don't think Samsung ever got round to offering V2 in SW Update. They were more interested in getting Windows 8 ready.

The two components that need to run are (i) the irstrtsv.exe service which should be set up in Task Scheduler and RapidStartConfig.exe which allows the time for transition from sleep to hibernation to be adjusted.

John

 

Do you mean the IRST utility? You might need to run it as Administrator, move some settings around and save in order for it to work properly, I know I had to.

Also, I use version 3.0 and it works just fine (in Windows 8 at least).

 

Is your Series 9 one that originally shipped with Windows 7 with a BIOS family P**AAC? I tried to install IRST on my new X4C (BIOS series P**ABK) and get the error message "This computer does not meet the minimum requirements for installing the software".

John

 

You have to go through the process of creating the recovery partition via command line.

This PDF from Intel goes through the steps. It is slightly different for MBR or GPT systems.

 

Did you mean Hibernation partition?

 

Yeah, Hibernation partition.

 

Yes it's the one you mentioned.

Is it possible that you don't have the partition created correctly before trying to install, or it's the wrong size or something? Other than that, does your X4C's BIOS now have an option to enable Rapid Start? I know on Intel motherboards you have to enable this, but on the X3C there was no such BIOS setting.

 

I tried several times entering the complicated formatting command needed to create a hibernation partition on a GPT disc and each time got an error message.

So I parked the problem and got on with the rest of my life.

John

 

Did you try the other (short) version of the command? A few days ago I re-installed Windows 8 and this time around it wanted the short one, even though I had UEFI enabled.

 

I enabled IRST with Win 8 on my Plextor M5M a few months back, and used your guide as a basis. Software update didn't offer IRST at all to me, so I downloaded the latest version from Intel's website, installed the program, got an error saying my computer wasn't compatible with IRST because it didn't find the hibernation partition, made the partition based on Intel's Guide for GPT disks (from Create a Primary Store Partition on the SSD to the end of that section), and went on to test IRST based on what you wrote in your guide. Took a while to get there because I was using the guide for MBR, but once I got the correct steps it was pretty straightforward. It's working like a charm now.

 

In 2012 I purchased a Samsung NP900X4C-A01 with Windows 7 pre-loaded. I've recently upgraded to Windows 8, by way of a clean installation. I've been running short of space, so in that process I've removed the Recovery Partition, ensuring I can restore it in future if required (using the helpful guides posted elsewhere on this forum).

Having not researched IRST thoroughly enough, and not seeing it in the Samsung SW Update tool, I installed Intel Rapid Start Technology, by downloading it from the Intel website (file Rapid Start Technology Installer_3.0.0.1053.zip Version 3.0.0.1053). I created the Hibernation partition as per the Intel User Guide instructions, and IRST appeared to install and run OK, though I never confirmed that it went into hibernation mode correctly. I did however continuously get a Intel message recommending that I switch IRST off because it conflicted with full disk encryption (I didn't note down the exact wording of the message).

On further research I discovered that:
- Intel recommends IRST isn't installed on SSDs with full-disk software encryption, because the content of the hibernation partition is not protected due to the operation of IRST, and
- on this blog I read that I shouldn't install IRST on a Samsung laptop with Windows 8, because Windows 8 has a similar function implemented using a hibernation file

I then decided to uninstall IRST, which I did using Windows Uninstall from the Control Panel. It's gone from the list of installed programs, but every time I boot up into Windows I get a message from Intel Rapid Start Technology Manager to advise that my computer doesn't have IRST enabled. I went into Services and disabled the Intel Rapid Start Technology Service (wondering why it's still there), and now after booting into Windows I get the message from Intel Rapid Start Technology Manager advising that my computer doesn't appear to have IRST enabled.

Can anyone advise how I can do a complete, clean uninstall of IRST, and not have to deal with these messages?

 

Also, rename the irstrt and irstrtsv partitions in C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\ which should prevent anything irstrt from starting. If that clears the messages then delete the folders and run a program such as CCleaner to clear up the references in the registry.

