Last min advice: IDE / AHCI

NutterzUK

NutterzUK

NutterzUK

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Joined
18 Feb 2010
Posts
940
Hi there,
My intel comes between 12:40 and 1:40 according to the delivery people. I'm excited!
I really don't want to make a hash out of it and so have prepared a DVD already with the new firmware on. The only thing I have no clue about it actually how to change between IDE and AHCI mode?
I know it is going to be somewhere in the BIOS, but I can't find it.
I have AMI v 3.5 bios. If someone could help me out or just point me towards the right catagory where it will be, that would be fantastic!

Thanks!
 
Also.. the right order to do things in should be....

1) Check it's IDE mode.
2) Install firmware update
3) put into AHCI mode.
4) Install windows.

Is that right?
 
Many will flash the firmware in IDE mode thinking that it's safer to do so. Not going to debate that here but I've flashed two Intel drives on more than one occasion in AHCI mode without any problems, and the documentation clearly states it can be done in either mode.

That's the easiest option. If you'd rather flash in IDE mode then you change this setting in the BIOS. Just remember to change it back to AHCI after the flash process is complete if you before booting into an existing AHCI Windows install. It's not a major catastrophe if you do change controller drivers in Windows however but will save you some hassles and avoid the BSOD if you remember to change back, as per your steps above.
 
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Ah right, thanks for that ziggy.
Everyone was telling me not to update bios using MSI live update.. i did that and it worked fine so i'll do this in AHCI mode :-)

I'm gussing AHCI mode is what it starts in then?
It just arrived,.. the box is smaller than my hand and weighs less than £200 in £10 notes!
 
I'm gussing AHCI mode is what it starts in then?
Click to expand...
Usually yes, but check the BIOS anyway. Some folks are forced into IDE mode for flashing on account of their particular motherboard. Whichever route you choose it's a fairly quick and painless process.

It just arrived,.. the box is smaller than my hand and weighs less than £200 in £10 notes!
Click to expand...
I think everyone has that feeling the first time it arrives, but after opening the box the drive is just so purdy! :D

Enjoy the SDD! The performance will impress you I think.
 
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Thanks Ziggy. I'm sure it will as my rig is fine at the moment but the HD the OS is on is a 80GB Maxtor from years and years ago! From one of them old Tiny PCs which someone gave me for free.. umm lol.

I've mounted it into the akasa mount now, just wondering how to change between IDE and ACHI in the bios, I couldn't see an option for it anywhere. I also need to wait for the guy who borrowed my windows disc to return it in an hour or so.
 
Not familiar with that motherboard I'm afraid. It's usually under the boot options menu or something similar. Sometimes referred to as Legacy or Compatability mode rather than IDE. All depends on your particular BIOS. If you still have the manual it should be in there. If not, most manufacturers have the manuals available for d/l in PDF.
 
Quick google search turned this up for your board...

Integrated Peripherals -> On-Chip ATA Devices -> RAID Mode = [IDE / AHCI / RAID]

Of course that could be for the secondary controller. Search around and see what you can find.
 
Thanks again Ziggy,.. you've been extremely helpful!
I'm now on a different comp waiting for my windows 7 cd :p.

Intel actually shipped it this time with the latest firmware! When I put the CD in it found it and said latest firmware already installed, then that was it! I checked the firmware version number too and it was right.

I'm going to go do something to take my mind off not having this CD :)

Thanks again!!
Nutterz
 
Nice! :)

I hadn't thought they'd got around to updating the drives with the new firmware yet. That was a spot of luck. Must be torture waiting for that disc? Hope it arrives soon and let us know how you get on and what you think of the SSD.
 
Just remember to change the Bios to AHCI before you install the Win7.

It's a lot easier than having to do the registery hack afterwards!!!

ATB and enjoy your new toy!!! :)
 
At uni we get two serial numbers each for Windows 7 pro amongst lots of other things for free. We all had problems getting hold of the DVD though as the network wouldn't let us download it ( stupid security ). I went home and got it,.. then lent it around with everyone using their own CD keys etc and everyone was fine.

I just found my old laptop hard drive because the guy who has it won't be back till 9 he says now,.. and BOOM! Found it! Burning it now! So happy.

Anyway, the mode was set to IDE, and is now set to ACHI, will this affect my other drives? Also the thing that threw me was in the help box on the right it said " Change IDE settings " or something to that effect. I've done it and gone back in and all of the "auto detect" settings within the ATA settings have changed to "Hard Drive" on the SATA ports that have hard drives in use. It also detects my CD drive so I guess that everything will be fine.
Thanks so much for the tips because I wouldn't have done that first. I'd have updated the firmware,.. and then jammed it in and wondered why it was slow :p.

Just waiting for this old laptop to burn the DVD.
 
The other drives will be in AHCI mode as well.

When Win7 loads up to your desktop for the first time it should load the drivers for the drives and ask for a reboot and all will be fine

ATB
 
Good job. I can tell you're keen to get this drive up and running and don't blame you. Was like that myself with my first SSD. It got delivered to my work and I could do nothing but stare at it all day! :D

Also, Intel have now added full TRIM support to their own drivers. Been running them now for a couple of days and seem to perform well. Benchmarks say the drives are faster under these than the old Intel drivers or the MS default, though probably amounts to a very small difference in real life. If you're interested though...

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18127346
 
Thanks, I will certainly have a look. I'm currently on "Expanding windows files: (0%)". It's been on that for about 5 mins now but I remember this stage taking ages before ( I also remember for some reason having to take out RAM cards to fix it but think that was the windows 7 beta ).

Thanks for the help and info again! I'll tell you when it actually boots.
 
Umm err... Still 0% expanding files. I may reboot and try with one RAM stick in ( I remember doing that last time after hours and hours being frustrated with this )
 
Be patient.... lol

Installing to my SSD took about 14 mins to expand the files and the rest took moments !!!
 
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Ok, so I rebooted and went back to the install and it's partitioned my drive into the 100mb System partition and then the other. If I format my drive, or partition it, is this bad for a SSD?
 
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