[queensoft]

All right.... reinstalled Windows 32 bit, with IDE mode.
Now, activated in BIOS AHCI mode, but I did NOT do all other things (copy IASTOR.SYS file, add registry....), restart Windows, no BSOD, no errors, everything works fine, the device manager looks like the one above !!!
Soooo, what's going on?!

[puntoMX]

I would like to help you all out, but the problem is that I only sell Gigabyte motherboards at this time. I also don’t have a 64bit Windows XP to test it on nor do they sell it in Mexico .

queensoft, on Jan 14 2008, 12:21 PM, said:

Soooo, what's going on?!

With the Gigabyte motherboards it loads and installs an AHCI BIOS on boot up before it starts to boot from any data holding media. Does it show any thing like that when you start your ASUS motherboard? I remember that ASUS killed AHCI from some of there BIOSes...

[queensoft]

Well, I don't see anything peculiar on boot. The usual fast memory test, drive and dvd rom list, then straight to windows....
I mean, does that motherboard and my Windows both support AHCI? Why do I have so slow hard drive performance ??
Check this out: http://pozze.z1.ro/doc1.htm
The Dskspeed section: first colum (old computer) is FASTER the second column (new computer).

This post has been edited by queensoft: 14 January 2008 - 01:08 PM

[puntoMX]

I wonder if your BIOS support real ACHI mode, let me read the users manual of your motherboard now.

Don’t expect much of a performance gain in the benchmarks by the way, I could only test it by starting Windows or other programs and measure the start times with a stopwatch (10 or 20 runs and the average taking from that).

[queensoft]

So why the h**l did I bought a nice motherboard like that and a SATA2 hard drive?!
Just to work slower than my old one ??
My first choice, however, was NOT this drive, it was a 320 Gb AAKS drive. But, wouldn't you know it, it was just after the holidays and it was out of stock !!

[zimbie_z]

I have a P35 Chipset and this is the procedure that worked for me even though bios doesn't say enhanced only AHCI.

1. Downloaded Newest Intel® Matrix Storage Manager for my board.
2. Command Prompt ran c:\anyfolder\filename.exe /a
3. Copied IaStor.sys from \Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\Drivers folder to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\
4. Copied the following registry file into notepad and saved as ahci.reg
5. Double clicked newly created file to install to registry.
6. Reboot and change bios to AHCI
7. Double clicked on previously downloaded Intel® Matrix Storage Manager installer. And Rebooted.
8. Go to device manager, double klick your hard-drive(s) under "disk drivers", go to "policies" tab and mark "Enable write caching for this disk"

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_2922&cc_0106]
"Service"="iaStor"
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor]
"Type"=dword:00000001
"Start"=dword:00000000
"Group"="SCSI miniport"
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
"ImagePath"="system32\\drivers\\iaStor.sys"
"tag"=dword:00000019
"DisplayName"="Intel AHCI Controller"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor\Parameters]
"queuePriorityEnable"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor\Enum]
"0"="PCI\\VEN_8086&DEV_2922&SUBSYS_B0051458&REV_02\\3&13c0b0c5&0&FA"
"Count"=dword:00000001
"NextInstance"=dword:00000001
______________________________________________________________________

This post has been edited by zimbie_z: 18 January 2008 - 12:53 AM

[puntoMX]

zimbie_z, on Jan 17 2008, 08:25 PM, said:

I had not installed Chipset Driver yet.

You have to install the driver file first else it will not help.

EDIT: Okay! So it worked after all, congratulations .

EDIT2: Could you post your BIOS setting please so I can add them to the first post in this topic.

[hiking2001]

Thanks, I tried the setup instructions and my AHCI is now enabled. Everything works perfectly. I have a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L.

[zimbie_z]

Please see the attachment. The only question I have is how to fix the PCI installation problem using the IAAHCI.INF driver.

Manual Install what?

I assume "IDE/ATAPI controllers",

then "standard dual channel pci ide controller"

Then Browse to IAAHCI.INF and choose it?

Is this correct?

I will post my BIOS settings for you when I get a chance.
 untitled.JPG (23.07K)
Number of downloads: 16

This post has been edited by zimbie_z: 21 January 2008 - 01:19 PM

[zimbie_z]

puntoMX, on Jan 18 2008, 12:49 AM, said:

zimbie_z, on Jan 17 2008, 08:25 PM, said:

I had not installed Chipset Driver yet.

You have to install the driver file first else it will not help.

