Pre-install AHCI/SATA question

OCdude

OCdude

OCdude

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I'm going to be building a new PC soon and am just wondering about the install....

I'll be using an Asus P5N7A-VM mobo with some Hitachi SATA drives. I'm assuming, as XP doesn't support AHCI by default, i'll need to install the AHCI drivers during install?

I won't need to hot-swap the boot drive, but I will be swapping out other harddrives, so would installing the OS using the AHCI drivers be the best solution?

I've heard reports that if you change the drivers after install, it can cause all sorts of issues!

Thanks for any advice!
 
A quick read of the link you gave and it sounds like the solution is all there for you. It's basically just creating a slipstreamed OS with the drivers already present, so yeah that's the best way to go. I had the exact same probs as you with several work laptops when replacing HDD's - you either have to run IDE mode, but to get AHCI I bought a cheap USB floppy and went from that as it was easier.

Good luck! :)
 
Cool, thanks :)

I'm planning to hotswap drives by using one of these: http://www.sharkoon.com/html/produkte/externe_gehaeuse/sata_quickport_pro/index_en.html

So without AHCI (and therefore Hot swap/hot plug capability) it kinda renders the thing totally redundant :D

EDIT: Just read an article on Madshrips:

Madshrimps.be said:
eSATA is faster than USB 2.0, USB 2.0 is plug and play, eSATA requires a system reboot. That pretty much sums up the benefits and drawbacks of each interface.
Click to expand...

wtf? I'm assuming they're referring to a system that doesn't support AHCI?!

http://www.madshrimps.be/?action=getarticle&number=2&artpage=4033&articID=924
 
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Yeah I'd assume so too - I did try once putting a SATA cable to a mobo header and then out to an external drive and cause the mobo wasn't configured as AHCI it needed a reboot to detect the drive, so that must be what they're saying. If you look at modern mobo's with onboard eSATA they call it "Sata To Go" or something like that - ie: hotplug!

You should be fine with your plan I would say. :)
 
Yah, I hope so!

It's a pretty new model mobo, plus it looks like the nForce 730i chipset 'does' support ACHI (plus I haven't seen any complaints about it online).

Burning the ISO now. All I gotta do is wait for my hardware to arrive :D
 
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