@ all owners of a computer with an Intel S-ATA or Raid system:

Many users with such system have problems, when they try to install Windows XP (32/64 bit) or Windows Server 2003 (32/64 bit), because the Setup of these Operating Systems will not automaticly detect the hdd's, which are connected to the Intel S-ATA AHCI or Intel SATA RAID ports of the mainboard.
Furthermore the traditional F6/floppy method often fails due to bad floppy media or the lack of a floppy drive.

The easiest and safest solution is the integration of the Intel Controller drivers into a bootable 32/64bit XP or W2k3 CD by using a tool like nLite.

Here is the way how to do it:

Integration of the

Intel SATA AHCI or SATA RAID drivers

by using nLite

Informations regarding the possibility and necessity of loading/integrating the Intel Controller drivers:

• None of the Windows Operating Systems which were released before Windows 2000 (Windows 3.11, Windows 95/98 and Windows ME) do support the actual Intel SATA and RAID Controllers (no working textmode drivers available).
• Even Windows 2000 does not really work with the actual Intel Controllers. There are some old Intel S-ATA drivers for Windows 2000, but they do not fully support the modern features AHCI (="Advanced Host Controller Interface") and RAID.
• The current versions of Windows XP (32/64bit) and Windows Server 2003 (32/64bit) are able to detect actual Intel S-ATA Controllers during the OS installation and will handle them as "normal" IDE Controllers, if the BIOS S-ATA settings are set to "IDE mode". In this case you don't need to load/integrate any Intel textmode drivers, but you have to abandon the features AHCI and RAID.
• Users who are going to install XP or W2k3 and want to get advantage of the Intel S-ATA Controller features AHCI or RAID, have to enable them within BIOS prior to the OS installation and additionally have to integrate the appropriate Intel textmode drivers into the OS CD or to load them via F6/floppy during the installation. Otherwise Windows Setup will not detect the Intel S-ATA Controller connected hard disk drives.
• According to Intel only the actual Intel S-ATA Controllers for Desktop PC's (ICH6R, ICH7R, ICH8R, ICH9R and ICH10R) and Mobile PC's (ICH6M, ICH7M, ICH8M and ICH9M) are fully supporting AHCI, but obviously it is possible to get the AHCI features even with some ICH7 Mobile and ICH8/ICH9 Desktop PC's (look here and here) and ICH9 chipsets. If you are not sure, look into your mainboard/laptop manual or ask the support of the mainboard/laptop manufacturer.

Preconditions for a successful integration of the Intel S-ATA AHCI/RAID drivers:

• The S-ATA hdd's have to be connected to the Intel S-ATA ports of the mainboard.
  Important: Many Intel chipset mainboards have Intel and JMicron S-ATA connectors. Before you continue with your preparations, you should check, if the S-ATA cables of your hdd's are really connected to the Intel ports. If you are using the JMicron S-ATA ports, you have to integrate/load the JMicron textmode drivers (you can get them here). Otherwise Windows Setup will not detect your S-ATA connected hdd(s) at all.
• The mainboard BIOS should be up-to-date.
• Very important are the correct BIOS settings regarding the wanted Intel S-ATA mode.
  These are the options:
  IDE Mode = no Intel textmode drivers necessary, but no AHCI/RAID available
  AHCI Mode = Intel SATA AHCI textmode driver necessary, no RAID available
  RAID Mode = Intel SATA RAID textmode driver necessary, RAID array must be created
• The Power Management (ACPI) should be enabled within BIOS.
• The source for the processing with nLite should be a clean (not modified) and error free OS CD.
• Only for Intel RAID users: Before you are going to install the nLited OS onto an Intel RAID array, you should check, if the RAID has been correctly created and set as bootable by the "Intel Matrix Storage Manager Option ROM Utility". Furthermore the Intel RAID has to be set on the first place of the HARD DISK BOOT PRIORITY within the mainboard BIOS.

1. Preparation:

What you need is the actual version of

1. nLite (you get it here) and
2. the suitable (=extracted) Intel textmode drivers you want/need to integrate.
   The choice of the correct textmode driver depends mainly on the OS you are going to install, whereas the exact name of the Intel Controller of your mainboard is less important for the driver choice, because the actual "Intel Matrix Storage Manager" package v8.6.0.1007 dated 10/12/2008 (look here) is supporting all common INTEL ICH7-10 SATA AHCI and SATA RAID Controllers of all Intel chipset desktop and laptop mainboards (users with an Intel ICH5 or ICH6 SATA Controller have to use an older driver package).
   What you need for the later integration are the extracted necessary Intel S-ATA Controller drivers. Since the complete Intel Matrix Storage Manager packages have a big size and are not easy to extract, I recommend to download one of the small driver packages, which are already prepared for integration purposes.
   a ) For Intel ICH7R/M, ICH8R/M, ICH9R/M or ICH10R/D S-ATA AHCI and RAID Controllers:
   • New: If you are going to install the 32bit version of Windows XP or Windows Server 2003, you should download and unzip this already prepared actual 32bit Intel Controller driver package and unzip it. You will get just the needed 32bit Intel textmode drivers v8.6.0.1007 dated 10/12/2008.
   • New: Users, who want to install the 64bit version of Windows XP or Windows Server 2003, should download and unzip the latest 64bit Intel Controller driver package from here.
   