EDIT: Okay! So it worked after all, congratulations .

EDIT2: Could you post your BIOS setting please so I can add them to the first post in this topic.

BIOS picture attached.

Attached File(s)

•  01_18_08_2356.jpg (73.89K)
  Number of downloads: 37

[hadrum]

Hello,

I have been trying quite a bit and cannot get it to work even though I am following the instructions.

I run XP prof sp2, on a GA-P35-DQ6. I have the latest bios version. My windows drive shows as G:, and the boot drive is slave on channel 2 when running IDE.

Currently, I have two (IMHO) relevant serial ata storage controllers in device manager: 2920 and 2926. I have four SATA-devices on 2920 (2 HD, 2DVD) and none on 2926. Thus, I do not bother about 2926.

What I am registering looks like yours, though I use 2920 instead of 2923 (and no mention of 2926).
In my registry, I now have "ControlSet002" - "ControlSet004", with current = default = 3, failed = 1, lastknowngood=4, thus I put the registry keys into "003" instead of "001" but still no go.

Any advice would be very appreciated!

[VascoMan]

I followed your directions exactly on asus p5k-vm + raptor150. Everything is working very nicely!
I have a question: is there a way to have the AHCI turned on during xp installation? so we have to press F6, etc. ?

thanks.

[nitroshift]

VascoMan, on Jan 21 2008, 12:11 PM, said:

I followed your directions exactly on asus p5k-vm + raptor150. Everything is working very nicely!
I have a question: is there a way to have the AHCI turned on during xp installation? so we have to press F6, etc. ?

thanks.

The method described here provides a way to enable AHCI after windows is installed. Should you want to have AHCI enabled from the start (before installing windows), you must follow the F6 method or integrate the chipset drivers into the windows installation disk either using nLite or through driverpacks. Hope this answers your question.

[VascoMan]

How to enable AHCI on Intel ICH9 under XP - DURING INSTALL

Ok, I gave this a shot, and seems to be working?

STEPS:

1. Unpacking the Drivers
same as above

1.1 Extracting .IMA file with Magic ISO
same as above

2.1 Preparing the drivers
Open the IAAHCI.INF with Notepad. Use CRTL-R and you should get a “replace” window. In the first input window you type “2821” and the second “2923”, so you will replace all “2821” text to “2923”, and click “Replace All”.

Replace the line:

PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2923&CC_0106.DeviceDesc	= "Intel(R) 82801HR/HH/HO SATA AHCI Controller"

To:

PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2923&CC_0106.DeviceDesc	= "Intel(R) ICH9 SATA AHCI Controller"

Save the file under the same name, e.g. IAAHCI.INF and exit Notepad.


Open the TXTSETUP.OEM with Notepad. Use CRTL-R and you should get a “replace” window. In the first input window you type “2821” and the second “2923”, so you will replace all “2821” text to “2923”, and click “Replace All”.

Replace the line:

iaAHCI_ICH8R = "Intel(R) 82801HR/HH/HO SATA AHCI Controller (Desktop/Server/Workstation)"

To:

iaAHCI_ICH8R = "Intel(R) ICH9 SATA AHCI Controller"

Save the file under the same name, e.g. TXTSETUP.OEM and exit Notepad.

2.2 Preparing the media
IAAHCI.CAT
IAAHCI.INF - this has been modified by you
IASTOR.CAT
IASTOR.INF
IASTOR.SYS
TXTSETUP.OEM - this has been modified by you

Choose one of:

A: save these files to floppy (F6 method)
B: integrate using nlite. (slipstream method)

3. Creating Windows registry file
Not needed. After installing XP with this method, the registry already contains these settings.

4. BIOS Settings
Restart the computer and enter the BIOS (Mostly entered by pressing DEL). Make the settings:

SATA RAID/AHCI Mode		  [AHCI]
SATA Port0-3 Native Mode	 [Enabled]

For ASUS P5K motherboards (IF present in BIOS, please report if not present.):

SATA Configuration	   [Enhanced]
Configure SATA as		[AHCI]

Also, dont forget to set BOOT ORDER to CD/DVD first, HDD second.
Next, SAVE and EXIT.

5. Installing the drivers in Windows

Put your xp installation disk in the drive.
If you saved files to floppy, hit F6 at the prompt.