Did you remove the Rapid Start partition? If not, clear that up as well.

John

 

Thanks for that advice John. I wasn't able to rename or delete irstrt, as it was already in use. However, after uninstalling Intel Rapid Storage Technology, then re-creating the Hibernation partition, then re-installing and uninstalling Intel Rapid Start Technology, and deleting the partition, all signs of the Intel folder under C:\Program Files (x86)\ have disappeared, with no more Intel messages. It seems the two IRSTs are interlinked somehow.

Software Updater is now telling me that I should re-install Intel Rapid Storage Technology, but I'm in two minds. Does it provide much benefit given I only have an SSD?

 

There's a lot of confusion between Intel Rapid Storage (abbreviated to IRST) and Intel Rapid Start (IRSTRT) and I'm sure that made your task more complicated.

I suggest you now reinstall Intel Rapid Storage. It shouldn't do any harm and might do a little good. I have it running on my X4C.

John

 

Has anyone successfully gotten Rapid Start to work on Windows 8.1 WITH wake on lid open? My X3B on 8.1 will wake up by opening the lid under normal sleep, but I have to press the power button if it has gone to rapid start hibernation. This was working in W7, so I assume it is because IRST is no longer supported in settings 2.x.

 

I've just been doing a clean install of Windows 7 on my older X4C.

The key to getting IRSTRT installed is to first run the FFSRConfigurer.exe in the old Intel_Rapid_Start_1.0.0.1007.ZIP. This does the basic configuration and the IRSTRT partition creation. I then ran the IRSTRT V3 installer from Intel and it all seems to be working.

The same procedure might work with Windows 8 / 8.1 on the older (P**AAC BIOS) versions of the Series 9s.

John

 

Great article, but I'm getting stuck when trying to install Easy Settings. The installer comes back with the following message:

"Setup has detected that version 3.02.000 of Easy Settings is already installed
This setup installs an earlier version of Easy Settings (1.1).
You will have to unistall the previous verison before installing this version"

Easy Settings is not installed on the system.

Any clues?

 

I've had a lot of problems with the fans on my Series 9 over the time I've had it - tried everything I could find (including the tips I got in this thread) but they just wouldn't stay quiet - even in low powered/silent mode. They would spin for a second or two, slow down and be quiet for a second and then start to spin again. Didn't matter if the laptop was cold. I've opened the laptop up and cleaned them several times, but no real difference. It did however seem like it mostly was one of the fans, and not both.

Now it sounds like the troublesome fan is dying. It's not spinning as fast as it should and it's making a lot of noise (sort of like there was sand in it or something) even though I cleaned it. I figure I need to get a new fan because I'm not ready to throw out my otherwise ok laptop yet. Does anyone know where I can find a replacement fan for the broken one?

 

Putting aside your interesting choice of thread for posting this question (there's a useful list of threads for specific notebooks here), you can find a very good list of parts and their numbers at Samsung Parts, Accessories, DLP TV Lamp, Remote Controls, AC Adapters.

If you are in the UK then first check ebay and if there's nothing listed then check Digicare who are one of the main Samsung UK service centres.

John

 

Yeah, sorry - I didn't notice. I had bookmarked this thread and though it was the "main" NP900X thread. Didn't notice until you pointed it out that it was the intel rapid start thread.
Thanks for the tip. The fan has now stopped moving completely. I'll see what I can find on ebay. Thanks!

 

My mistake, it appears IRST is interfering with fast start on W8.1. That is, if the laptop sleeps and I open the lid before the IRST timer sends it to deep sleep then it wakes up. Otherwise lid open does nothing. When I press the power button it does resume so I assume IRST is working at that level. Maybe samsung didn't do a tie in to fast start with the settings program that they did with easy settings? Has anyone gotten IRST to work on W8.1 on lid open (fast start)? Or am I the only one who uses the feature.

