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Win7 64bit BSOD when switching to AHCI?

Win7 64bit was originally installed using IDE setting, last week I cloned the OS with Arconis after installing a SSD. When I switched the AHCI on, BSOD hit me at the Windows startup screen.

I read about win7 64bit does not require AHCI driver installation, the OS will detect by itself. Also I tried installing the Intel rapid storage driver, but it gives me a warning of "This computer does not meet the minimum requirements for installing the software. Software will exit."

So is it the storage driver or SSD firmware or the clone file? :suspicious:

You will need to change from IDE to AHCI before installation Windows 7.

If you did that after windows 7, you will get BSOD. I had same experience.

Or try to install latest AHCI driver under Safe mode. If you don't want to reinstall windows. (May work)

Correct, you can't just switch it over. And the reason the Intel software won't install is because AHCI isn't on.

If you can't get it working, reinstall windows. You NEED to use AHCI for a drive to run at full speed. ESPECIALLY an SSD!

Your experience is typical. I was able to enable AHCI on a couple of my computers, but it took a lot of fiddling. Just about every computer has 2 or 3 hard drive controllers. I moved the boot drive to the first controller and enabled AHCI on the 2nd controller. The AHCI driver may be needed at this time. I cloned the boot drive to a hard drive on the 2nd controller, which then became the the AHCI boot drive. This operation could involve the use of both IDE and SATA drives. Most people won't have this much patience. AHCI will definitely be beneficial for a SSD.

Quote:

GUIDE - Enabling AHCI mode AFTER Windows 7 Installation

A little guide:

I am receiving a lot of emails from users who bought a SSD drive, installed Windows 7 in IDE mode and then realize they need AHCI mode for faster SSD performance. Once you enable that in the BIOS during Windows 7 boot up, the OS will crash.

The common question is, is there a solve for this ?

To answer that question (and I do this safely with all Intel ICHR9/10 chipsets) there is a way to safely enable AHCI mode. Here we go:

1. Startup "Regedit
2. Open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SYSTEM / CurrentControlset / Services
3. Open msahci
4. In the right field left click on "start" and go to Modify
5. In the value Data field enter "0" and click "ok"
6. exit "Regedit"
7. Reboot Rig and enter BIOS (hold "Delete" key while Booting

In your BIOS select "Integrated Peripherals" and OnChip PATA/SATA Devices. Now change SATA Mode to AHCI from IDE.

You now boot into windows 7, the OS will recognize AHCI and install the devices. Now the system needs one more reboot and voilla .. enjoy the improved SSD performance.

We have not tested this on Vista though.

Update -- we tested and this tweak works in Vista 100% the same.

Quote:

Q. hilbert do you know if this would cause a blue screen on windows boot, when i only changed it in the bios, and not the registry ?

A. That is correct - if you only change (enable) AHCI in BIOS while the OS was installed with regular SATA then you'll end up with a BSOD during OS bootup.

GUIDE - Enabling AHCI mode AFTER Windows 7 Installation - Guru3D.com Forums

??

is AHCI recommended for mechanical drives too? im running 5 SATA HDDs...

Quote:

Originally Posted by FerrariEnzo (Post 7746019)

is AHCI recommended for mechanical drives too? im running 5 SATA HDDs...

AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface) will let you do hot-swap. It can be used on any SATA drives.

Check on Wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance...ller_Interface

if u do the registry edit a few posts before the bsod will not happen

you can't run AHCI on HD's that are in RAID 0 right? I went into my bios and the setting is either IDE, RAID or AHCI

I have 2 60gb SSD's in Raid 0....

im not running my HDD in raid... seems to work fine..

sorry - i meant it as a question. I have 2 60gb SSD's in Raid 0 - can I run them in AHCI?

Quote:

Originally Posted by gars (Post 7746179)

sorry - i meant it as a question. I have 2 60gb SSD's in Raid 0 - can I run them in AHCI?

You can pick RAID or AHCI not both. When you pick RAID most times Windows will install a RAID driver that gives performance like the AHCI or better.

If you want AHCI you will need to break the RAID and reload Windows

When you switch to RAID mode in the bios, it is using AHCI

If i set mode to AHCI, do i enable the "SATA port1-0 native"

Yes, otherwise it will try to use 'legacy' which isn't optimal for IRQ sharing. Only needed if you're running something like DOS