Install AHCI drivers post windows install?

allllec

allllec

allllec

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Title says it all really - installed windows vista a while back with my hard drives in Native IDE mode. As far as i remember windows just BSOD's if you swap it over to AHCI or Raid mode after its installed so my question is;

is it possible to install AHCI drivers after i've installed windows so i can boot up okies? i ask becuase my new shiney 5000AAKS arrives tomorrow and im toying with the idea of Raid-ing up my current drives. Also i suspect native ide mode will probably hinder performance somewhat since it dont support NCQ and all that :(

ta

alec
 
Sorry, don't know, but I'm interested in the answer too.

I've setup Vista with the controller in IDE mode on a single drive, and now I want to add a separate data volume, made up of 4 further disks in raid5.

But, as you say, going to RAID mode just causes BSOD on startup.

I have the added odd thing going on, whereby I can't even boot a DVD (also on SATA) , when in RAID mode!
 
you cant enable AHCI or RAID once windows is installed, it requires a fresh install, AHCI is not RAID, it just runs the SATA drives as native SATA instead of IDE, you select RAID in bios for SATA config.
 
Might have done it - just finishing ghosting up and ill restart and let you know how i got on. if im not back in 5 minutes assume ive killed my windows install! aha
 
i did follow a guide on another forum and went from IDE to AHCI without reinstalling windows and had no problems :) will try to find it.

btw... i'm i allowed to post links to another forum?
 
Last edited:
Yeah - as long as they aint a competitor. in which case just copy and paste tbh =p


well.. uhm. that kinda worked. didnt BSOD. but the boot screen just stayed there with the marque scrolling over and over again - hdd activity light was stuck on but couldnt hear much happening - not sure if that was windows fault or what.

ah well worth a shot
 
ok copy and paste

If you have installed Windows when your mainboard SATA controller was set to native IDE mode,
you usually cannot switch later to AHCI or RAID mode, without completly reinstalling windows.
But there is a way...

A very interesting article about the features and possible benefits of AHCI mode, including comparisons
of different drives, and if it might be faster or even slower for you:
http://www.behardware.com/art/imprimer/624/


I recommend making a disk image of your current windows partition before you
continue and make any changes to things like registry and drivers.
Use programs like Norton Ghost or Acronis True Image, there should be free trial versions available.


Activating AHCI/RAID mode for mainboards with ICH9(R) southbridge

If you are using a 32-bit Windows XP AND want to use RAID on ICH9(R), please scroll further down.
Everyone else, either AHCI or RAID mode and for all other Windows versions, read on.


What you need:

- Intel Storage Manager Software (Version 7.5.0.1017 iata75_cd.exe)
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/dow...All&OSFullName=All+Operating+Systems&lang=eng

- Registry fix for ICH9(R): http://www.jzelectronic.de/jz2/Download2/ICH9R-AHCI.reg

Follow this step by step:

1. Go to Start, Run, iata75_cd.exe -a -a
This will appear to run as normal setup, but will actually just extract the needed files to \Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\Driver
Note: For 64-bit Windows versions, chose the iaStor.sys from \Driver64\ instead of \Driver\.
Copy the iaStor.sys from there to \Windows\System32\Drivers\

2. Double-click the downloaded ICH9R-AHCI.reg file. A safety question should pop up, answer yes.

3. Now reboot your system. Go directly into the BIOS menu, change SATA controller mode from IDE to AHCI or RAID. Exit & save changes.

4. Boot into windows. It will detect new hardware now, cancel that wizard.
Instead start the downloaded Intel Storage Manager Software (iata75_cd.exe), this time without any paramaters.
When it is done installing, reboot once again.

5. Now in your device manager Intel (R) ICH9 SATA AHCI Controller (or RAID) should show up.

6. Enjoy.


Activating RAID mode with 32-bit Windows XP on mainboards with ICH9(R) southbridge:

NOTE: NOT CONFIRMED WORKING YET

What you need:

- Intel Storage Manager Software (Version 7.0.01020 iata70_cd.exe)
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/dow...All&OSFullName=All Operating Systems&lang=eng

- Intel Storage Manager Software (Version 7.5.0.1017 iata75_cd.exe)
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/dow...All&OSFullName=All+Operating+Systems&lang=eng

- Registry fix for ICH8R: http://www.jzelectronic.de/jz2/Download2/ICH8R-AHCI.reg
- Registry fix for ICH9R: http://www.jzelectronic.de/jz2/Download2/ICH9R-AHCI.reg

1. Go to Start, Run, iata70_cd.exe -a -a
This will appear to run as normal setup, but will actually just extract the needed files to \Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\Driver
Copy the iaStor.sys from there to \Windows\System32\Drivers\

2. Now i am not sure which registry fix you are supposed to use for Raid mode and 32-bit XP.
Either the old ICH8R or the ICH9R. I have to rely on feedback from other users here.
Double-click the file, a safety question should pop up, answer yes.