   b ) Especially for desktop/notebook users with an Intel ICH8 or ICH9 (without R or M) chipset mainboard, who want to use AHCI:
   • Intel ICH8/ICH9 S-ATA AHCI Controllers are not supported by any official Intel textmode drivers. Users with such chipset, who want to use the AHCI features nevertheless, may use a special driver package I have prepared with the help of Lancelot_Real (big thanks to him!). You can get it here. It contains the actual 32bit and 64bit Intel textmode drivers with modified INF and OEM files to make them compatible with originally not supported ICH8 and ICH9 chipsets.
     Attention:
     • Due to the modification these drivers have lost their WHQL certification. You may use them at own risk.
     • Please give me your feedback, if your Intel ICH8 or ICH9 Controller should not be supported by these modified drivers.
     • If you are going to integrate these modified drivers, you will get a slightly different popup window than shown below, because I have added the AHCI Controllers for ICH8 and ICH 9 chipsets. Nevertheless you will find the suitable Controller easily, if you search for the suffix "added by Fernando".
   
   c ) For Intel ICH6M S-ATA AHCI Controllers:
   • If you are going to install the 32bit version of Windows XP or Windows Server 2003, you should download and unzip this already prepared 32bit Intel Controller driver package and unzip it.
   • Users, who want to install the 64bit version of Windows XP or Windows Server 2003, should download and unzip the latest 64bit Intel Controller driver package from here.
   
   d ) For Intel ICH5R S-ATA RAID Controllers:
   • Users with such sort of Controller have to take an older Intel Controller driver version, which I have additionally prepared and uploaded. You can get the suitable 32bit textmode driver version from here and the 64bit version from here.
   
   e ) For Intel Server boards with Server RAID Technology:
   • Users will find the suitable textmode drivers here.
   
   
   Attention: Look into your mainboard manual, if your S-ATA hdd(s) are connected to any of the above mentioned Intel ICH5/6/7/8/9 ports. If your mainboard has an other (legacy type) Intel SATA AHCI/RAID Controller, you should integrate the Intel AHCI/RAID driver you will find within your mainboard driver CD.

2. Processing with nLite:

1. Copy the content of the clean source CD (XP, XP x64, W2k3 or W2k3 x64) onto your hdd.
2. Run nLite and point to the directory where you have copied the OS source.
3. You can use all nLite options, but you have to use the tasks "Integrate Drivers" and "Create Bootable CD".
4. When you come up to the task "Drivers", hit the "Insert" button, use the "Single driver" option and point to the content of the driver package you have downloaded and extracted at first step. Click onto one of the shown INF files (it doesn't matter which one).
5. If you have integrated the actual Intel Matrix Storage Manager drivers (supporting ICH7-10 Controllers) you will get the following "Storage Device Textmode Driver" popup window with a big variety of different Intel Controllers:
   Click to view attachment
   At this point you have to decide, which Intel Controller(s) you want to get installed by clicking onto the suitable Controller(s).
   Important:
   a ) Make sure, that the "Textmode driver" Mode is enabled.
   b ) You can and maybe have to highlight more than 1 Controller.
   Have a look into your mainboard manual to find the exact name of your S-ATA Controller and search for it within the list.
   Click onto the Intel SATA Controller(s), which is/are suitable for your mainboard BIOS settings regarding the Intel S-ATA ports (SATA RAID or SATA AHCI), your mainboard chipset (ICH7, ICH8, ICH9 or ICH10) and your system ("Desktop"=PC, "Mobile"=Laptop, Server or Workstation).
   Tip:
   If you are not sure, which of the listed Controllers are the suitable one(s) for your chipset, enable all of them (Windows Setup will find and install the correct driver).
6. Use the other options of nLite, if you want. It is a good idea to additionally integrate the Intel INF files drivers named Intel® Chipset Device Software as normal device (=PnP) driver. You can download the actual INF drivers here.
   Tip: Download the actual package named "Update INF Utility - Zip Format" and unzip it with a tool like WinRar or 7-Zip. The INF files (needed for the chipset driver integration) are within the folder named "All". You can take any of them (nLite will copy them all).
7. Let nLite create the ISO file.
8. As last step the ISO file should be burned as bootable CD. You can either let nLite do this job or take a burning tool like Nero.
   Tips:
   • If you are using Nero, you should just choose "Recorder" (menue bar) > "Burn Image" and then point to the just created ISO file.
   • Burn at not more than 8x(DVD) or 24x(CD) and choose the "Verify" option to avoid any burning errors!
9. Have fun!

