AHCI wont boot help!

[JAGX]

I changed the registry from 3 to 0 in the msahci field. Then I restarted and changed the bios, here is a pic:

http://tinypic.com/r/34e2bgh/8

I changed two options in the BIOS, PCH and GSATA, and the windows loading screen would come up, but would not make it to the desktop, it would just go blank and the monitor would find no signal.

I switched GSATA back to IDE in the BIOS, and it boots up fine but when I check for AHCI in the device manager, it is not there. Both PCH in the BIOS and msahci in the registry are still in AHCI settings.

I followed this guide, except I did not yet install the SDD, I did this with my regular HDD which was still recognized at all times, using WIn 7.

How can I get ahci mode to work without crashing? Do I need to use the SDD? I thought it ahci would still work with HDDs...

 

[VirtualLarry]

Well, which controller (GSATA, PCH) are the drives connected to?

They both have independent AHCI settings. The MSAHCI driver works for both controllers, AFAIK. Unless you've install the Intel RST (for the PCH) or Jmicron drivers (for the GSATA).

 

[JAGX]

They are hooked into the SATA controllers, and use Intel drivers.

Apart from making AHCI work i wonder which ones are preferable, SATA or GSATA...

CORRECTION: It works when I change PCH SATA back to IDE, GSATA doesn't make a difference.

 

[Carfax83]

SATA is preferable, because it uses the Intel chipset's native capability which is nearly always faster than those add on chipsets like Asmedia or Marvell.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I'm suspicious of your registry editing. I think there are two and possibly even three items in HKLM-> you need to change to 0.

You may want to try again, but this time, run a web-search on converting from IDE or RAID to AHCI and look for links to the Microsoft web-site and a Microsoft "Fix-It" button.

The "Fix-It" page provides details for manually editing the registry, but you don't need to do that with the "Fix-It." You would prepare to re-boot your system -- closing various programs, but before re-starting, click the Fix-It button on the web -page (still open). Then close the web-page, re-start and go directly to BIOS. Then, change the setting there to AHCI.

Then, continue to to system post and boot-up.

 

[phis6]

I think you just need to follow the MS fix for that here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922976

 

[Ketchup]

It has been a while since I have done this, but make sure you are changing both/all keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\msahci
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\pciide

If in use:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\iaStorV

Go to the Start DWORD and change the Value to 0.