 

A related observation is that in Windows 7 if I set my IRSTRT hibernation timer to be longer than the timeout for Windows to go to sleep then I am prompted for my Windows password when the computer resumes while if IRSTRT hibernates before Windows sleeps then I'm not prompted for my Windows password.

This confirms that IRSTRT is hibernating in whatever state Windows (active or sleeping) was in at the time.

However, that doesn't answer the lid open question.

John

 

I think there has to be a tie in on those Settings versions that do Fast Start (2.0.x, as previously discussed, but not 2.1.x and newer). If you install neither Settings nor IRST, does Fast Start work? Now, if you install IRST alone, but not Settings?

If IRST alone makes it work, you are probably better off installing a newer Settings (such as 2.3.0.17 available in SW Update under model NP930X5J) since those versions don't touch Fast Start at all (in my experience).

I don't have IRST on my Series 7, so I cannot test this.

 

I guess what I mean is maybe samsung didn't tie in Settings to support the S4 sleep of IRST only S3 (standard windows sleep) like they did with easy settings (maybe it's just some bios parameter). Perhaps because they did not provide IRST on W8 models, instead relying on windows hibernation. I'm just conjecturing. AFAIK fast start will not work without the proper version of Settings/Easy Settings irrespective of IRST. I believe IRST will work without Settings, but haven't tested it. I don't think so, but it's possible there's a bios setting I have overlooked, so I'll check as well. Not optimistic.

Kind of disappointing, because with classic shell W8.1 is very usable. Pressing the power button is not a huge deal I guess, but I like flipping the lid to open! I guess I could get rid of IRST, use hibernation and delay the hibernation after sleep timer to the max (360 mins?) and that shouldn't use too much battery? But it would probably be bad if I forgot and had it in an enclosed space when it was in s3 sleep, not sure how much heat that creates.

I understand very few people have bothered with IRST in W8 as it's a PITA if you're on GPT. Also, without lid open, it's pretty much identical to windows hibernation with the disadvantage of taking up a partition.

 

As we discussed before, I have never seen Fast Start (lid open) resume from Hibernation (S4), and since it requires chipset support, I wonder if it's an IRST feature. Remember that with Win8 Fast Startup enabled (default) Shutdown IS hibernation (S4) so in that case lid open should be able to essentially "turn on" the computer.

I guess I should try and restore my Win7 installation some day and see if it works there and I just never noticed it. I personally prefer Fast Start disabled, because I like that slowly blinking LED that tells me whether my computer is asleep of turned off/hibernated.

 

Oh, maybe I'm being stupid then. So when Windows Fast Startup is enabled shutdown is hibernation, but sleep is actually hybrid sleep which is "almost S4"? I turned hibernation off first thing so I probably never saw those options, just the traditional ones. So I would just set my laptop to shutdown on lid close and it would do a quick boot on lid open? That could work nice. I'll give it a shot.

 

Sleep is sleep (usually S3). But when Fast Startup is enabled (which requires hibernation to be enabled) Shutdown will log out the user session, then hibernate just the machine state (S4). You can still manually choose Hibernation, which will hibernate the entire machine and user state (as always). But I simply don't know how this interacts with IRST.

 

Thanks. Lid open fast start doesn't work on windows fast startup or hibernation. I tried sleep (actually hybrid sleep which is a W8 advancement that is partial hibernation) but the battery still drains about 1% an hour though the machine seems to stay cool. I give up. If someone figures out fast start with IRST in W8 like it was in W7 please post.

 

I've got an NP900X4C with Windows 7 and I used to use Rapid Start a lot, when I opened the lid it used to resume from where I was in a couple of seconds.
I have now upgraded my SSD from the Sandisk U100 128GB that comes with it to the Samsung 840 EVO 1Tb. I cloned the SSD so everything should be identical.

Everything worked fine, however this Rapid Start is not working as it was. When I close the lid and open it again within a few minutes it resumes quickly, but when I close it and reopen it after say 8hrs, even if the laptop is on full charge, after I open it the Windows Resume screen appears, with the Resuming Windows scrollbar. It never used to work like that before.