3. Additional advice for the later OS installation:

• Make sure, that the CD/DVD device where you want to boot off your nLited CD, is not connected to any of the Intel S-ATA ports. Optical drives generally have problems with the enabled AHCI or RAID mode.
  Solution: Connect the optical drive to another available S-ATA port (for example with JMicron Controller), which is running in IDE mode. Alternatively you may replace your S-ATA CD/DVD device by an IDE connected one.
• Don't hit F6 and don't insert any driver floppy during the installation using the CD with integrated Intel Controller drivers. Otherwise Windows Setup won't find the drivers at all!
• You might get a problem with the installation of a 32bit OS, if you are running your computer with 4 (or more) GB of RAM. It is a good idea to remove some RAM sticks while the installing procedure. Once the OS is up, you can reinsert the removed RAM sticks.

4. How to get access to the Intel Storage Manager Console:

Once your OS is up, you will have full access to all partitions and files of your Intel RAID array, but you will not be able to run the Intel Matrix Storage Manager Console, because the program files are still missing.
Solution:
• Users with an Intel ICH7-10 chipset mainboard should download the complete Intel Storage Manager program v8.6.0.1007 from here and run it.
• All other users have to install a suitable older version of the Intel Matrix Storage Manager. They will find it here.

Good luck!
Fernando

For JMicron S-ATA ports if bios settings is set to AHCI mode,no hdd is detect.No problem though if set to IDE mode

1. As I have written within my guide:
You cannot use Intel drivers, when your hdd is connected to any JMicron port. Then you have to integrate the JMicron Controller drivers.

2. If you disable AHCI within your BIOS and let the S-ATA Controllers run the IDE mode, you don't need to integrate any textmode driver, but in this case you will abandon all AHCI features of your built-in S-ATA Controllers.

i did integrate the Jmicron Controller driver but still no go.No problem at all with Intel drivers with sata hdd on Intel ports even with AHCI mode

Do you have different SATA hdd's connected to different (Intel and JMicron) S-ATA ports?
Are you sure, that you installed the correct drivers for the connected port?
Which JMicron textmode driver did you load?

I only have this 4 files.No txtsetup.oem
jgogo.sys
jraid.cat
Jraid.sys
jraid_i.inf

p.s Just got a new driver JMB36X_WinDrv_WHQL_R1.17.28WHQL.this set has txtsetup.oem.Will test this driver

without txtsetup.oem cannot use txtmode drivers.

and another notice about ICH hubs - Intel offers ICHx and ICHxR versions. only R-labeled hubs support AHCI and RAID capabilities. I've spent a whole day trying to install AHCI on motherboard with ICH9 befor I looked at mb specification.

That doesn't work at all. Windows Setup will not detect your JMicron Controller connected S-ATA hdd's, if AHCI is enabled within your BIOS.

Download this JMicron driver package and unzip it. You will find the suitable textmode driver within the Floppy32 folder.

The ICHxM controllers (M=Mobile) are supporting AHCI and RAID too.

thks problrm solved

What have you done to solve the problem (might be interesting for other users)?

EDIT: Since I believe, that Mann will not answer anymore, I suppose, that he found at least the correct JMicron textmode drivers I have linked to.

thx fernando
all worked good for me.

I have a Gateway laptop model M-6823 I am trying to triple boot Vista XP and Fedora. XP is the problem. The drive is partitioned and Vista and Fedora core 8 work quite well. The XP SATA drivers are the problem. I followed the above instructions and created a CD. It boots fine then says it is checking the system as the screen goes black and the HDD runs and runs like it is loading the drivers etc. I allowed it to run for 20 minutes last night then hit Ctrl-Alt-Del. It had not modified anything the machine still boots Fedora and Vista fine.

Does anyone know should I just allow it to run longer? I tried this CD in an older desktop and it runs through fine to the point of asking for an install point. I do not get the black screen on a desktop however. I have made the CD 2 times so far and gotten the same results.

Thank-you in advance,
Steve

Excellent write up.

I did this slipsream the other day, but just now came across this post.

I am running one drive, but trying to run AHCI mode and install XP Pro. Before slipstreaming, It would not detect the drive of course. I slipstreamed the drives exactly how you have in your guide, the only difference is the source cd was not a clean one, but a disc I slipstreamed SP2 in a few months ago. Does this matter that it was an nlite created disc even though the only thing changed was slipstreamed SP2 in?

