Some of you might know that AHCI enables Native Command Queuing support and Hot Plugging for SATA drives. Unfortunately it can usually be enabled only when installing Windows, by using a floppy drive.

Spported southbridges: ICH6R, ICH6M, ICH7R, ICH7DH, ICH7M

Instructions:
1) Make sure AHCI is not enabled in your BIOS, otherwise this guide is pointless for you.
2) Back up your Windows folder and prepare a boot disk in case this guide fails!
3) Download 79im05ww.exe from http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss...ocid=MIGR-62909
4) Extract the file to C:\DRIVERS\WIN\SATA.
5) If you have the ICH7M southbridge, go to step 8.
5) Open C:\DRIVERS\WIN\SATA\PREPARE\IMSM_PRE.inf in Notepad.
6) Replace any instance of DEV_27C5 with the following, according to your southbridge:
ICH6R - DEV_2652
ICH6M - DEV_2653
ICH7R - DEV_27C1
ICH7DH - DEV_27C1
ICH7M - DEV_27C5
7) Save the file and close Notepad.
8) Click Start, select Run.
9) In the Open field type C:\DRIVERS\WIN\SATA\PREPARE\INSTALL.CMD and click OK.
10) Restart your computer, and enable AHCI on in your BIOS Setup.
11) Start Windows XP or Windows 2000. The Found New Hardware wizard will start automatically.
12) If running Windows XP:

1. Click No, not this time then click Next.
2. Select Install from a list or specific location (Advanced), then click Next.
3. Select Search for the best driver in these locations.
4. Select Include this location in the search: and specify the path, C:\DRIVERS\WIN\SATA, and click Next.

13) If running Windows 2000:

1. Click Next.
2. Select Search for a suitable driver for my device (recommended), then click Next.
3. Select Specify a location, then click Next.
4. Specify the path, C:\DRIVERS\WIN\SATA, and click OK, then click Next.

14) Click Finish.
15) When the System Settings Change window appears, click Yes. The computer restarts.

yep, very useful this info dude thanks for the good job

Confused here. I'm running a single SATA 250GB drive as my primary boot disk. (Well, I've partitioned it into two, but it's one physical drive.) Intel ICH7R southbridge.

No RAID for me, as I've only got one drive, but what advantages will I get if I run my drive in AHCI mode rather than in IDE mode? Can this even be done - this IS the drive I'm booting from...

You're running SATA devices in the mode they're supposed to be run in...

This is really useful.

Thanks!

As I said in the first post:

I am not able to set the BIOS in AHCI mode

I use a Asus P5PL2 mobo with Intel ICH7DH southbridge
I can see in BIOS that the SATA controller use IDE mode for my Seagate Barracuda disk
It is a sata2 disk,and my mobo support sata2 up to 300Mb/s,so I would realy like the sata
controllers to work in AHCI mode.
When I enter BIOS,under IDE configuration,there is a line called:Configur SATA As..,but the only option
is: Standard IDE.As a discription to this option it says:"When in AHCI/RAID mode,controller is forced to
Native mode".
Can anybody please tell me how to configur my SATA drive for best preformence?
Is there a way to configur it to AHCI mode?
I hope somebody has time to help me!

Can't you enable AHCI by just installing Intel's Matrix Storage Manager/Technology?:
http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/imsm/
http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/imst/

OK, nevermind. Now I finally found it in the Intel documenation that you can't install unless you enable BIOS functions before and/or during Windows installation. The support pages on their website made it sound like you just run the .exe installer and reboot.

I can't figure out what southbridge I have. Just says ICH7 Family. Anyone know which setting I would use?

Nevermind. I ran the Intel Chipset Identification Utility, and it said ICH7DH SATA Controller found in AHCI mode, so its already in that mode, which I realized when I checked the BIOS too.

Tried this on XP x64 - blue screen when loading XP.

Wen't back to native mode, works fine. I'll go AHCI on next reinstall.

Of course, the driver I posted is for 32-bit Windows.

Any way of making AHCI work on ICH8R based chipsets ?
The driver is only for mobile chipsets.

Is it possible to do this for Asus P5B motherboard?

Download the Intel Matrix Storage Manager and it will install the ACHI driver. Just reboot and enable ACHI in the BIOS.

I did that but it didn't work but I solved that problem by plug in my main hdd to Jmicron controller and then installing ahci driver manually. Ahci work really well now.

I literally spent a DAY trying to get AHCI to work. I was trying to load WMCE and after pressing F6, loading the drivers, and watching Windows install....my PC would crash and reboot at the Loading Windows screen (the one you see right after post with the animated bar).

