Sata mode

I have an Acer 5338 laptop computer running Windows 7. I used to be able to switch the SATA Mode between AHCI and IDE but now, although I can carry out switching in the BIOS, the computer will only boot when set to IDE. If set to AHCI it begins the boot sequence then a very brief BSOD flashes by and the boot sequence begins again. Have changed the Registry Key settings as per Microsofts instructions, but still no change when booting in AHCI mode. When attempting to install the AHCI driver (aquired from my Acer Upgrade DVD, supplied by Acer when I upgraded from Vista to Windows 7) via Intel Installation Framework (all from the Acer Upgrade DVD) I get the message "This computer does not meet the minimum requrements for installing the software". Attempting to install the driver within Device Manager results in the message "Windows has determined the driver software is up to date"
I am at a loss to know what elese to try.
Anyone got any ideas?

Regards,

Wychwar

Hello WHS,
Thanks for the reply. I am attempting to change to a SSD. Have cloned the contents of the original Hard Drive to the SSD. When fitted into the laptop in place of the old HDD it is recognized in the BIOS but Windows will not boot. The screen just goes blank. Changing between AHCI and IDE has no effect.

Regards,

Wychwar

Hello again,

I used Easeus Todo Home Backup to clone the old HDD and to copy to the new SSD. Everything seems to be copied O.K. Although there is a very slight discrepancy in the size of the copied data compared to the original.

regards,

Wychwar

Hello WHS,
Sorry for the delay. Developments have occurred. Following your advice, I downloaded Macrium Backup software. The SSD was formated to remove all data then using the Macrium software the old HDD was cloned to the SSD. Fitted to the Acer laptop it worked fine for about three days. The laptop was booted up and used in the morning then turned off. When an attempt was made to boot up again, the message no operating system appeared and the laptop was useless until the old HDD was re-fitted. Placing the SSD in a usb caddy and a Startech USB to IDE SATA Adapter, and connecting to three different computers, proved that the SSD was dead.
I had purchased this OCZ SSD in August 2011, but as it was a SAT device it would not fit the laptop it had been purchased for. Although the SSD lasted only three days OCZ could offer no help.

Regards,

Wychwar