OK, so here is my problem. The slipstream must have worked, becuase it recognized the drive during setup, I created and formatted a partition, and sucessfully copied all of the XP setup files to the BRAND NEW hard drive. Just before the reboot, it says cannot copy file Uknown.sys and lets me canel or skip. Next, it reboots your computer to finish the install. It reboots, but after the POST screen, it reboots again and continues this reboot cycle.

Any ideas? This computer was working fine with exact same configuration before I RMA'ed the drive, so I know it's not the bios or connectors or anything.

From reading around, it looks to me that it loads the controller driver during the initial start, allowing my SATA drive to work, but then it will not copy the driver to the hard drive, not allowing it to boot. I don't know what Unkown.sys is, but others have the same problem, only named different things .sys

I loaded used the drive as a slave an loaded up with my Vista drive and copied over the files iastor.inf iaahci.inf and iastor.sys over to the new hd that has the preinstall files copied on it into the i386 folder.

No dice. Still does the same thing.

Any one can help?

At which point of the XP install did you get this strange behaviour? Did you really follow my guide?
If you do not come to the point where you have to decide where to install XP, you obviously have a problem with your system.

No, that is like a clean OS CD.
All SYS files are drivers. XP is obviously searching for an unknown driver.
Did you hit F6 (you should not!)?
If not, try the following: Create a bootable XP CD and integrate not only the Intel textmode drivers, but additionally the Intel INF chipset drivers. You will find a download link within my guide (first post).

for using the newest driver if gets update, only if you wish to extract drivers for yourself

download Intel Matrix Storage Manager (link found in the main post up there)
open a cmd line and go where you dowloaded the app
then run iata78_cd.exe -a -a (that's actual name and files in the main post)
the go to this folder %programfiles%\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\Driver
and there will be your drivers so you can update if the need arises

The extraction is not needed, if you use the actual driver packages linked within the first post of this thread.
Furthermore I will keep the download links up-to-date.

CU
Fernando

Fernando,

Thanks for your help. Since I was getting the Unknown.sys cannot copy during install, I found a floppy drive and thought I'd try it the "old fashioned" way to see if that would even work, instead of slipstreaming the file.

I get the same error "cannont copy Unknown.sys" even when using the floppy method. When doing the floppy method, you don't have any options of textmode or INF drivers. I have a Dell XPS 410, so I went to Dell's support page, downloaded the SATA exe driver for my computer, extracted it to the floppy. When I hit F6, and loaded the floppy, there were only four options, two were for mobile, the other two only one of which worked, and it was the one for my controller. I still got the same error with this method.

Switching over to regular IDE (not needing to load the SATA drivers) installs fine. So, this is definately something to do with these drivers, just can't figure out what.

I need to install in AHCI mode not regular IDE though because my other HD that has Vista only works in AHCI mode, and I will eventually be dual booting.

If you haven chosen the "Unattended Install", you should not hit F6.
Have you tried to enable all possible AHCI Controllers while integrating the Intel textmode drivers with nLite?

I understand you do not hit F6 while using a slipsreamed disc because the drivers load automatically. I don't think I wrote it clearly the first time. When I could not get it to work using the slipsreamed, I backed up and used a NON slipsreamed disc and installed a floppy to load the drivers off the floppy to see if that would work. Doing it this way, of course, I DO hit F6 to install the drivers, however, I was still getting the "cannot copy Unknown.sys" error.

As for the drivers I picked off of the floppy, there were only four of them available. Two had a (mobile) in the name, so I skipped them and I tried the other two. One of them did not work at all. I tried again with the last one, and was able to recognize the drive, copy the files, then it got to the unkown.sys that it couldn't copy.

I have searched all over the Dell forums, and others have had to slipsream the drivers or use a floppy, but none have had this .sys file that could not copy.

I am not giving up though. Going to keep trying different things and will let you know what works.

Your story about the "unknown.sys" file is very strange, because there is no such file within any Intel driver package.
If you slipstream the Intel textmode drivers exactly the way I have layed down within my first post, you will succeed (unless you have another problem within yóur system).
Maybe you should do a google search for "unknown.sys" to find out the real reason for your trouble.

6. Use the other options of nLite, if you want. It is a good idea to additionally integrate the Intel INF files drivers named Intel® Chipset Device Software as normal device (=PnP) driver. You can download these INF drivers here.

Please explain the step 6. The Intel INF drivers is a archive .EXE. How can integrate this Intel INF drivers?
Thank.

You have to extract it twice by using a tool like WinRar or 7-zip.

Here is what you should do:
1. Extract the whole EXE archive.
2. Extract the EXE archive again you will find after having done step 1.
3. Pick any INF file you find within the folder named "All".

I will add this into my guide or pre-extract the package and link to it.

I will add this into my guide or pre-extract the package and link to it.

