SATA, AHCI, Raid compatability

[zzprop]

So I'm setting up a M4N78 pro asus mobo for windows 7.

delima # 1
I just took out my XP sata drive and Installed a new drive for 7_ 64 bit. I set it up for ahci because I want to set it up for raid. I read where if you set a drive up for raid it has to be an ahci drive at least on this mobo. Is that correct or am I misunderstanding something?
Not a problem for that. OK now I have a few programs on the XP drive that will not work on Win 7 GO Figure. I would like to set up with a drive swap bay so when I want to use those programs I can shut down and swap drives and reboot.

Problem is I don't have the XP drive set up in ahci mode. My bios now is set to ahci for the win 7 drive. I read where if you boot a sata drive that is not set up ahci with the bios set to ahci it will zap the OS. Can I convert the xp drive without jacking it up to ahci. I definately don't want to go into BIOS when I swap drives to much hasel.

delima # 2
I updated the bios on the board to the newest asus offers for this board a week ago for my 7 install. I was still running XP 32 bit when I did this and had no issue everything was fine.
My ehternet on the mobo died saturday and I put in a new nic card and now when I boot in XP it tells me I have to reactivate the XP OS ,which is OEM, in three days because of significant mobo changes. This happened after I installed the new nic. Wow if that is a significant change.... whatever billy G.

Iv'e been using this computer for years and never had that issue. I put in a new sound card a year ago and never got a warning. Since the Xp is an OEM I sure don't want to buy a new license for an OS that they don't even support any more and I don't know if I will but I am afraid if i try to reactivate it and don't want to pay, will the os shut down? I'm not going to use it on the internet any more just for local don't care about antivirus or anything else. I'm using 7 now and it's working great I love it.

ZZ

 

[essenbe]

As far as activation, I would think you will have no problems. It may take a phone call to activate, but that is normally no big deal. If you are running Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate, you can run Windows XP mode where all of your programs from XP will install and run. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8247-windows-xp-mode-install-setup.html

Failing that you can install XP in a Virtual Machine and run it that way without having to dual boot or swap hard drives. This may help. It is how to set up Linux in a Virtual Machine with VMware player (free). It will work the same way to run XP in. (http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8247-windows-xp-mode-install-setup.html) I have XP running in a VM now. One of those options should solve most of your problems.

As far as #1, it will not matter. When you set up raid, you will have to do a clean install anyway, no matter what your sata controller is set to. Raid is a striped array of disks and has to be set up and clean installed. There is really almost no reason to run raid on a home computer, and I would recommend against it. If it is speed you want, get a SSD to run your OS and programs on.