3. Now reboot your system. Go directly into the BIOS menu, change SATA controller mode from IDE to RAID. Exit & save changes.

4. Boot into windows. It will detect new hardware now, cancel that wizard.
Now, start the installation of the new version of the Intel Storage Manager Software (iata75_cd.exe).
This will replace the old iaStor.sys with the actual ICH9R version. When it is done installing, reboot once again.

5. Now in your device manager something like Intel (R) ICH9 SATA RAID Controller should show up.

6. Enjoy.

Notes: It has been mentioned that hard drives that have been partitioned using tools such as Acronis Disk Director,
might be unable to work with RAID mode as boot drives. I can confirm this myself, Windows does not even start loading,
you get an error like 'Inaccessible Boot Device'. You need to partition this drive again using just Windows Disk Management Tools.
I am using 32-bit XP myself, and so far couldnt get RAID mode working. I keep getting the reboot loop.


Activating AHCI/RAID mode on mainboards with ICH8(R) southbridge

What you need:

- Intel Storage Manager Software (iata621.exe)
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/det...&OSFullName=Windows* XP Home Edition&lang=eng

- Registry fix for ICH8(R): http://www.jzelectronic.de/jz2/Download2/ICH8R-RAID.reg

1. Go to Start, Run, iata621.exe -a -a
This will appear to run as normal setup, but will actually just extract the needed files to \Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\Driver
Note: For x64 Operating systems, chose the iaStor.sys from \Driver64\ instead of \Driver\.
Copy the iaStor.sys from there to \Windows\System32\Drivers\

2. Double-click the downloaded ICH8R-AHCI.reg file. A safety question should pop up, answer yes.

3. Now reboot your system. Go directly into the BIOS menu, change SATA controller mode from IDE to AHCI or RAID. Exit & save changes.

4. Boot into windows. It will detect new hardware now, cancel that wizard.
Instead start the downloaded Intel Storage Manager Software (iata621.exe), this time without any paramaters.
When it is done installing, reboot once again.

5. Now in your device manager something like Intel (R) ICH8 SATA AHCI Controller (or RAID) should show up.

6. Enjoy.
Click to expand...
 
I just tried the advice for the ICH9R in Vista, and unfortunately it didn't work.

Its doubly important to me to be able to change from IDE to RAID post Vista install, as once in RAID mode, the ICH9R fails to boot from the SATA DVD (a know issue it seems).

Any more ideas on this one much appreciated please!!!

Thanks
 
Well mate - as far as i cant find its near impossible.

afraid it might just have to be a reinstall jobbie. unless you have an IDE dvd drive? then maybe you could switch sata over to raid mode and do a repair install and add in the drivers? not sure if repair install gives you the "f6 blah blah" option or if it will work
!
 
Becuase that'd be to easy im afraid! lol.


if its any comfort I've been sat in my front room for 7 hours now waiting for (rhymes with) city link to delivery my nice new shiny 5000AAKS lol. and yes i do have to sit and watch out for them because they do just walk up to my door and card me without ringing. although the look on their face when i open the door on them. oh don't they feel silly walking back to their van and getting my parcel!
 
It really isn't worth the messing about.
For a start running the drives in native AHCI mode really doesn't make much difference.
You do have native NCQ with ACHI, however for the past x years programmers have been writing drivers to get around the limitations of IDE - so moving NCQ from driver to hardware doesn't make much difference at all.

Then add in that many SATA optical drives don't like being attached to a controller running in ACHI mode.

If you want to use the RAID features then you've obviously got no choice but to set the controller to RAID mode.
If however you aren't using RAID you would be better off leaving the controller in IDE mode.
 
^ Gotcha - I'm not using RAID at all right now, so I'll leave ACHI off for now.

I do plan to eventually get some 7200.11's and RAID 1 them, but I'll reformat when I do this anyway... but everything is working now, so I'm not going to fiddle with anything. :)
 
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