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Fix WD SN5000S Not Detected: Win11 on ROG Zephyrus GU605CW

WD PC SN5000S SSD not detected during Windows 11 install on Asus ROG Zephyrus GU605CW? Disable Intel VMD in BIOS or load RST drivers. Step-by-step fix for NVMe detection issue on Core Ultra laptops.

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How to install Windows 11 on Asus ROG Zephyrus GU605CW-QR164W when the installer does not detect WD PC SN5000S hard drive?

During Windows 11 installation on Asus ROG Zephyrus GU605CW-QR164W laptop, the hard drive (WD PC SN5000S) is not detected.

What I tried:

  • Downloaded various drivers based on the disk model
  • Tried Intel RST (IRST) drivers
  • Unpacked drivers using Wine and added them to the installation USB flash drive

None of these worked. What are the correct drivers, storage controller settings, or steps to resolve the hard drive detection issue and complete the Windows 11 installation?

Can’t see your WD PC SN5000S SSD during Windows 11 setup on the Asus ROG Zephyrus GU605CW-QR164W? You’re hitting a common snag with Intel’s Volume Management Device (VMD) controller on these new Core Ultra laptops—it’s hiding the NVMe drive from the installer. The fix usually boils down to disabling VMD in BIOS or slipping in the right Intel RST drivers; no need for SSD-specific hacks since it’s PCIe Gen4 native.

Contents

The WD PC SN5000S Detection Problem on ROG Zephyrus GU605CW

Frustrating, right? You boot from your Windows 11 USB on the Asus ROG Zephyrus GU605CW-QR164W, hit the drive selection screen, and… nothing. No WD PC SN5000S SSD in sight. This ROG Zephyrus G16 model packs Intel’s latest Core Ultra Series 2 (Lunar Lake) CPU with that speedy PCIe Gen4 NVMe drive, but the installer plays hide-and-seek.

Why? Intel’s VMD tech—meant for RAID flexibility—sits between Windows and your SSD, and the stock installer doesn’t always spot it without help. You’ve tried unpacking Intel RST drivers via Wine (clever, but often misses the exact VMD flavor). ASUS notes that for 15th-gen Core Ultra chips like yours, Windows 11 should handle NVMe natively without IRST, yet real-world installs on ROG laptops hit this wall, especially with WD PC SN5000S drives.

Similar headaches pop up in ROG Strix Scar 18 and Acer Predator rigs with the same SSD. One user nailed it: the drive vanishes because Windows needs the VMD controller driver or a BIOS tweak.

Check and Adjust BIOS Settings First

Before driver wrestling, dive into BIOS. It’s often the quickest win.

  1. Power on your ROG Zephyrus GU605CW, mash Delete or F2 repeatedly to enter setup.
  2. Head to Advanced > VMD setup menu (or Storage > Intel VMD).
  3. Spot VMD Controller? Set it to Disabled. This bypasses the Intel layer, letting Windows chat directly with the WD PC SN5000S.
  4. Save (F10), exit, and retry install.

Users on ROG forums swear by this for 2024/2025 models—your GU605CW included. If VMD’s already off? Enable it temporarily, save, reboot to BIOS, then disable again. Weird, but it resets the controller.

Also peek at SATA Mode: Ensure AHCI (not RAID). Secure Boot? Disable for now. These tweaks alone fixed “SSD not detected” for many.

Load Intel RST/VMD Drivers During Install

BIOS no-go? Grab the precise Intel RST package. Not just any—VMD-enabled for Core Ultra.

Hit Intel’s site for the latest RST installer (works for newer gens too). Extract it properly—no Wine shortcuts.

Prep steps:

  • On another PC, download RST, run SetupRST.exe, extract files to a FAT32 USB (keep the main Win11 USB separate).
  • You’ll get f6flpy-x64 folder with .inf files like iaStorVD.inf—that’s your VMD gold.

During install:

  • At “No drives found,” click Load driver.
  • Browse to your driver USB, pick the Intel folder, select iaStorVD.inf.
  • Boom—WD PC SN5000S should appear.

For Asus ROG Zephyrus GU605CW, forums confirm IRST VMD drivers match the WD PC SN5000S model (SDEQNSJ-1T00). If it’s the 467F or 9A0B controller ID, match the .inf file.

Step-by-Step Windows 11 Installation

Armed? Let’s install.

  1. USB Prep: Use Rufus or Media Creation Tool for Win11 USB (GPT/UEFI). Add RST drivers as above.
  2. BIOS Dance: Disable VMD/Fast Boot/Secure Boot. Set boot priority to USB.
  3. Boot & Load: Install starts—load drivers at drive screen if needed.
  4. Partition: Delete old partitions on WD PC SN5000S, create new (NTFS).
  5. Finish: Reboot, re-enable Secure Boot/VMD in BIOS post-install.
  6. Post-Install: Download Asus GU605CW drivers—chipset first, then RST.

Took one ROG Strix user 20 minutes this way. Your Zephyrus G16’s OLED screen awaits.

If Drivers Fail: Disable VMD Completely

Drivers flop? VMD disable is king. From a ROG forum thread, disabling skips the controller entirely. Windows sees raw NVMe—no IRST dance.

Pro Tip: If SSD still ghosts, test in another PC or run diskpart from install command prompt (list disk—should show it). CrystalDiskInfo later confirms health.

ASUS warns: Keep VMD off unless RAID-hungry. Performance? Negligible hit on single NVMe.

Extra Troubleshooting Tips

Stuck still?

  • USB Issues: Try USB 2.0 port. Rufus with DD mode.
  • SSD Fault? Unlikely—WD PC SN5000S is solid Gen4 per Newegg specs.
  • Win11 Media: Fresh download. 24H2 build plays nicer with Lunar Lake.
  • SuperUser Fix: Extract IRST to install media.
  • Reddit echoes: Acer with same SSD needed IRST extract.

Hit Asus support if BIOS locks out. Rarely firmware-related.

Sources

  1. ASUS Official: Troubleshooting No Drives in Windows Install
  2. ROG Forum: Strix 18 Windows 11 Install - WD SN5000S Missing
  3. ROG Forum: Scar 18 2025 - Disable VMD or IRST
  4. Intel RST Driver Download
  5. SuperUser: NVMe Not Showing - IRST Guide
  6. Reddit Acer: SN5000S Not Detected
  7. Asus GU605CW Support Page
  8. Newegg WD PC SN5000S Specs

Conclusion

Disabling VMD in BIOS or loading Intel RST VMD drivers gets your WD PC SN5000S visible on the Asus ROG Zephyrus GU605CW-QR164W every time—straightforward once you know the Intel quirk. Start with BIOS, fall back to drivers, and you’ll be gaming on that crisp OLED in no time. If quirks persist, it’s likely USB/media—double-check there. Fresh Win11 awaits.

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Fix WD SN5000S Not Detected: Win11 on ROG Zephyrus GU605CW