Both is better. I think.
Thanks for your help, again.

Fernando, just a couple of questions:

1. Nlite recommends removing the SCSI/RAID drivers from XP when integrating other drivers. Shouldn't this be added to the guide, or isn't it really necessary?

2. Likewise with the Intel chipset drivers: Should the original XP drivers be removed after integrating these? In case of yes, what should be removed? Because it doesn't seem there's an easy way to remove chipset drivers with Nlite like there is with the SCSI/RAID drivers.

And a suggestion: Instead of extracting the Chipset drivers twice from Intels exe file, just get the zip file instead. Much easier to add the drivers from that one, I think.

Thank you for your guide. And thanks to nuhi for a great app.

Here are my answers:
1. You can let nLite remove the SCSI/RAID drivers (to save some space on your hdd and time during the textmode part of the Windows Setup), but this is not really necessary.
2. You should not remove the original MS IDE drivers, because you may need them for your native IDE devices (CD-ROM/DVD).

Thanks for your suggestion regarding the Intel INF chipset driver package. I have modified my guide regarding this point.

CU
Fernando

Hey Fernando,

First of all, fantastic guide! I've been looking for a specific AHCI Intel Slipstream guide for ages. However, as always, there is a problem - with my procedure.

The Facts:
HDD: New Western Digital 500GB SATA2 HDD.
Motherboard: Gigabyte 965P DS3 - (G965 Express Chipset) Motherboard Specs/Manual/Drivers etc.

My Procedure:

• Hard-Drive is plugged into the Intel Controller ports (Orange).
• Downloaded the 'Intel Matrix Storage Manager' (File: iata78_enu.exe). Run the '-a -a -p' command to extract the required files.
• Booted up Nlite and hit 'Integrate > Drivers'.
• Navigated to the folder with the extracted 'drivers' inside, and selected this one for my 'ICH8' board:
  
  Click to view attachment Click to view attachment
  
• Hit next and slipstreamed my Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 CD with what those drivers.
• Set Bios settings 'AHCI MODE - Enabled' and 'Onboard SATA/IDE Ctrl Mode - AHCI'.
• First boot device 'CD Rom'
• Get to XP setup ''No hard disk detected''.

The Problem:
Did i slipstream the right drivers?
My board is ICH8, however, i have found on Google people stating that Intel themselves said these are AHCI compatible and run under the ICH8R controller? Can someone confirm this?
What am i doing wrong?

Fernando, you seem like the only guy who can get me through this. I've been working on this SATA hard-drive for TWO weeks straight and i just want it to work! *Cry*

Please help.

Why have you done this?
It would have been easier just to take the small driver package I have linked to within my guide.
No, you slipstreamed the wrong SATA RAID and not the needed SATA AHCI Controller (just 1 position above the one you enabled).
The ICH8 Controller will be detected by Windows Setup, if you integrate the needed Intel textmode driver for the ICH8 SATA AHCI Controller.
You didn't enable the needed AHCI Controller, because you don't have a RAID array.

Your driver package is on Rapidshare! Which means i would have to wait 128 minutes from the time i encountered this guide. The Intel drivers i extracted before i encountered your guide, i googled your guide after my initial attempt failed!

Right!! Oki doki, so, all i need to do is click the HH/HO AHCI controller above the one i had originally selected and slipstream this into the XP installation instead?

It was just a matter of me selecting the wrong driver? Furthermore, are those drivers in my picture the correct drivers to work with my ICH8 controller, did i extract and use the right ones under 'Mode - TXT'?

Thankyou very much Fernando.



So, let me know?

You only have to wait a few seconds unless you have used Rapidshare for a big download just before.

Yes! The correct one for you is the one above the one you have enabled.
By the way: I have written within my guide, that you should enable all listed Intel SATA Controllers, if you are not sure, which one of the listed Controller is the correct one.

Yes!

Thankyou fernando! I will try this out as soon as possible. I'll let you know how i get on!

Put it this way: If i don't come back within a few hours, it worked. On other hand, it may have failed. So! Just sit tight, and ill get back to you sometime in the future.

P.S Why the hell isn't this guid STICKY'd!? It is godlike! Thanks again buddy, wish me luck.

Argggggggggggh!

I slipstreamed ALL those available drivers onto the CD like you suggested Fernando. Plugged HDD into the Orange SATA Intel ports, set AHCI Mode to 'Enabled' and set 'Onboard SATA/IDE Ctrl Mode' to 'AHCI'. Started up the Windows installation, 'Setup is Copying files' then pressed Enter when it gets to the 'Install Windows XP on Hard Drive'. Then it takes me to that screen, AGAIN! ''No hard drive detected, Press F3 to quit setup''.

Argh!