I tried everything I could think of (believe me....that is a lot of stuff....I'm 39 and been building PC's since I was 12)

THIS WORKED LIKE A CHAMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, AND THANKS A HECK OF A LOT!!!!!!



One note for anyone attempting this procedure. In step 6 the instructions say REPLACE. Notepad has a REPLACE feature. USE IT! It will keep you from making a typo like another poster did.

Any solution for an ICH8R southbridge? I'm stumped.

TIA,
Tim

Sounds like us guys with the ICH8R are stuck with reformatting and then setting AHCI mode? When installing windows xp on a AHCI sata hard drive are any intel drivers required via floppy?

hi to all! i'm Ruben from italy. I have a p5b deluxe and two 250gb sata2. I would like to know where to connect those hd. I know that there are difference between red and black connector. I would like to know also how to set sata on bios and which driver install. i have read of ahci but i don't understand very well what is it. thank you for your help and sorry for my bad english

Here is the solution (it worked fine for me)

With the BIOS on IDE open Regedit and go to:

HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\msahci\Start
and change whatever you have on DWORD to '0'

Raboot
Reboot again, enter BIOS
Change IDE to AHCI, Save
Let the OS redetect your drives
Reboot

That's it, hope it helps

Any news regarding this guide but with the ICH9 chipset?

I have the P35 chipset w/ ICH9 (Gigabyte P35-DS3R)... with an existing Vista installation I did this:

HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\msahci\Start
and change whatever you have on DWORD to '0' (default value was 4)

like Ropera mentioned, I installed the Intel Matrix Program/Drivers, rebooted went into Bios... changed from RAID/IDE to AHCI save and everything went fine...

I used that method originally on my Asus P5W DH Deluxe for both Windows XP 32 bits and Vista 32 bits but now I have a double problem:

Now I have a Asus P5K Deluxe with ICH9 and I'm with both Windows XP and Vista x64 edition.

So instead of this drivers version on the firts post (http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-62909), I'll have to get another one right?



Can you post a print screen of all DWORD keys you have under \Start forlder? Inside mine HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\ it doesn't even have a \msahci or \msahci\Start forlders, I'm confused

Please help me, I'm desperate.

Below small FAQ about AHCI

Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI) is an interface specification that allows the storage driver to enable advanced Serial ATA features such as Native Command Queuing and hot plug.

AHCI is built into chipsets with the following controller hubs:

* Intel® 82801IR/IO Controller Hub (ICH9R) - RAID and AHCI
* Intel® 82801HEM I/O Controller Hub (ICH8M-E) - RAID and AHCI
* Intel® 82801HBM I/O Controller Hub (ICH8M) - AHCI only
* Intel® 82801HR/HH/HO I/O Controller Hub (ICH8R) - RAID and AHCI
* Intel® 631xESB/632xESB I/O Controller Hub - RAID and AHCI
* Intel® 82801GHM I/O Controller Hub (ICH7MDH) - RAID only
* Intel® 82801GBM I/O Controller Hub (ICH7M) - AHCI only
* Intel® 82801GR I/O Controller Hub (ICH7R) - RAID and AHCI
* Intel® 82801GH I/O Controller Hub (ICH7DH) - RAID and AHCI
* Intel® 82801FR I/O Controller Hub (ICH6R) - RAID and AHCI
* Intel® 82801FBM I/O Controller Hub (ICH6M) - AHCI only

ICH9, ICH8, ICH7 and ICH6-based chipsets, as well as ICH5 and ICH5R-based chipsets, do not use AHCI.

Below link to ready pack with patch and latest Intel Matrix Storage Manager v7.6.1.1002 WHQL

http://rapidshare.com/files/68377915/AHCI_...WS_XP_PATCH.zip

or patch only

http://rapidshare.com/files/68378092/AHCI_...ge_Manager_.zip

How install AHCI driver:

1) Make sure AHCI is not enabled in your BIOS, otherwise this guide is pointless for you.
2) Open \\PREPARE\IMSM_PRE.inf in Notepad
3) Replace any instance of XXXX with the following, according to your southbridge:

* ICH6M - 82801FBM (Mobile) -> 2653
* ICH7R/DH - 82801GR/GH Serial ATA AHCI Controller -> 27c1
* ICH7M (ICH7-M Mobile Family) Serial ATA AHCI Controller -> 27c5
* ICH8R Intel® ICH8 Serial ATA AHCI Controller -> 2821
* ICH8M (ICH8-M Mobile Family) Serial ATA AHCI Controller -> 2829
* ICH9R Intel® ICH9 Serial ATA AHCI Controller -> 2922
* ESB2 - Intel® 631xESB/6321ESB Serial ATA AHCI Controller -> 2681
* EP 80579 - Intel® EP 80579 SATA AHCI Controller -> 5029

4) Save the file and close Notepad.
5) Run INSTALL.CMD in PREPARE directory.
1) Enable AHCI in your BIOS and save.
6) Start Windows XP, The Found New Hardware wizard will start automatically.
7) Click Cancel
8) Download latest Intel® Matrix Storage Manager from http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/imsm/
9) Go to Intel Matrix Storage Manager directory and run Setup.exe
10) Reboot windows and enjoy.

