Enable AHCI on Intel chipsets

[xisio]

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

[xeonox]

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.

[Dinesh Malhotra]

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

plz let me know , its urgent !

[Lys]

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)

[Thrawn]

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.

[Failurbydesign]

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?

[sbrads]

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'.

[themorninghate]

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

[Stonywall]

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. :D

[iaStorCritical.Reg]
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_2681&cc_0106,Service,%REG_SZ%,%IASTOR_SVC%
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_2681&cc_0106,ClassGUID,%REG_SZ%,"{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_27C1&cc_0106,Service,%REG_SZ%,%IASTOR_SVC%
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_27C1&cc_0106,ClassGUID,%REG_SZ%,"{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_27C5&cc_0106,Service,%REG_SZ%,%IASTOR_SVC%
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_27C5&cc_0106,ClassGUID,%REG_SZ%,"{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_2821&cc_0106,Service,%REG_SZ%,%IASTOR_SVC%
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_2821&cc_0106,ClassGUID,%REG_SZ%,"{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_2829&cc_0106,Service,%REG_SZ%,%IASTOR_SVC%
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_2829&cc_0106,ClassGUID,%REG_SZ%,"{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_2922&cc_0106,Service,%REG_SZ%,%IASTOR_SVC%
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_2922&cc_0106,ClassGUID,%REG_SZ%,"{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_2929&cc_0106,Service,%REG_SZ%,%IASTOR_SVC%
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_2929&cc_0106,ClassGUID,%REG_SZ%,"{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_3A02&cc_0106,Service,%REG_SZ%,%IASTOR_SVC%
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_3A02&cc_0106,ClassGUID,%REG_SZ%,"{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_3A22&cc_0106,Service,%REG_SZ%,%IASTOR_SVC%
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_3A22&cc_0106,ClassGUID,%REG_SZ%,"{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"

[iaStorCritical.DelReg]
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_2681&cc_0106
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_27C1&cc_0106
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_27C5&cc_0106
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_2821&cc_0106
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_2829&cc_0106
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_2922&cc_0106
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_2929&cc_0106
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_3A02&cc_0106
HKLM,System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_3A22&cc_0106

AHCI_WINDOWS_XP_PATCH.zip

[Appzalien]

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.

Edited June 3, 2009 by Appzalien

[Spyder Veteran]

? www.neowin.net forum users, xisio

:rofl::

[JunkMail]

I did it with rather simple method :p 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!