…updating drivers and installing (and reinstalling them is hell).

Usually to update drivers you don't have to un-install the existing driver first. There are some exceptions to this, and usually the installation routine would tell you that the old driver must first be un-installed, or it will do it on its own. When you say SATA controller though, it sounds like you need to update/re-install your motherboard or chipset drivers. Unless you have a separate add-in card on the PCI bus for SATA, those controllers are on the motherboard. I build my own machines, and the chipset or motherboard drivers are the first thing that gets installed after the OS. I would check with your computer or motherboard vendor and see if there is an updated driver package for the motherboard/chipset first, that may solve all of your problems. One word of caution, avoid BIOS updates. Unless you have a specific reason to update the BIOS of the motherboard, it is best to leave it alone. A failed or incomplete BIOS upgrade can leave you with an expensive paperweight.

Sounds like you are doing it right but if you have to update them all I believe you could restart later when everything is done, at least that's how I do it. I believe you do have the option to restart later after installation right, so I choose that and install everything possible first so that I only reboot once or twice. good luck on this and I hope you get your problem solved.