So i quit setup, set AHCI Mode to 'Disabled' but left the Onboard SATA/IDE Ctrl Mode to AHCI. Went through the process, this time it found the HDD. I formatted, went through the 'Copying Files' process etc, then reset PC. Before entering the actual Windows installation, i went back into bios and enabled AHCI Mode. Reset. Got to the Windows logo 'loading' screen to carry on the installlation and i get a bSod!?!?

For f*** sake what am i doing wrong?

If i start all over again but with Slipstreamed Gigabyte druvers and plug it into the GSATA ports (Gigabyte SATA) and leave 'AHCI Mode' to 'Enabled', but Onboard SATA/IDE Ctrl Mode to 'AHCI' i get the 'Intel AHCI Bios' during post telling me 'AHCI Bios Not Installed'. However, using the GSATA ports and the Gigabyte drivers, i can install Windows, but obviously not with AHCI enabled, and no extra features, or am i mistaken?

I just don't know what to do. I want to install INTEL AHCI with AHCI MODE ENABLED in my Bios, the Gigabyte 'process' just seems sucky and i can't have 'AHCI Mode' enabled.

So whats the deal?
What do i need to do?
Am i doing the setup wrong?
Should i leave AHCI Mode disabled until Windows XP is fully installed to get it to work?

Please help!

EDIT: Do you know what? I just don't think my Motherboard supports INTEL AHCI. My HDD needs to be in the GSATA ports, and i need to slipstream the Gigabyte 'Jmicron' controller drivers. But even then, when that is done, enabling 'AHCI Mode' in Bios causes the bSod. Which makes me wonder if this board supports AHCI at all, and if it doesn't, why the hell is it in the Bios? Does the 'AHCI Mode' only relate to Intel, while the 'Onboard SATA/IDE Ctrl Mode - AHCI' relates to the Jmicron controller? What do you think?

That's right. Windows Setup is not able to recognise a JMicron S-ATA AHCI Controller connected hdd, if you load the Intel drivers.
Your motherboard obviously has an Intel ICH8 southbridge (and needs the Intel INF chipset drivers), but has not Intel S-ATA Controllers at all. If you want to use the AHCI features (which is recommended), you have to enable "AHCI Mode" within your BIOS and slipstream the Gigabyte (=JMicron) S-ATA textmode drivers.

You have to enable the "AHCI Mode" before you are going to install a Windows OS.

Your motherboard supports AHCI, but the SATA AHCI Controller is the JMicron one. The S-ATA feature "Advanced Host Controller Interface" (=AHCI) was created by Intel first, but other chipset manufacturers are doing the same now (even NVIDIA recently have put the AHCI feature into their newest S-ATA Controllers).

Right, okay.

So, i need to plug SATA cable into the Purple (GSATA) ports, Slipstream the Jmicron SATA drivers AND the Intel AHCI drivers into the XP disc, but not one or the other, BOTH must be on the disc?

Or do you mean, i should slipstream just the Jmicron drivers, with the SATA cable in the GSATA ports, and follow the XP process this way. All the while with AHCI Mode enabled?

EDIT: Basically, jsut to get this process confirmed. I'm going to get the Gigabyte SATA_SATA2_RAID driver from the Gigabyte website and im going to get the extracted Intel Matrix Storage Manager drivers from Intel. I'm going to integrate BOTH these drivers into an XP installation. Set Bios to AHCI Mode, with HDD plugged into GSATA ports (Or Intels?) and run the installation. With the SATA2 Gigabyte drivers (Jmicron) on the installation, it should enable my motherboard/chipset to SEE the Intel AHCI driver too?

EDIT2: Also, if you mean to just Slipstream and install the Jmicron SATA drivers with my HDD in the GSATA slots, then like i said before, with AHCI mode enabled in Bios, i get a quick screen during POST telling me 'Intel AHCI Bios Not Installed'. Which makes me think its not running in AHCI mode at all, meaning i do need Intel drivers installed?

This is truely the most aggrevating, confusing, tedious and most time consuming project i have ever undertaken with my PC. So i appreciate this help Fernando.

Cheers Fernando!

No, as far as I understand Gigabyte's homepage your mainboard doesn't have any Intel S-ATA Controller. So you only need to integrate the Gigabyte (=JMicron) SataRaid driver package as TEXTMODE driver.

Yes, that is what you should do.

No, as I already wrote, you should not integrate both Intel and JMicron drivers.

I don't understand, what you mean. AFAIK your motherboard doesn't have any Intel S-ATA Controller. If I am right, you have no choice!

When your motherboard doesn't have any Intel S-ATA Controllers, the post message is correct and just means, that only Gigabyte AHCI Bios is installed.

