windows won't load in achi mode

[o1die]

I have a new ocz agility 3 ssd and windows won't load in achi mode, even with the latest ocz firmware 2.11. The foxconn 790gx bios doesn't detect the optical drive or ssd in achi mode. Windows will attempt to load off the dvd, but stops at the beginning. What's the secret to getting windows to load in achi mode. It runs fine in native ide, but I'd like to use trim. The board is foxconn a7da-s 3.0. My kingston and patriot ssd's ran fine on this board in achi mode. Any suggestions? Should I disable all ide settings in the bios while installing windows?

 

[yours truly]

Hello, I was having problems loading Windows in ACHI mode too but with a Crucial M4.

Did you install Windows via IDE mode? - this didn't work for me though. I started switching sata ports on the motherboard and then finally it worked. I think it was sata0 that did the trick.

edit: I just reminded myself of something. Instead of going into bios, I hit f11 which took me to the boot options instead. I don't know what that'll be on your motherboard. I selected CD/DVD, and then my computer asked to generate an ACHI driver (or something similar) I plugged in a USB drive, hit yes, rebooted and that worked for me.


-I'm still new to computers so apologies if it doesn't work.

 

[lupi]

The limited I know about this after just installing them recenntly in 2 pcs, is to instaall the drives, go into bios on 1st boot and switch all drive settings from ide to achi, the reboot and install windows.

 

[Emulex]

yeah you'll be hatin' life if you are stuck in IDE

 

[adamantinepiggy]

If your motherboard has more than one HBA (another SATA controller beyond the Intel or AMD one), there is a trick you can do to change from an IDE install to AHCI. Change the 2nd SATA controller to use AHCI, then boot into Windows on the IDE SATA controller. Windows will load the AHCI driver for the 2nd controller. Shut down and move drive to now AHCI controller and then change to AHCI more in the BIOS of the controller that was still in IDE mode. When you boot into Windows, since it has AHCI drivers, it will now boot up proper in AHCI mode. You can now move the drive to either SATA controller without any boot up issues. In fact, you can change them to IDE or AHCI at will since Windows has the drivers loaded for either mode now.

 

[o1die]

I doubt this foxconn board has more than one sata controller. I hesitate to replace it until I find a board that works in achi mode. I'm going to do some more research. The drive works great, but all I get is a blinking curser after the post screen in achi. It was very cheap and has a multitude of board connections including hdmi and spdif ports, and onboard video with both ports. Newegg has a biostar sata 3 controller card for around $24but biostar doesn't answer my question about whether it supports achi mode. Thanks for all your responses.

 

[Old Hippie]

My kingston and patriot ssd's ran fine on this board in achi mode

And the OCZ drive doesn't.

Weird.

 

[o1die]

I switched the agility 3 to my biostar a880g+ board and it runs fine in achi mode, but takes longer to boot. Windows experience hardrive score is 7.6 in sata II mode.

 

[zCypher]

The last Vertex3 I installed on a Biostar A880G+, installed it in IDE mode and wondered why it was slow. Went into the BIOS and changed it to AHCI, it would no longer boot up. You need to make sure you install Windows with the BIOS set to the correct mode, or you're liable to see this type of issue. Did you actually install Windows on the Agility 3 with the BIOS in AHCI mode? If so, sorry but you got me on this one!

 

[o1die]

Tell me about it. The foxconn bios was so bad that the windows dvd wouldn't load it's drivers in achi mode as the optical drive wasn't recognised when set to achi mode. Talked to ocz techs and they were no help. I've been doing this for twenty years. I changed the biostar board to a new case and it booted up first try in achi mode when using the trick to get the achi drivers to load after you've installed windows in ide mode (changing one registry settting from 3 to 0). I know all the procedures for installing windows. Learned alot from microsoft when on the phone for an hour with them for a bad xp cd; they told me all they're procedures for getting windows to load and gave up and sent me a new cd instead.

 

[o1die]

Figured out why the agility 3 won't run in achi mode on my foxconn board; the board loads the achi drivers after the post screen, so the agility doesn't detect the drivers quickly enough; hence the blank screen. Emailed foxconn tech support with a suggestion to change the achi drivers to the post screen like the biostar board.