Windows 7: AHCI Issue

Hey Techies...

I need some information regarding the convertion of SATA to AHCI.



I have built a new PC with i5 2500K,Asus P8Z77 M Pro Motherboard and 8GB Transcend RAM.

I tried to install Windows 7 ultimate after formatting my old hard disk(Segate Bracuda 500 GB).I got an error as "Enable Host Controller in BIOS settings"

Then i surfed and found that this is the issue with SATA to AHCI Conversion.

I also found a Microsoft KB Error message when you start a Windows 7 or Windows Vista-based computer after you change the SATA mode of the boot drive: "STOP 0x0000007B INACCESSABLE_BOOT_DEVICE". The KB has a Auto fix setup file that can be installed on a pre installed hard disk. But i have formatted my disk and i couldn't install a new copy of windows 7.

There is an auto run files for the same Auto Fix but when i tried to boot the auto fix from a USB stick,i got an error "Please insert Floppy Disk for copying files".

I dont have a floppy drive attached to my new computer.

I have a solution..Can you guys confirm me whether it will work or not?

let me connect it to my old computer(intel dual core with mercury motherboard) and install window7 in it with the Auto fix installed on it and if i connect it to my new computer and boot it will it be working?Is SATA will be converted to AHCI after doing this?

Can any one tell me..?I m totally fed up with this AHCI

Thanks in advance for your jiffy solutions!!

SATA is AHCI. You aren't converting from SATA to AHCI. You are comverting your SATA ports from IDE mode to AHCI mode.

Given the fact you've spent a lot of time on it, why not just do a clean install? If you plan ahead, that process can be down to under 2 hours, and the system will be configured with AHCI.

On top of that, if you don't have an SSD drive, why bother with it right now? Just make a note to change it later on when you decide to do a clean install.

I think if you do an install one one PC and attempt to move the drive to another one, the install will be borked due to needing a whole new set of drivers.

AHCI only enables hot swapping and Native Command Queuing, NCQ, otherwise is identical to IDE.

Thanks for your reply guys..

Hey DeaconFrost..When I tried to do a clean install,i have formatted my Partition C: and selected the Partition C: for installing. when i click on NEXT it shows an error message as "Windows cannot be installed on the selected partition".I clicked for the details and it says "Enable Host Controller in BIOS Setting".

Hey Britton, I thought of selecting the suitable drivers during installation of windows in my new PC after enabling the AHCI with the old pc(Old Chipset).Do you have any other suggestions??

Go into your BIOS and enable SATA/AHCI there before installing and you should be fine. Otherwise you can try a different SATA connector for install then afterwards search for the appropriate driver and install it.

Hello shaikhyas Welcome to SF!

You may want to review the guide for this. AHCI : Enable in Windows 7 / Vista

When first getting the present case here together I ran into a similar problem with the initial 7 install using the factory defaults in the bios as far as drive mode settings. I forget what the default was but upon changing it to Native iDE 7 loaded right up.

Lately however following a clean install I went back and looked at the guide Bare Foot Kid wrote and changed the Native IDE to AHCI or more commonly known as the SCSI mode since it will add something to the post screens when going to start up.

Upon reaching the desktop once the setting change was made 7 then prompted for the restart as the guide explained and installed the second pair of storage drives while completing the changeover without issue. Before simply wiping the drive that's a good read there to consider.

You shouldn't format the drive before running the Windows installer. I know we had to do that back in much older OSes, but not for at least a decade, if not more. Start with a blank drive and try to install again.

hate to butt in, but i believe post #3 has a typo and could add confusion - SATA should be IDE, so it should read:

AHCI only enables hot swapping and Native Command Queuing, NCQ, otherwise is identical to IDE.

Thanks Dave, post edited.

I didn't format my drive before running Windows Installer.Just tried to do a clean install after running the setup and i didn't notice that the bios default setting is in AHCI.When i tried formatting,Unusually it took more time and it was formatted.When i tried to install Windows7 i got an error as "Windows could not be installed on the selected partition. The computer's hardware may not support booting to this disk.Ensure that the disk's controller is enabled in the computer's BIOS menu".

I tried to load the necessary drivers form Asus Support Disk,But i got the same error.

All the Partitions are showing when i select AHCI in BIOS settings.But when i select IDE no partition is showing up

Tried all the possible drivers,but no luck

For your information, My Hard disk does not have any OS installed on it.

If i have an OS installed on the hard drive then its possible to fix this either by changing the registry or running Auto Fix.

Don't know how to proceed