ok I've read this entire thread and still cannot get it to work. I changed the registry value. Downloaded the drivers from dell (only had ones for vista 64bit) there is no exe file to automatically install the drivers. So I went to device manager and tried to update the drivers manually and it said the latest drivers were installed. If I choose let me decide then select have disk and point it to the driver folder it then says it installed sucessfully. So i restart my computer and change the bios settings and I get a bluescreen when windows starts loading. Then I have to do a system restore.
When in device manager and I point it to the right folder there are 2 different files I can choose from. One is iaAHCI.inf and the other is iaStor.inf. After I choose either one it then lists several different models which are like Intel ICH7, ICH9, ICH8 etc... So wich file should I choose and then how do I tell which model I need to pick?
Thanks
Had a look at your manual, typical Dell manual, vague, have been using them for years. Generally not much help.
Does you BIOS say RAID Autodetect/ATA?
Give me the exact wording for all the choices.
From your manual:
SATA Drives 0 through 4
(On default)
Enables or disables drives attached to the SATA connectors on the system board.
Off — A device attached to the interface is not usable.
On — A device attached to the interface is usable.
eSATA
(On default)
Enables or disables eSATA.
Off — eSATA is disabled.
On — eSATA is enabled.
NOTE: eSATA is not supported in ATA mode.
SATA Operation
(RAID On default)
Enables or disables RAID (for more information, see the Dell Technology Guide).
RAID Autodetect/ATA — RAID if signed drives, otherwise ATA.
RAID On — SATA is configured for RAID on every boot.
From my dealings with Dell, SATA should mean AHCI will be working.
ATA, strictly by definition can mean SATA or PATA, with Dell
I think it means PATA, so no AHCI.
It appears that if your using ports 0-4, it should be in SATA, meaning AHCI enabled.
Are there other ports dedicated for RAID?
They might be a different color.
Dell is very careful about not giving any more information than they absolutely have to.
Also noticed at the Dell Community help site,
ATA can mean PATA(IDE) or SATA, the ATA mode in the bios is more stable, and your drive is running in SATA mode.
Not sure if this info is accurate.
Read this,
How to turn on RAID / eSata port on XPS 420.
It's for a XPS 420, but should be similar to yours, just use your latest driver for your XPS 430.
This may be what you have already done.
Have a look around that forum, or post a question, you might get the answer.
It's a user to user forum, which is usually more helpful than from Dell