Below other Intel chipsets (not tested) just in case.

Intel® 82801DB Ultra ATA Storage Controller - 24CB
Intel® 82801DB Ultra ATA Storage Controller - 24CB
Intel® 82801DBM Ultra ATA Storage Controller - 24C1
Intel® 82801DBM Ultra ATA Storage Controller - 24C1
Intel® 82801DBM Ultra ATA Storage Controller - 24CA
Intel® 82801DBM Ultra ATA Storage Controller - 24CA
Intel® 82801DBM Ultra ATA Storage Controller - 24CA
Intel® 82801DBM Ultra ATA Storage Controller - 24CA
Intel® 82801EB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers
Intel® 82801EB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers
Intel® 82801FB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 2651
Intel® 82801FB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 2651
Intel® 82801FB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 2652
Intel® 82801FB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 2652
Intel® 82801FB/FBM Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 266F
Intel® 82801FB/FBM Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 266F
Intel® 82801FBM Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 2653
Intel® 82801FBM Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 2653
Intel® 82801G (ICH7 Family) Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 27DF
Intel® 82801G (ICH7 Family) Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 27DF
Intel® 82801GB/GR/GH (ICH7 Family) Serial ATA Storage Controller - 27C0
Intel® 82801GB/GR/GH (ICH7 Family) Serial ATA Storage Controller - 27C0
Intel® 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7-M Family) Serial ATA Storage Controller - 27C4
Intel® 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7-M Family) Serial ATA Storage Controller - 27C4
Intel® ICH8 2 port Serial ATA Storage Controller - 2825
Intel® ICH8 2 port Serial ATA Storage Controller - 2825
Intel® ICH8 4 port Serial ATA Storage Controller - 2820
Intel® ICH8 4 port Serial ATA Storage Controller - 2820
Intel® ICH8 SATA AHCI Controller - 2824
Intel® ICH8 SATA AHCI Controller - 2824
Intel® ICH8M 3 port Serial ATA Storage Controller - 2828
Intel® ICH8M 3 port Serial ATA Storage Controller - 2828
Intel® ICH8M SATA AHCI Controller - 2829
Intel® ICH8M SATA AHCI Controller - 2829
Intel® ICH8M Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 2850
Intel® ICH8M Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 2850
Intel® ICH8R/DO/DH SATA AHCI Controller - 2821
Intel® ICH8R/DO/DH SATA AHCI Controller - 2821
Intel® ICH9 2 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 1 - 2921
Intel® ICH9 2 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 1 - 2921
Intel® ICH9 2 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 2 - 2926
Intel® ICH9 2 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 2 - 2926
Intel® ICH9 2 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 2 - 2926
Intel® ICH9 2 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 2 - 2926
Intel® ICH9 2 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 2 - 2926
Intel® ICH9 2 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 2 - 2926
Intel® ICH9 4 Port SATA AHCI Controller - 2923
Intel® ICH9 4 Port SATA AHCI Controller - 2923
Intel® ICH9 4 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 1 - 2920
Intel® ICH9 4 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 1 - 2920
Intel® ICH9 6 Port SATA AHCI Controller - 2922
Intel® ICH9 6 Port SATA AHCI Controller - 2922
Intel® ICH9M 1 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 2 - 292E
Intel® ICH9M 1 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 2 - 292E
Intel® ICH9M 2 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 1 - 2928
Intel® ICH9M 2 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 1 - 2928
Intel® ICH9M 2 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 2 - 292D
Intel® ICH9M 2 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 2 - 292D

© www.neowin.net forum users, xisio

is there a way to get the drivers to work from floppy so i can use the F6 option when installing windows?
im using a AHCI only using the ICH9
note: its not the ICH9R.

is it possible to do the same for windows Vista (already installed)???

plz let me know , its urgent !

Is there any way of enabling AHCI on dell chipsets? it seems like they removed the option entirely from the BIOS, leaving only IDE and RAID.

(Inspiron 530 desktop)

Yes, it is very easy in Vista. Unlike XP, Vista has built in AHCI drivers. All you need to do is to make a regedit, then restart and change the setting in your BIOS.

See: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922976

You can only enable if the chipset supports it of course, and I'm not sure what proportion do.
In my BIOS, under "Integrated Perhiperals", I needed to change the SATA mode from IDE to AHCI.

