cannot install Ubuntu on Acer Aspire A515-54G Laptop, hard drive not detected

My original intention was to install ubuntu along side of windows 10 (dual boot) on newly purchased Acer Aspire A515-54G but live/install cannot find hard-drive.
After trying all the suggestions i could find i am now stuck: live ubuntu: fdisk -l only displays sda -> which is usb drive...

fdisk -l
Disk /dev/loop0: 1.9 GiB, 2029981696 bytes, 3964808 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

...

Disk /dev/loop7: 956 KiB, 978944 bytes, 1912 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Disk /dev/sda: 14.9 GiB, 16000221184 bytes, 31250432 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: gpt
Disk identifier: 976216C9-3B66-49DA-80EE-10EEF6FE1182

Device     Start      End  Sectors  Size Type
/dev/sda1   2048 31250398 31248351 14.9G Microsoft basic data

lsblk -f
NAME   FSTYPE   LABEL       UUID                                 MOUNTPOINT  
loop0  squashfs                                                  /rofs
loop1  squashfs                                                  /snap/core/8268
loop2  squashfs                                                  /snap/core18/1668
loop3  squashfs                                                  /snap/gtk-common-themes/1440
loop4  squashfs                                                  /snap/gnome-3-28-1804/116
loop5  squashfs                                                  /snap/gnome-calculator/544
loop6  squashfs                                                  /snap/gnome-characters/399
loop7  squashfs                                                  /snap/gnome-logs/81
loop8  squashfs                                                  /snap/gnome-system-monitor/127
sda                                                              
└─sda1 vfat     UBUNTU 18_0 AEC5-1174                            /cdrom

I tried:

 sudo dmraid -E -r /dev/sda 

I have tried all sorts of edits to the bios/uefi:
1. Disabled: Secure boot
2. Disabled: Fast boot
3. Enabled: f12 boot mode
4. Updated uefi firmware.
5. Rolled back firmware...
There is no option that i can find to change to SATA AHCI in the bios menu. The laptop uses RST with optane but all options are disabled through the intel app.
The only thing I haven't tried is Selecting an UEFI file as a trusted for executing... because I don't know what this really does...?
Totally lost. please help me escape my windows purgatory...
SOME BIOS SCREEN SHOTS

Solution 1:

1. Enable windows safe mode.

   • run msconfig -
   • ctrl + r -> input : msconfig
   • from boot top tab -> BOOT Options -> safe mode selection button -> network -> apply -> ok -> restart + shift...

     upon restart safe mode will be indicated by 'safe mode' displayed in four corners of screen.
     NOTE: my wifi didn't work in safe mode, and I had to plug in direct ethernet.

   • Don't forget to undo this config when you are done with safe mode.

2. On Restart hold shift + -> select reboot to enter UEFI/BIOS on reboot.

3. In the Main Tab of the BIOS, hit CTRL + S to show hidden SATA MODE option, change sata mode to ahci and then save the change.
   Windows will install the ahci driver on safe boot.

   • After ensuring the AHCI driver were up to date;

     device manager -> IDE ATA/ATAPI -> SATA AHCI controller -> Right click on it and select Update Driver Software

   • Removed the safe boot option from step 1.

After changing to AHCI mode everything went very smoothly.