Trouble with new build - 1st SSD (updated - still no joy)

[crazylegs]

Hi all, firstly - yes I have read the stickies and numerous posts on here, the summary being:

''So here are the steps for optimizing your SSD for windows 7:
1. Enable AHCI in the BIOS before installing windows.
2. Install windows 7.''

and

''Step 1: Enable AHCI in BIOS.

Step 2: Install Windows 7.

Step 3: ...

Step 4: Profit!

That's it!''

My problem is that, when I enable AHCI in BIOS, my machine does not post!

My components:

- AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition
- Gigabyte GA-890GPA-UD3H 890GX
- Crucial 64GB Real SSD C300 2.5"
- Kingston 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1600MHz HyperX Blu Memory Kit CL9 1.65V

As a test, I am able to install with SATA operation set to IDE, all drives properly detected and comp POSTs / loads into windows properly.

As soon as i change SATA operation to AHCI, the machine fails to POST, it sits on the drive detection part, CD/DVD drive is found... rest show as 'no drive' i.e. SSD is not being properly detecet and the machine locks up i.e. hitting DEL will not enter BIOS, I have to restart and then hit DEL before drive detection is attempted :/

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I have very little first hand experience with SSDs. I'm going to flash the MB BIOS now, but not sure if that will fix this problem. Another thought is to flash the SSD's firmware but i need to look into this first... or have some helpful pointers

Thanks again for any help that you may have.

Update:

Flashed MB to latest version (FF).

Updated SSD firmware to altest version (006)

Still the same problem, does not post if left to detect drives with AHCI enable.

Very odd part (to my mind at least) is that if i boot from CD, i can start to install windows (even though SSD not shown in BIOS...) it sees the SSD drive during windows install process! But after the restart during install, it will freeze on post screen again not seeing the SSD.

 

[Old Hippie]

I seriously doubt this is an SSD problem but an AMD/AHCI problem.

You have an AMD MB and hopefully someone will come along that's more familiar with them.

Sorry I can't be of more assistance.

 

[crazylegs]

Nps

To clarify a couple of points - this MB has 8 SATA ports. 6 from the AMD850 chipset, 2 added by Gigabyte.

I have set 0,1,2,4,5 = AHCI

SSD is plugged into 0.

CD/DVD drive is plugged into 4.

Trying MB flash now, had been distracted by lunch etc

 

[stargazr]

I just installed the new Intel 120GB SSD and had the same problem. although I have an Intel chip. After some research in this forum topic I found a solution here:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2113199

Here's my understanding of the issue: Windows uses separate drivers for each mode-IDE or AHCI. If you do not install the driver for AHCI mode in the beginning of loading Windows- the familiar prompt to press F6, it cannot use the drive. In my case I got a blue screen with a stop error saying to check for viruses and to remove any newly installed HDD's or HD controllers. I switched back to IDE mode, installed Win 7 x64 and then used this fix linked in noted thread reference:

http://www.ithinkdiff.com/how-to-enable-ahci-in-windows-7-rc-after-installation/

Worked great, I did the TRIM check also noted in thread and it is indeed active. What confused me in the beginning was I thought I read somewhere that you didn't have to install the driver when using AHCI mode if you aren't using RAID. Anyway it worked for me any everything's working great. I hope this helps. This is my first SSD install as well so I'm certainly not an authority so I'm sure other members could elaborate on this.

 

[Emulex]

for my old inspiron 530 the RAID = AHCI (there is only raid and ide) - oddly any drives NOT part of a raid are AHCI and trim setup - any drives part of a raid are not trim compatible even if only a single drive (half of a raid-1)

 

[Old Hippie]

any drives part of a raid are not trim compatible even if only a single drive (half of a raid-1)

What's different from that other than there's no TRIM for drives included in the RAID array?

 

[crazylegs]

Hrmmm thats not quite my poblem.

With SATA set to IDE, BIOS sees drive, Windows installs, machine runs normally.

With SATA set to AHCI mode - SSD is NOT found in BIOS, yet it WILL be found during windows install (at drive selection screen) if i boot from Windows CD :S However, the PC fails to boot on the mid-way through restart during installation process

Not sure what else i can do, as MB BIOS has been updated, SSD firmware updated. Really want to run this drive from the SB SATA 3.0, 6GBs port, in AHCI mode for optimum performance!

Thanks again all, for anything you have to offer.

 

[Old Hippie]

Check out this thread for a little more info.

Will your machine start in RAID mode?

 

[crazylegs]

Have tried in RAID mode - same thing, freezes on POST screen, only drive it detects is the CD/DVD and not SSD.

Reading that link you provided now

Thanks

 

[flexcore]

I don't have a ssd, i'm using a f3 1tb on same board. when i installed win7 using ahci I had the same problem at first. I went back into bios and had to change another option and the it worked fine. i will go see if i can find what i changed.

have you tried a mech drive with ahci enabled?

 

[crazylegs]

Have not tired with a mechanical drive with AHCI enable, I could do as a test.

Finished reading the thread that Old Hippie linked... wow... lots of different opinions but the general consensus seems to be that AMD don't do AHCI very well and that its better off running in IDE mode!

Lots of different opinions about whether to use MS or AMD AHCI drivers in W7... and this is where my understanding lets me down... can you set BIOS to IDE, yet load a driver to run AHCI in W7?