6. Final installation check
same as above.

7. Editors thoughts
Seems to be working on P5K-VM.
Anyone else try this?

This post has been edited by VascoMan: 24 January 2008 - 05:01 PM

[jrf2027]

puntoMX,

Thanks for the great work! I've successfully enabled AHCI on my Gateway GM5478 (uses an OEM board from Intel, the DG33SXG2) by following your guide.

Couple of tweaks to your original instructions for this particular board - may be applicable to other Intel-branded or Intel OEM boards:

In Step 2 - I did not need to edit IAAHCI.INF.

In Step 3 - I needed to tweak your original registry file as follows:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_2922&cc_0106]
"Service"="iaStor"
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor]
"Type"=dword:00000001
"Start"=dword:00000000
"Group"="SCSI miniport"
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
"ImagePath"="system32\\drivers\\iaStor.sys"
"tag"=dword:00000019
"DisplayName"="Intel AHCI Controller"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor\Parameters]
"queuePriorityEnable"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor\Enum]
"0"="PCI\\VEN_8086&DEV_2922&SUBSYS_5044107B&REV_02\\3&18d45aa6&0&FA"
"Count"=dword:00000001
"NextInstance"=dword:00000001

As I have my system set up to dual boot with XP and Vista, I was able to figure out the necessary registry edits by using the same driver under Vista.

Thanks again!

[puntoMX]

VascoMan, thank you for the testing, also nice to see the nLite / unattended add-on there . If some one else confirms that it works I will edit my first post to add your information.

jrf2027, on Jan 25 2008, 06:50 PM, said:

As I have my system set up to dual boot with XP and Vista, I was able to figure out the necessary registry edits by using the same driver under Vista.

Intel(R) ICH9 6 Port SATA AHCI Controller - 2922
Intel(R) ICH9 4 Port SATA AHCI Controller – 2923

jrf2027, it seems I forgot that there was also a 6 Port SATA ICH9 Controller; I should edit this in my first post soon, thank you!

[Neo - Matrix]

It worked like a charm on my GA-P35-DS3 rev2

But i would like to make and Addon like DriverPacks to make it work during setup. any chance for better instructions on this !?

[puntoMX]

VascoMan already made the guide to that. If you don’t know what to do with it the please take a look at the nLite / unattended sections on this forum.

[chival4ry]

Hi.

I tested on BIOS 0406[with AHCI Mode : not jmicron] & 0805[without AHCI Mode] in ASUS-P5K(plain), but failed.^^;
( I don`t use RAID Configurations [RAID 0, RAID 1, ...] )

[1] ( puntoMX ) (BIOS 0406)
1. Unpacking drivers (done)
1.1 Extracting .IMA file with Magic ISO ( I used UltraISO. )
2. Preparing the drivers (done)
3. Creating Windows registry file (done)
4. BIOS Settings ( SATA Configuration[Enhanced] + Configure SATA as [AHCI] => My experience : SATA Configuration[Intel Robson Technology - Enabled or Disabled] + Configure SATA as [AHCI] )
So I couldn`t experience the next steps[ 5. & 6. ]
5. Installing the drivers in Windows
6. Final installation check

[2] ( VascoMan ) (BIOS 0406)
1. Unpacking the Drivers (done)
1.1 Extracting .IMA file with Magic ISO ( I used UltraISO. )
2.1 Preparing the drivers (done)
2.2 Preparing the media (done)
3. Installing the drivers in Windows (done - F6 method)
4. BIOS Settings ( SATA Configuration[Enhanced] + Configure SATA as [AHCI] => My experience : SATA Configuration[Intel Robson Technology - Enabled or Disabled] + Configure SATA as [AHCI] )
5. Creating Windows registry file (done - After installing XP with this method, the registry didn`t contain these settings.)
6. Final installation check ( I couldn`t try this step because of step 4. )

Who succeeded on ASUS-P5K ?

----------
I modified my experiences. ( one more : Robinson => Robson )

This post has been edited by chival4ry: 30 January 2008 - 03:25 AM

[puntoMX]

chival4ry, on Jan 29 2008, 06:33 AM, said:

4. BIOS Settings ( SATA Configuration[Enhanced] + Configure SATA as [AHCI] => My experience : SATA Configuration[Intel Robinson Technology - Enabled or Disabled] + Configure SATA as [AHCI] )

Keep the "Intel Robinson Technology" (What a name to use in the BIOS, should be Robson)) Disabled first and just set SATA as AHCI.

Or what problem do you have with point 4?

This post has been edited by puntoMX: 09 March 2011 - 09:25 PM
Reason for edit: Robson