ACHI Problems

Sorry I misread the question, here is what you want: AHCI : Enable in Windows 7 / Vista

You may need to go into BIOS, reset to IDE, Boot into Windows, reset the registry string (which should now be 3), to 0, then restart, BIOS, set AHCI.
The issue is to get W7 to install the AHCI drivers.

Good morning and welcome to the Windows 7 support forums,
My limited experience throughout the RC and the final release has been that AHCI was designed for SATA/IDE as a redundant utilisation. SATA connect was never intended as a hot swap/cold plug on the motherboard. True "HOT CONNECT/COLD PLUG" design is for SCSII and USB connect where the peripheral can safely be ejected while the system is live. Windows redundancy allows for 2+ more peripherals to record and back each other up to the lowest or smallest sized drive. We must realize that all peripherals are recorded onto the system profile. So I hypothosize that removing a peripheral while connected via the SATA connect causes the Operating system to as: "Whats going on here?" "This does not match the system profile?" Hence you get a reboot and the operating system has to write a new system profile.

bassfisher6522 said:

TVeblen said:

morrowmedia said:

I thought I had previously enabled AHCI but I enabled AHCI for the GSATA not the SATA. So now that it is set right.....

So if I understand this correctly, you installed W7 on your system drive before you set the SATA configuration in the BIOS to AHCI. Correct?

You cannot switch SATA modes after installing W7 without problems*. To use AHCI mode you need to clean install W7 again after setting the mode in BIOS.

*There are ways to edit the registry to correct the condition (I am told) but just reinstalling windows in the proper mode is faster and easier IMHO.

So how do you actually set/change the bios to AHCI before installing an OS? I'm curious to understand that myself.

you Boot, hit the BIOS button until it opens... then you change your HDD mode to AHCI and then you install the OS

severedsolo said:

you Boot, hit the BIOS button until it opens... then you change your HDD mode to AHCI and then you install the OS

Just to expand on what Martin said:
In an AMI BIOS you usually press DELete during the initial boot to enter the BIOS.

On the first tab "MAIN" there is a item called "Storage Configuration". Highlight that and hit ENTER.

The first item is "Configure SATA as", and the default is [IDE]. With the item highlighted, press the + key till it reads [AHCI] or [RAID].

Tab over to the Exit tab and select "Exit and save changes" and hit enter.

You can now reboot the system with the W7 disk in the drive and begin the OS install in AHCI mode.

The Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI) is an application programming interface defined by Intel which defines the operation of Serial ATA host bus adapters in a non-implementation-specific manner. The specification describes a system memory structure for computer hardware vendors to exchange data between host system memory and attached storage devices. As of June 2008, the current version of the specification is v. 1.3.[1] AHCI gives software developers and hardware designers a standard method for detecting, configuring, and programming SATA/AHCI adapters. AHCI is separate from the SATA 3Gb/s standard, although it exposes SATA's advanced capabilities (such as hot-plugging and native command queuing) such that host systems can utilize them.

Hot swapping and hot plugging are terms used to describe the functions of replacing system components without shutting down the system. More specifically, hot swapping describes replacing components without significant interruption to the system, while hot plugging describes the addition of components that would expand the system without significant interruption to the operation of the system.[1] Once the appropriate software is installed on the computer, a user can plug and unplug the component without rebooting. A well-known example of this functionality is the Universal Serial Bus (USB) that allows users to add or remove peripheral components such as a mouse, keyboard, or printer.

And HDDs, I've been doing this for a couple of years, eSATA externals HDDs as well as internal HDDs. This will include Hot Swappable drive bays.

Intel Serial ATA, Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI)

AHCI encompasses a PCI device. It contains a PCI BAR (Base Address Register) to implement native
SATA features. AHCI contains definitions for the following features:
• Support for 32 ports
• 64-bit addressing
• Elimination of Master / Slave Handling
• Large LBA support
• Hot Plug
• Power Management
• HW Assisted Native Command Queuing
• Staggered Spin-up
• Cold device presence detect
• Serial ATA superset registers
• Activity LED generation
• Port Multiplier

When an eSATA external HD is plugged into an eSATA port, this port is normally directly connected to a SATA port on the motherboard. Sometimes it will go to a controller.

With your computer running you can plug in an external HD via eSATA or a Hot Swappable drive bay, even internally to the computer, it will be recognized and function as if it was booted at startup.
To disconnect use 'Safely Remove Hardware', wait until it says it can be removed and then unplug it.

If the MS 'Safely Remove Hardware' function isn't working you can D/L this app that looks and acts just like the MS 'Safely Remove Hardware' function.
HotSwap

I have used this program for a couple of years and works with 32-bit and 64-bit OS.

This tutorial works for most computers, AHCI : Enable in Windows 7 / Vista.

I did this in a similar fashion a couple of years ago, it worked with no problems. No need to re-install the OS, unless you want to.