I tried to shrink the SSD and give 9GB of unallocated space (my memory is 8GB) just in case the IRST software needs to create the partition but still the same behaviour.
Do I need to do anything to enable it back?

 

I don't think IRST is working properly, if at all. I suspect that IRST has a pointer in the CMOS or BIOS that indicates the physical location of the hibernation partition. That's likely to be broken.

I've been through the process myself in the past and what I did to get success should be documented in this thread. Look for what I reported in July 2012 when I upgraded to a 256GB SSD (I did a clean install when I further upgraded to my 1TB EVO). You probably need to reinstall both Easy Settings and the Intel Rapid <Strike>Storage</Strike> Start for which you may need a version which includes the configuration component but you could first try turning off IRST in Easy Settings > General, rebooting, turning IRST on again and rebooting again in case that does the necessary.

John

 

Good point John. Yes I think the OP will probably have to rebuild the partition and linking info. I've successfully used the toggle in Easy Settings to do the heavy lifting. I didn't know rapid storage was required for rapid start? Perhaps that's why I couldn't get it working on my X3G. Well, another thing to tinker with.

 

My mistake referring to Rapid Storage rather than Rapid Start. I'll correct that post.

It was confusing of Intel to create two different IRSTs.

Rapid Start needs support in the BIOS which I doubt if Samsung included in the X3G.

John

 

Hi, I was looking for support on the Internet for my NP900X3C-A02IT and met this interesting thread.

I always loved this laptop, but at some point I had the need to upgrade the SSD, so I replaced the standard with 256 GB SSD with W7 Enterprise 64 bit, and the Samsung driver/firmware/bios collected on t he official support page.
Everything works fine except for the PC that every here and there seems to freeze: the mouse can still move, but can't open almost anything for a min or two, then everything works normally again.
In the Event Viewer I can see some errors related with Rapid Start packages but, if I try to uninstall them, in place of the previous PC freeze I get a BSOD due to some Windows Kernel references dealing with hw causes, like HD or RAM.
Again, If I install again the Intel package, I go back to the previous issue, and the BSOD events disappear.

Hence, my question is: am I using a wrong IRST version, or can I sort with a well known fix?

Tnx in advance.
ALC

 

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it doesn't. Just making sure it wasn't because rapid start and rapid storage were required, because I skipped installing the last one.

 

What happens if you simply turn off Rapid Start in Easy Settings (Fn+F1) then wait a few days to see if the problem goes away.

John

 

Tnx John, I've never tried, but I can.
Can I ask You what's the reason for having to wait few days in order to have a result?

 

You are the best judge of how long it takes to decide if the freezing problem has gone away.

Can I also ask what brand of SSD you installed? Your problem is similar (but lasts longer) than what I used to get with my NP900X3B with its original Sandisk U100. If I loaded a big program or large dataset the computer could effectively freeze because Windows was trying to dump some RAM to virtual memory on the SSD while also loading from the SSD and the U100 was a particularly bad performer in that situation.

John

 

So you did not retrieve your drivers using the Samsung Update software? I think the website typically has very old ones. If you're not too far along, I would reinstall W7 and a few requisite drivers: wifi (from intel), graphics (from intel), touchpad, easy settings. If you're having issues on the minimal set up, I would suspect a faulty SSD, very common. Only when everything is stable, would I look into setting up rapid start if so desired.

 

As member go45cvi pointed out, if you pulled drivers from the Samsung website, they're most likely outdated, and you want to get them through SW Update. I would add that Chipset drivers are critical and should be installed as the first before other drivers, since they can affect the entire device tree.

I also agree that a new install may be in order for the reasons mentioned. If you let SW Update automatically install drivers for you, it will install them in the correct order and save you some re-starts. You can deselect the ones you don't want, so as to still keep the installation trim. You want to manually install WiFi drivers directly from from Intel, though (again as mentioned by go45cvi) both because they're better than the ones from SW Update and because Win7 doesn't have them built-in.