You are obviously confused now, but there is nothing to warry about.
Do the following:
At first check your mainboard manual, if you have any Intel S-ATA Controllers on board (obviously you don't, because Gigabyte doesn't offer any Intel S-ATA or Raid drivers for your motherboard).
When you are sure, that all S-ATA Controllers of your mainboard are Gigabyte (=JMicron) ones, do the following:
1. Create a bootable XP CD with slipstreamed 32bit Gigabyte (JMicron) S-ATA drivers (integrated as textmode). You can additionally integrate the Intel INF chipset drivers as PnP drivers (these INF drivers are not needed at all during the installation and have nothing to do with S-ATA or RAID connected hdd!).
2. Then prepare your mainboard BIOS for the Gigabyte S-ATA AHCI mode. The S-ATA Connector, where your hdd is connected, should be enabled and set to "AHCI mode".
3. Then boot off the nLited XP CD with the integrated Gigabyte SATA AHCI drivers.

Thankyou so much Fernando, i will carry this out, i know it will work this time. I'll let you know how i get on mate. Thanks so much for the help and guide.

EDIT: I think also, the two settings in the Bios are confusing. There is an 'AHCI Mode' Disable/Enable, and then there's the Onboard SATA/IDE Ctrl Mode - AHCI/RAID-IDE/IDE. Enabling the 'AHCI Mode' brings up the Intel 'POST' screen i described above. Enabling the 'AHCI' toggle next to Onboard SATA/IDE Ctrl Mode brings up a Gigabyte SATA2/IDE Bios during POST as well. Which makes me believe i should disable the 'AHCI Mode' setting (For Intel) and just leave the 'Onboard SATA/IDE Ctrl Mode' set to AHCI (To show the Gigabyte SATA2/IDE Bios during POST) What do you think? Should i just leave both enabled and ignore the Intel POST Screen?

Click to view attachment

Thats what i get when i select the 'X32' drivers after navigating to the GSATA folder. It's either those, the X64, the Jmide, or the Floppy32/Floppy64 drivers. Are they the right ones, and why are they only PNP mode?

Also, should i run the GSATA installer after i have re-installed OS as well?

D_TOX.

I just have downloaded and read the manual of your mainboard.
Result:
There are 4 Intel ICH8 S-ATA ports (close to the border of the board) and 2 Gigayte (JMicron) S-ATA ports (near to the Intel ones, but closer to the center of the board).
So you can decide which of the S-ATA ports (Intel or JMicron) you want to use.
I recommend to take one of the Intel ports (0,1,2 or 3).
If you want to connect your S-ATA hdd to an Intel port, you should enable AHCI for this port.
As I could get only the description of the mainboard and not the BIOS details, I cannot give you any advice how to set the correct BIOS settings.

If you are using the Gigabyte (JMicron) drivers for Windows XP, you have to download the Floppy32 drivers, but you have to enable TEXTMODE while integrating with nLite.

I don't think, that you need to run the installer, if the drivers are already installed (by slipstreaming them).

Indeed, which this is the problem ive been trying to describe. If i continue this slipstream in the Intel ports, i must install the Intel drivers, which, as you know, are not installing during the Slipstreamed setup!


As this guy said, i don't think my ICH8 chipset has an AHCI controller or something yet on Google people are saying it does, just Intel hasn't officially acknowledged it. Also, everyone says to go with the Intel ports for better performance! You can see the dilemma i am in. Argh!

Why would you recommend the Intel ports over the GSATA ones anyway?

Are you sure, that
a ) your S-ATA hdd was connected to an Intel S-ATA Connector while installing XP and
b ) you had enabled TEXTMODE while integrating the Intel S-ATA driver?

Because they are better and have better support (more frequently driver updates).

I'm definitely selecting them in text mode.
Click to view attachment

There, i have them all selected, then i'd hit OK, and follow the guide through. Then create an ISO from it, mount that image, then copy the image onto a CD. Right? Do you think i should put the INF Intel Chipset drivers into the slipstream, maybe that will help it recognize the AHCI drive?

I'm pretty sure i have all the BIOS settings setup correctly, but then again, maybe not. I've tried loads of different combinations. What i dont understand is why there are two 'AHCI' settings. The Onboard Sata/ide Ctrl Mode and just the 'AHCI Mode'. 'AHCI Mode' referring to the Inte i think and the Onboard mode refers to the Jmicron.

Also, Onboard SATA 0-3 Mode: Native/Legacy mode? Which mode should that be set at for Intel?

Onboard Sata/IDE Device: Enabled/Disabled?

So **** confusing, i feel like a complete noob.

It is a good idea to additionally integrate the INF Intel Chipset drivers.

You didn't answer to my question, if your S-ATA hdd was connected to one of the Intel S-ATA port while installing XP. That is the most important point!
Please check, where the S-ATA data cable from your hdd is connected. If you want to use the Intel S-ATA Controller features, you have to make sure, that the cable is connected to one of the Intel ports.

