Windows 7: BIOS problem

Don't know if I am in the right spot but have just done a new build with an i5 2500 on a Gigabyte GS-H67A-UD3H-B3 board and have had it going really well.

I rebooted it tonight and turned to reboot the other two computers on an adjacent desk and hit a button (or two perhaps) by accident and didn't take much notice of it - heaven knows what it was and now the builds' BIOS is changed to AHCI? from the usual message that I am running SATA in IDE mode.

Have tried reading the manual but cannot find any mention re resetting it - only on how to change it to the setting AHCI Windows repair screen, system restore, and retsore with system image but cannot get my system back.

Can someone help me with this disaster?? as I am not really that savvy and do not know how I can rest my BIOS to what it was. If it means taking it all apart again then I'll do that - HELP!!

AHCI is usually the recommended choice. Is there a particular reason you want to avoid it?

You should be able to reset BIOS to defaults through a specific choice. Going from memory, there is also a choice for "optimized defaults" or something like that.

As a last resort, you could pull the CMOS battery for a half hour.

But first decide if you really want SATA rather than AHCI.

Personally I think AHCI is the best choice, but you may need to re-install the AHCI drivers for the Gigabyte board and set the bios up properly again.

You can do this without damaging the system. Boot with your Windows DVD and when Windows gives you the option to install drivers, install them.

The AHCI drivers for Gigabyte are here;

GIGABYTE - Support & Downloads

I have had this a couple of times on machines with Gigabyte boards after the BIOS has been reset. It's not really a big deal, just annoying.

There is also a good guide here for another way to do it;

http://forums.pcper.com/showthread.php?t=444831

Regards....Mike Connor

Hello mate, here's a tutorial on the method to use to enable AHCI after the OS has been installed, at this link below and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.


AHCI : Enable in Windows 7 / Vista

That looks good. Sorry, didn't know there was one available here. Still finding my way around.

Regards....Mike Connor

Hey you fellas I can't thank you enough I thought I was in real trouble - just can't think what I put my clumsy hands on - will have to stop rushing around and concentrate a bit moe.

Anyhow gonna have to do it tomorrow it's been a long one.

Thisis just such a great site and I'm not just saying that because it really is so glad I found out about it.

Plus both you blokes have helped me in the past so once again thanks so much for your time, patience and trouble.

Glad we could help and if you need further assistance be sure to post back to keep us informed.

Hello Mike, that's OK mate; there are a lot of tutorials around here and it can be a task to keep up with them.

Hiyya Bare Foot I have just read the tutorial and I have one major problem with it.

It says to install the OS before changing the BIOS settings to AHCI.
However I didn't do this I just let the mobo do as it wanted and got that SATA /IDE message then I installed the OS.

The rest is as they say history and in my haste to swivel round to the other machines resulted in me hitting down on some keys - whatever and I am stuck with a machine that now cannot get past that screen telling me that Windows cannot start because of some changes being made.

I have tried putting in the OS disk and then booting - same thing. There are other options like going through lists of instructions that I just don't understand.

The system repair runs and comes up with some details -
Problem signature01: 6.1.7600.16385
Problem signature02: 6.1.7600.16385
Problem signature03: unknown
Problem signature04: 21200564
Problem signature05: AutoFailover
Problem signature06: 5
Problem signature07: Bad driver
OSversion 6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.1
Locale ID 1033

I am not able to access anything else except the Systems Recovery Options

which I'm sure you know of

Repair, Restore,Image, Memory diags, and command prompt that selects a black command (run) screen with a message
X:\windows\system32> (flashing cursor)

So I might just try taking that battery out as ignaztonic has suggested and looking at that solution of Mike's is daunting to be honest.

Looks like I'm some serious mud slide here - perhaps a new mobo even!?
Just didn't think a) read up about this before I switched the machine on b) was a bit more careful moving aorund.

Thing is my son had no probelms with his and well neither did I it was running fine until my clumsiness last night.
Pity I just cannot clear the thing and start form scratch but getting past the above is not an option.

Still you live and learn - sometimes expensively eh?

It's not really that hard to do. You certainly do not need another motherboard. At worst, and if you don't want to try any of the solutions offered, just reinstall Windows.

You can climb out of more or less any rabbit hole! Or just take a nip from the magic bottle!

Regards....Mike Connor

Have you changed the BIOS back to IDE mode so Windows will boot?