Quick question about SATA hard drive BIOS configuration

[kd5]

Working on a Gateway GM5632 desktop computer, used to have 2-500gb WDC SATA hard drives connected via RAID, now there's only one hard drive (one died, customer didn't want to replace). Should I change the hard drive configuration in the bios, 'Configure SATA as': IDE, RAID, or AHCI? Currently set to RAID but there is no RAID array any longer. Leave it? Change it?

Thanks, -kd5-

 

[kd5]

To add info, this is a fresh install of Windows Vista Home Premium, now in a single SATA drive configuration.

I've been reading other forums (via Google) and everyone seems to have different opinions. This computer has a SATA hard drive, but an IDE DVD drive. With it set to RAID, I've been getting random driver issues within the OS. Driver installs would cause a reboot to go wonky, checkdisk, errors, reboot, then it would boot back into Vista as if nothing had happened. Windows Updates would also cause random errors (accessed memory at such & such an address, etc.), Windows Explorer would stop responding... The latest problem was an IE8 install that refused to complete, first time caused errors, second time the install sat there doing nothing for 2 hours, froze everything up, finally had to shut the computer down at the power button.

I've tested the power supply, hard drive and memory, all test good. That's what has me wondering whether or not I shouldn't just change this bios setting to IDE now that there is only one hard drive in the computer. It's a home PC, not in a corporate environment, from what I've been reading AHCI is not necessary. RAID however.....

I don't know, that why I'm asking the hardware experts here... -kd5-

 

[BoomerD]

I'm not a "RAIDer," so I may be off here...but, I ran my single SATA HDD system with a SATA DVD drive and IDE DVD drive with the SATA config set to AHCI. I had ZERO issues of any kind.
I recently added another HDD to the mix...this time, an older IDE drive...and had to change the SATA config back to IDE for things to work right.

It seemed like the SATA HDD was a bit faster in AHCI, but not significantly.

 

[vailr]

Normally, it should work fine using any of the 3 SATA port options. Although: may be required to add (F6) drivers during Vista installation, if the bios setting is configured either for Raid or AHCI.
But to answer your question: set the HD connected port to IDE mode.
AHCI mode would be a little faster, but could also require replacing the IDE optical drive (with a SATA optical drive) for better system stability.

 

[mfenn]

Normally, I would be inclined to say to leave it alone, any of the three should work. However, since RAID mode is giving you issues, there shouldn't be any harm in setting it to IDE mode (other that maybe needing to reinstall the OS).

 

[Paperdoc]

The fact that the system contains an IDE optical drive has no impact on how to configure the SATA HDD. As a general rule, SATA devices should be set to the AHCI option in BIOS where you configure the SATA port. The BIOS offers two common other options, and they have their uses which do no apply to your case. One is RAID and, as you say, this is no longer a RAID system. The other is IDE Emulation, and that is a convenient work-around for systems that are using Win XP as the OS. That was the last Win that did not contain built-in drivers for AHCI devices, so this little trick makes the BIOS fool the OS into thinking it is dealing with a simpler IDE device so you can avoid installing AHCI drivers from a floppy disk when you install Win XP. BUT you are installing Vista, and it DOES have the required AHCI drivers on the Install CD. So, set the SATA Port Mode to AHCI.

Ideally, you REALLY should set it this way and THEN install the Vista OS. That way it will install the AHCI driver and NOT install any RAID driver, avoiding confusion. Of course, it will also install an IDE device driver since it will find it is using an IDE device, too - the optical drive on the IDE port.

 

[kd5]

Well, since I've already reinstalled Vista a half dozen times on this computer trying to get a good error-free install, it can't hurt to try AHCI once and see what happens. If I continue to get errors, I'll try IDE.

Will there be any particular drivers to install for AHCI (like for RAID), once the OS install is complete, beyond the regular chipset drivers?

Thanks, -kd5-

 

[Paperdoc]

The Install process for Vista should install fully functional AHCI driver(s) suited to the SATA ports on your mobo. However, once it is running OK under Vista, it would be a good idea to go to use the Driver Updating facility in Control Panel ... System ... Device Manager ... Disk Drives. Right-click on the HDD and choose Properties, then use the tabs and buttons to Update the Driver, and the system should go looking on the 'net - probably from Gateway or Microsoft - for the latest AHCI driver to match your mobo's SATA controllers. This same process - updating the drivers for all your devices - is often a good idea right after an OS Install, especially when you are installing an older OS whose CD is somewhat out of date. It can be surprising how many "devices" your system has - SATA and IDE ports, USB, IEEE1394, LAN, etc - and these are just the ones most people can think of.

By the way, many mobos come with a CD containing, among many things, a utility to install all the drivers customized for this mobo, once the OS is installed. However, many of those drivers are likely out of date - they were issued some years ago when the CD was made. So many people prefer NOT to use them, and have automatic updating find the most recent drivers from websites.