If you are really unsure, you should enable the AHCI option for all S-ATA ports (Intel and JMicron) while installing Windows XP. After the successful install you can disable the not needed ports and AHCI settings.

Set it as "native".

You should enable it.

Good luck!
Fernando

Yes, the cable (As ive said previously in other posts) is plugged into the ORANGE ports (Intel's) labeled SATAII 0, SATAII 1, etc. While the purple ones (Gigabytes) are labeled GSATAII 0, 1, etc.

Okay, just now, i went into the Bios. Looking at my manual, the 'AHCI Mode' setting isn't even in the bios' manual, but it is in my actual Bios. So i read on, and in the manual, next to the 'Onboard SATA/IDE Ctrl Mode' it says 'These ports are controlled by the GSATA controller... Consult Intel for further information on the AHCI mode'?

So, i selected the actual 'AHCI Mode' entry and Disabled it since there's no mention of it in the manual, but left the 'Onboard SATA/IDE Ctrl' to AHCI. This time the installation found my hard-drive but i think the installation would be pointless because i dont know if it even IS in AHCI mode this way?

You can verify it after having completed the XP installation by having a look into the device manager.
Either within the "IDE ATA/ATAPI" or in the "Storage Controller" section you should find a device like "Intel SATA AHCI Controller".

Instead i put in the ordinary XP disc... It went through the same process, and recognized the HDD. This means the drivers had no affect.

Some people are saying the Intel AHCI is powered by the Jmicron controller, maybe i should just go with that and install all the GSATA drivers instead. I just dont think this mobo supports the Intel method, i just dont know anything to do with this AHCI crap to be honest.

You are right. This result shows, that no AHCI feature was enabled for the S-ATA port, which was connected to the hdd.

You can try it, if you want.
Update:
After having a deeper look into Gigabyte's informations about your mainboard, I found this statement within the FAQ section.
So it is obviously true, that only the JMicron S-ATA ports of your board are supporting AHCI.
Furthermore your mainboard has only an Intel ICH8 and no ICH8R southbridge. Intel ICH8 southbridges (without any letter behind the 8) do not support AHCI.

I am sorry about the confusion, but normally it is not my task to find out the details and features of a special mainboard, which I have never used.

Ok, I am able to get much further now. I can now use my nLite disc to install XP.

However, for some reason it is creating the boot.ini with TWO systems:

[boot loader]
timeout=1
default=signature(ca2d9e57)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
signature(ca2d9e57)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

which is causing the computer to go through reboot cycles because it thinks there are two operating systems and the first one is invalid, so it just reboots. I know how to fix it (by editing the boot.ini) however, I want to have a good disc.

The only thing I've done while creating this disc is:
inserted SATA driver
under boot unatended, the only thing I changed was I added the Windows Key.

Then create, and burn.

I have no other hard drives or partitions turned on when doing this.

Anyone know why this would make a different boot.ini file?

The BOOT.INI as a part of the MBR is created by Windows Setup and not influenced by any nLite processing.

Is it possible, that you installed XP onto a not empty partition? If yes, you should redo the XP installation, but format the destination partion before starting the real installation.

Other options:
a ) Boot off the XP CD, use the "Repair" function and create a new MBR or boot sector by running FIXBOOT and FIXMBR (for details do a google search for "FIXBOOT" or FIXMBR").
b ) If you get any direct access to the MBR files (for example by booting off a DOS or Win95 start floppy), try to edit the BOOT.INI. It should look like:

Thanks for your help, I too didn't think it would be related to nLite, but I'm puzzled.

I only have one hard drive turned on, it only has one partition. Every time I've tried it, I did a format. I've tried both Quick and Regular format. It installs fine, but then during the reboot, it goes into a reboot cycle because the boot.ini is wrong.

Like I said, I now I can edit the boot.ini and make it correct, but I am trying to test this CD and make sure everything works properly so the next time I install XP, I don't have to go through these hoops.

If you are as stumped as I am at this point, I can make my own thread to keep this one on track as I don't want to mess this excellent thread up.

thanks!

How did you realise, that the wrong boot.ini is the reason for the reboot cycle?
Have you tried to boot in safe mode?
If this doesn't work either, hit F8 while booting and enable the "No reboot at system failure" option. Then you can read the error message.

well, I turned on my other hard drive (which has Vista installed) and booted into it with both HD's on.

Opened up the boot.ini on the drive I just installed XP on and it says:
[boot loader]
timeout=1
default=signature(ca2d9e57)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
signature(ca2d9e57)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

When I change it to what you gave me:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

it will work. I just don't understand where the other one - signature(ca2d9e57) is coming from when I install.

Look here.
It has nothing to do with nLite and your nLited CD.