I'm very keen to get AHCI working properly, for optimal speeds and also TRIM support.

 

[flexcore]

I just looked in my bios and my hd is not listed! I have ahci enabled, under that i have channel 4/5 set to ide for my dvd. the dvd is listed in bios. I have had no problems with this setup, yet some how i nver noticed my hd is missing in bios.

 

[Old Hippie]

I'm very keen to get AHCI working properly, for optimal speeds and also TRIM support.

I'm pretty sure TRIM is avaliable in IDE mode.

 

[flexcore]

I think i remember when i had all sata ports 0-5 as ahci, and both my hd and dvd connected, i had problems. I fixed this by setting onboard sata to ahci. Under that it has option for sata 4/5, i set that to ide. I have my hd connected the sata 0 port and my dvd to sata 4 port. Every thing worked.

 

[crazylegs]

I think i remember when i had all sata ports 0-5 as ahci, and both my hd and dvd connected, i had problems. I fixed this by setting onboard sata to ahci. Under that it has option for sata 4/5, i set that to ide. I have my hd connected the sata 0 port and my dvd to sata 4 port. Every thing worked.

Tried that also. Same problem continued for me.

TBH i'm running out of ideas... think i'm going to set it back to IDE and re-install W7, that process is pretty damn fast less than 15mins

 

[flexcore]

My hd doesn't show in bios. That makes me wonder whats going on, but my comp is working great.

 

[taltamir]

@OP: when you say it does not POST, you mean the power on self test that the bios performs? and that you must reset the cmos in order for it to post again?
or do you mean that windows will not load? Enabling AHCI shouldn't do that... try firmware update and if not then get it warranty replaced because the board is defective.
If it does post but that enabling AHCI then your current windows install will blue screen every time you run it (since it was installed on IDE and does not have AHCI drivers enabled)... but you are supposed to be installing a new copy of windows right away.

Also, as a rule, when installing windows you should ALWAYS disconnect ALL drives except the ones unto which you install windows.
So:
1. unplug all drives.
2. plug your SSD
3. Turn on AHCI
4. Install windows into SSD
5. Plug in your other drives
6. Go to drive management and reassign their drive letters as you see fit. (right click "computer" and select "manage", then click on drive management.

My hd doesn't show in bios. That makes me wonder whats going on, but my comp is working great.

the bios lists only legacy ATA connected drives in the drives section. AHCI drives are managed by a separate AHCI interface. However, AHCI connected drives should still show up in the bios if you go to select boot order

 

[crazylegs]

To clarify:

- When i was doing all of this i only had the SSD and DVD drive plugged in.

- Default settings (SATA = IDE mode), I turn on the computer, all devices are listed in BIOS, I am able to install windows onto the drive, things work properly.

- If i change SATA operation to AHCI mode, then restart the computer it will freeze (unless i hit F12 or DEL to manually interrupt the sequence...) on the 1st splash screen you see, just after CPU + RAM have been recognised and it lists detected drives, the DVD will be on list but HD is not. The weird part is that if i hit F12 (also if i hit DEL i can enter BIOS) to manually select a boot device (i.e. dont let the computer search for boot drives) then i can boot from DVD, start a windows install, it will see the SSD, but will freeze when it restarts and wants to continue the install.

''the bios lists only legacy ATA connected drives in the drives section. AHCI drives are managed by a separate AHCI interface. However, AHCI connected drives should still show up in the bios if you go to select boot order''

^ That happens to me, if after i change to AHCI, then restart and hit DEL, I can go back into BIOS and see the drive listed under boot order options. However if i leave BIOS the machine will freeze on the POST screen.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I noticed that when switched to AHCI, the HD (indeed, nothing) shows up in the traditional BIOS setup menu screens where it lists what is connected to the ports. But when it boots, it loads the AHCI BIOS module, and that auto-detects the SSD, the HD, and the DVD drive.

(For whatever reason, though, Win7 detects the HD as drive 0, and the SSD as drive 1, even though the SSD is plugged into port 0, and the HD is plugged into port 1.)

 

[taltamir]

ok, you are definitely not failing POST, you are posting just fine.
What you have is another issue.
what motherboard are you using?

 

[crazylegs]

Gigabyte GA-890GPA-UD3H 890GX

 

[taltamir]

ok, to start with go here and flash the bios. http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3516#dl
also get the latest AHCI drivers for it there and use them when installing windows 7.

 

[crazylegs]

ok, to start with go here and flash the bios. http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3516#dl
also get the latest AHCI drivers for it there and use them when installing windows 7.

Was late last night when i was posting and been at work today.

I've done a reinstall, using IDE mode as a temporary solution. After installing some drivers/software that needed a restart the machine stuck on the initial loading screen i.e. after CPU/MEM check, when it lists device drives. Loaded into windows after a restart.

BIOS has already been flashed to the lastest version.

Will take your advice regarding the AHCI drivers and do a full re-build/re-install... but may have to wait til the weeked.

If i still have trouble i'll RMA.

 

[taltamir]

good luck

 

[flexcore]

Sounds like something is wrong. Maybe you got a bad component. That sucks, but it happens.
It should have loaded windows when set to ahci using MS drivers. This and what happened when you loaded win7 under IDE leads me to think hardware issue.

Please update. I don't have a camera, otherwise I would post picks of bios settings.