Reinstalling windows as ACHI mode

I had a friend help install windows, back then I was clueless about the whole deal with achi and ide. A while later, I had to switch hard drives just to run some tests, and the computer wouldnt but, even after putting the original back in.

Turns out BIOS had set itself to ACHI, not allowing windows to boot. Switching it to IDE made it work.

Now I bought an SSD, and its not quite detecting. Im also hearing ACHI is much faster than IDE, so I want to just spend time and switch over.


How would I go about reinstalling windows as ACHI? I have an installation disk and everything. I've already started backing up files to leave the boot disk empty and ready to roll.

AHCI isn't much faster than IDE mode. I belive that it's required to use some features (like TRIM with an SSD).

You may be able to switch without re-installing Windows:

Error message occurs after you change the SATA mode of the boot drive

If you need to re-install Windows after all, switch the SATA controller to AHCI mode in the BIOS settings. Then install Windows. You shouldn't need any drivers other than those included in the Windows installation. You may want to use the Intel chipset driver package that's most appropriate to your motherboard, but you can do that any time.

bobkn said:

AHCI isn't much faster than IDE mode. I belive that it's required to use some features (like TRIM with an SSD).

You may be able to switch without re-installing Windows:

Error message occurs after you change the SATA mode of the boot drive

If you need to re-install Windows after all, switch the SATA controller to AHCI mode in the BIOS settings. Then install Windows. You shouldn't need any drivers other than those included in the Windows installation. You may want to use the Intel chipset driver package that's most appropriate to your motherboard, but you can do that any time.

Thanks, I was seeing that. I tried using Regedit to change it (set it to 0) and it ran as ACHI, but SSD still not being recognized. I'll google around, but if anyone has any ideas of how to get it to show up that would be great!

Enter BIOS setup to reset to defaults, then set SATA controller to AHCI, Save changes and exit.

Boot the WIn7 installer with only the SSD plugged in, at first screen press Shift + F10 to open a Command Line, run Diskpart Clean Command.

]Close Command Box, click Install Now to Clean Install Windows 7.

If install fails post back exact error message and at which step it failed.