I used this guide

http://forums.pcper.com/showthread.php?t=444831

BUt it causes my dvdrw no to see or burn dual layer dvd's ( the drive needs ide mode to function) but when i chnage in the bios, i get a BSOD upon boot! Is there anyway to reverse what i have done, within windows change AHCI to IDE?

Here's how I got AHCI working with ICH10R on an XP SP3 32bit install, Asus P5QL-E motherboard, Samsung F1 SATA drives, Optiarc AD-7200S SATA DVDR. NO XP reinstall or registry hacks needed, just updated drivers, it just took a few minutes.

Backup system first.
D/L Intel Matrix F6 floppy creation s/w.
Create the F6 floppy and copy the several files to C:\AHCI. Also copy one of them, iaStor.sys to Windows\system32 as well (not sure if this is strictly necessary, I think it may stop an error message though).

In Device Manager's IDE Controllers section, right click and update driver on 'Intel ICH10 Family 2 port serial ATA Controller 2-3a26'. Use the options 'Install from a list or specific location', 'Don't search, I will choose the driver to install' and navigate to C:\AHCI and choose iaAHCI.inf as directed. Don't reboot.
Do the last bit all again for the similarly named 4 port driver and choose the default .inf file as offered. Ignore all warnings about the drivers not being compatible, this is true because the drives are currently in IDE mode in the BIOS.

Reboot and go into BIOS to change SATA drive mode from IDE to AHCI. Go into Windows, there should be no crashes.
XP finds new hardware, reboot again and all done.

In Device Manager, the IDE section now has one driver, 'Intel® ICH10R SATA AHCI Controller'.

sbrads,

I followed your guide withouyt any BSOD. Windows boots fine. BIOS detects drives. There were some issues though.

In "IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers" of device manager instead of saying "Intel® ICH10R SATA AHCI Controller" like you said, device manager has one entry "PCI Device" .

Also, when I boot into windows the add new hardware menu come up, asking me to select drivers etc.... I don't know what to do here...

My mobo is ASUS P5Q3.

Thanks all

I have made some changes to support the latest Intel AHCI for Windows XP 32-bit Pre-Install.

Situation:
Created base image on one Intel AHCI chipset, now when deploying to another PC with a different Intel AHCI chipset, it blue screens.

I have also attached the files as of March 1st 2009.

For those who want to make the changes manually you need to modify the file "IMSM_PRE.inf" with the following. Of course the text may have wrapped, just "un-wrap" it before saving the changes.

I have read that NCQ and hot swapping are only really active in Vista not in XP. I don't know how accurate that is but what I do know is I used HD Tach to measure the speeds of my drives before and after enabling AHCI from IDE and they were Identical in XP. The only real difference I saw was when removing the jumper on my Seagate 3G Sata's that stuck them in Sata 150 mode and sped them up considerable.

If anyone is interseted, I found a differnt way to enable AHCI, by doing a non-destructive reinstall and having a floppy ready for the F6 when the install sequence starts. I set my bios to AHCI and Boot from cd first and put in my XP SP3 integrated cd (a non-destructive reinstall replaces the system leaving the data and installed programs intact, but you lose any criticals that are not on the cd, thats why I used an integrated one). Not all slipstreamed disks will have the second repair option, it depends on what you did to it with nlite as to whether the option disappears.

After booting into the XP install disk, and doing the F6 to get the drivers in, the first window talks about a repair but its the recovery console so you instead hit Enter and continue like its a real install. Later after a few more windows and the F8 confirmation, it scans for already installed system files and when it finds your install, it offers a second repair and asks to press R if you want to repair. This is the non-destructive option, if it doesn't show and all you end up with is it asks what partition you want to install to but no "Press R" repair, then your install disk has been altered in such a way that the repair option is gone and you have to F3 your way out and use a different disk or change the bios back to IDE and floppy first.

It takes about 30- 40 minutes to do but the entire system is replaced and any corrupt files are gone and all your data is intact. This type of reinstall has saved my hind end many times, but those special disks with all kind of drivers and themes and programs integrated seem to lose the non-destructive Press R part of the disk, too much screwing around with the iso I guess.

On my XP and XP64 machines I saw no improvement in speed between IDE mode and AHCI, so doing this install really will not get you anything but a clean system (the system speeds up though, just like a fresh install). If you have Seagate drives though, check them for jumpers and remove them. If you don't believe me, download HD Tach, check the seagates speed before and after removing the jumper.

I did it with rather simple method I got the AHCI files (inf and all), on Device manager updated the controller driver with those and in my next reboot, enabled AHCI in BIOS and thats it! My system booted was with AHCI mode (painless if you ask me)

I'm damn sure it works!