AHCI Problems!

[Bloodstriker]

I recently bought an Intel X-25M 80GB (G2) SSD and a copy of Windows 7 Ulitmate OEM.

I installed Windows 7 successfully on the SSD, however, it's currently set to IDE in BIOS (I didn't figure out that it needed to be set to AHCI prior to install).

I've done some research online and found a solution in a changing a registry value, rebooting, going into BIOS and changing IDE to AHCI.

I tried this and the system will not boot or allow me into bios. It get stuck at the Marvell Adapter screen. The only way for me to fix this is to reseat the CMOS battery and ensure that BIOS is set to IDE.

I'm new to this whole SSD setup thing, so I'm at a complete loss as to what to do.

Does it really make that big of a difference between IDE and AHCI for my SSD? (From what I read so far, the answer seems to be a yes.)

I am not sure if I am making the right changes in BIOS. I also read that I should be installing Intel AHCI drivers.. no idea how to do this or if it needed.

I'm also thinking that something with the Marvel Adapter is conflicting/getting screwy when I change the setting to AHCI.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ZipSpeed]

Not saying it can't be done but by the time you figure out what to do, you might as well reformat and reinstall Windows.

 

[mikeford]

+1 wasted a couple days trying to make it work, then wasted a couple days with a reformat and install, but now it works. I don't see any changes, didn't do any benchmarks, but AHCI is something I suspect to see improvements in over time, and now I am ready.

 

[Bloodstriker]

Not saying it can't be done but by the time you figure out what to do, you might as well reformat and reinstall Windows.

Thanks for the quick reply.

Are you thinking that the problems I'm having is simply due to switching IDE to AHCI after Windows is already installed? If that's so, I'm trying to figure out why I can't even get into BIOS?

I'm also trying to figure out if I'm changing the settings correctly.

Under BIOS, I'm going to Storage Configuration, then changing the value from IDE to AHCI.

Is there anywhere else I need to make changes?

 

[ZipSpeed]

Next time you get the error where you can't get into the BIOS, shut the computer off and unplug the SATA cable off the motherboard. Boot it back up and if you're able to get back into the BIOS, perhaps the drive doesn't like running in AHCI.

 

[Spikesoldier]

yeah, you had to install the AHCI driver before you switch.

get into windows install the driver, then change it in bios. you shouldnt have to be messing with any registry settings.

as long as windows has the driver it wont bluescreen at progress bar

edit: sounds like your drive wont boot or boot priority is mis-set.

 

[VeryCharBroiled]

I tried this and the system will not boot or allow me into bios. It get stuck at the Marvell Adapter screen. The only way for me to fix this is to reseat the CMOS battery and ensure that BIOS is set to IDE.

I also have the X25-M G2 80 gig and it occasionally does the same thing.. hang in the BIOS at the detection part. it will only do this in AHCI mode and only if the MBR has been changed. there is a bug or some sort of incompatibility that can mess up the MBR when its written to to the point that the drive hangs in AHCI mode.

unplug the drive, reset to IDE mode, plug it back in. it will detect fine. do a secure erase with HDDErase 3.3 (put it on a bootable flash drive or CD, it needs real DOS). then switch to AHCI and try installing Win7 again (or copy the OS image back to it if youre restoring from backup).

once its set up and running in AHCI mode it will not give any troubles unless you change the MBR (like resize a partition or something) and the bug hits.

so, short version:
AHCI mode, dont modify the MBR: all is well.
AHCI mode, mess with MBR: ya takes your chances.
IDE mode, do anything: all is well, but less performance.

 

[Spikesoldier]

you will lose TRIM if you hang in IDE mode. try RAID mode if your mainboard supports it. for the intel platform, its advised if you going to use AHCI to just use RAID instead for less headaches.

 

[sub.mesa]

Just a minor corretion: TRIM works also in IDE mode, assuming you use the default Microsoft drivers (any 'chipset drivers' may include a different IDE driver and you lose TRIM support). It doesn't work on RAID-controllers that don't work in IDE/AHCI mode, though.

 

[Old Hippie]

It get stuck at the Marvell Adapter screen.

What MB is that?

 

[Bloodstriker]

What MB is that?

Asus P6T Deluxe (verson 1).

 

[Bloodstriker]

I also have the X25-M G2 80 gig and it occasionally does the same thing.. hang in the BIOS at the detection part. it will only do this in AHCI mode and only if the MBR has been changed. there is a bug or some sort of incompatibility that can mess up the MBR when its written to to the point that the drive hangs in AHCI mode.

unplug the drive, reset to IDE mode, plug it back in. it will detect fine. do a secure erase with HDDErase 3.3 (put it on a bootable flash drive or CD, it needs real DOS). then switch to AHCI and try installing Win7 again (or copy the OS image back to it if youre restoring from backup).

once its set up and running in AHCI mode it will not give any troubles unless you change the MBR (like resize a partition or something) and the bug hits.

so, short version:
AHCI mode, dont modify the MBR: all is well.
AHCI mode, mess with MBR: ya takes your chances.
IDE mode, do anything: all is well, but less performance.

Sorry for my ignorance, but what does MBR mean?

It looks like I have a similar problem to this, however I did not update BIOS:

http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx...e&id=20090803233721500&page=1&SLanguage=en-us

Also, being the newb that I am, is it possible for someome to type up specific step-by-step instructions? (for example, I don't know how to create a bootable flash disk and I don't know what drivers I need to install or how to install them).

 

[Bloodstriker]

yeah, you had to install the AHCI driver before you switch.

get into windows install the driver, then change it in bios. you shouldnt have to be messing with any registry settings.

as long as windows has the driver it wont bluescreen at progress bar

edit: sounds like your drive wont boot or boot priority is mis-set.

Boot priority is set to SDD, then DVD Drive. I tried putting in my Windows 7 into the DVD Drive and it won't load, so I'm guessing it's not even getting far enough to even attempt to boot anything.

Also, when I switched back to IDE after a CMOS reset, the SSD boots fine.

 

[Old Hippie]

Asus P6T Deluxe (verson 1).

Just curious, have you updated the drivers?

Looks like the latest for W7 is 11.25.3.3 from 4/26/10.

 

[Bloodstriker]

Just curious, have you updated the drivers?

Looks like the latest for W7 is 11.25.3.3 from 4/26/10.

Drivers for the MB? No.. should I be doing that?

EDIT: Hmm... I'm looking at the P6T Deluxe downloads page on the Asus site and I don't see any drivers.... which drivers are you talking about?

 

[Old Hippie]

Drivers for the MB? No.. should I be doing that?

EDIT: Hmm... I'm looking at the P6T Deluxe downloads page on the Asus site and I don't see any drivers.... which drivers are you talking about?

NM...I was looking on the Marvell site but it doesn't look like your adaptor is listed.