ATI AHCI Compatible RAID Driver

[Plastered]

Thanks for the information on this thread. I have been trying for too long to update an Inspiron 1721, and can give you some updated info for those doing an update in 2011.

The ATI download links on this thread take you to the latest versions. You will need to find the 'previous versions' link on the ATI site and pick one from around the end 2009 or start 2010. This will give you the option of downloading the RAID part only (the new stuff appears to be all encompassing).

The other problem I had was that I found the ahcix86s.sys file under c:\drivers..... but not in System32. I wrongly assumed that the drivers were in a different place to some other machines. Even doing a search (with show all hidden and system files) did not find it. I had to search for Drivers in the Windows directiory to find it. Copying the new file worked, but I also unistalled the other RAID Controller (maybe it wasn't necessary) in the Storage drivers without re-booting. The 1721 is updating as I type, but I have lost many hours of my life which I won't get back. However the feeling of achievement compensates a little. Don't want to speak (or write) too soon in case the update fails on something else.

 

[pmc]

In this link you will find what you gonna need next.

Software Posting

 

[Plastered]

Everything updated ok, but seemed to take forever.
Windows 7 ended up with the same RAID driver versions that it so objected to in Vista, and refused to update until I did something about it. Now it likes it. Fickle software!

 

[axxxo]

Plastered could you give me the link for the "previous versions" link you stated you had to use to find the raid only link please.
This is doing my head in!!!

Finally got it working.
Downloaded the raid only driver.
Went to device manager
Select AMD AHCI compatible RAID controller and update driver software
Browse My computer for driver software
Let me Pick from a list of device drivers on my computer
select "have disk"
Browse then go to your C drive then ATI, SUPPORT your driver folder is here so search through it to find the ahcix86.sys file.
Update and upgrade

 

[Tim Cuculic]

FYI: I just did a clean install of Windows 7 32-bit on a Dell Inspiron 1721 using the ATI Raid drivers from the Dell site.

Here are the specific drivers I used:

ATI Serial ATA Storage/RAID
Release Date: 10/16/2007
Version: A01 2.5.1540.48
Importance: Optional
Download Type: Driver
File Format: Hard-Drive
File Size: 207KB

File Name: R167809.EXE

Here is a link to the drivers:
Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

If that link doesn't work, I would suggest searching Google for the file name: R167809.EXE

Extract the files from the exe, copy them to a USB drive, then during the Windows 7 installation, click on Load Driver and browse to the USB drive. You should then see your hard drive.


Copy drivers to a USB drive

Load drivers

You'll then see your partitions

Delete the partitions (for clean install) and install Windows 7