 

Thanks a lot. I will try that and see what happens. Normally the problem occurs when the laptop is closed for like 8hrs or so.
What do the Windows System Settings for the power buttons and lid have to be?

Mine are all 'Sleep' both for On Battery and Plugged In, for when the power button is pressed, when the sleep button is pressed and when I close the lid.

 

Have you got the IRST control button in the notification area. This allows you to set the timeout for the transition from IRST sleep to hibernation. I recall that the default setting is many hours in which case the computer might get confused between IRST and Windows sleep / hibernation.

I am currently using lid close action of sleep and IRST timeout of 0 which puts the computer straight into IRST hibernation.

John

 

I installed a Plextor SATA 6GB/s mSATA SSD model PX-256M5M.
Very interesting what You say, but then I can't understand why if I uninstall the Intel rapid start/storage packages I get BSODs instead of the temporary freezes.

I've read the previous pages and here and there some possible fixes:
1) uninstall Intel Rapid packages / uninstall Easy Tools / renistall most updated version in a different order
2) try to tweak the registry in order to invoce any change in the issue

Not sure if I can choose some other methods to diagnose the trouble.
It's driving me crazy ;-)

Tnx again.

 

I agree that this is an unusual and annoying problem.

Which firmware version is your SSD? It is usually the last part of the hardware ID strong in the drive properties in Device Manager.

This page states:

We might be blaming the wrong thing.

John

 

The firmware is already 1.05 unfortunately.

 

I think you should try to contact Plextor to see if they have a solution for the problem.

John

 

Just return it and get an EVO. They are by far the most reliable msata drives.

 

Hi all (especially Joh ;-).
I have just managed to clone and install a 1TB EVO but now cannot get the timer for Rapid Start configured. Rapid Start works, the Hibernation Partition gets created just fine and after enabling it the laptop starts really fast. However, it does not transition from sleep to hibernation and thus drains the battery if left sleeping for too long (overnight). I have tried re-installing Rapid Start (both an older 1.0.0.1015 and a newer 3.0.0.1053) and always get an error that my computer does not meet the "minimum requirements". When I try to run Rapid Start Technology Manager I get the message "rapid start does not seem to be enabled". I have looked in Add/Remove Software to remove Rapid Start - it is not there, only Rapid Storage is installed. In regedit the parameters from the previous SSD are all correctly configured.
What can I do?
Thanks!!!

 

See my post here with links to the software versions that worked for me.

Once you have things working then keep copies of the software in case they disappear from the www.

John

 

Hi John,
your instructions worked. Thanks!!! But, it actually took me a while to figure out how to do it. So, for everyone else who tries cloning to an EVO using Samsung's migration tool and then has to re-enable Rapid Start here a summary what works:
1) Download Intel_Rapid_Start_1.0.0.1007.zip and Intel_Rapid_Start_3.0.0.1053.zip
2) Unzip both to separate folders on C:\
3) Turn OFF Rapid Start in Easy Settings, restart
4) Run FFSRConfigurer.exe (briefly flashes onscreen, apparently nothing happens)
5) Turn ON Rapid Start in Easy Settings, hibernation partition is created (yes, it is, even though Rapid Start was uninstalled! you can verify in Disk Management), restart
6) Run FFSRConfigurer.exe AGAIN (briefly flashes onscreen, apparently nothing happens), restart
7) Install setup.exe from the Intel_Rapid_Start_3.0.0.1053 folder - the installation now works, after installation set the timer, you will be told "an error occurred", ignore the error, restart
8) Verify that Rapid Strt technology Manager is running and that the timer keeps your settings (in my case it does!)

That's it...

 

Thank you very much for the extra detail about how the process works.

It's something that someone in Samsung must have figured out when they made the factory images but isn't well documented (except here) if people do a clean installation of Windows.

John