Easy way to Enable AHCI on XP running in IDE mode

[idata]

When I bought my INTEL DX48BT2 motherboard I tried to enable AHCI but gave up after many wasted hours. The Internet was full of instructions for enabling AHCI without reinstalling XP but none of then worked for me. Months later when I purchased my INTEL X25-M I tried again but failed. Yesterday, I was determined to get it working and discovered why I had previously failed.

　

The DX48BT2 does not have a floppy connector so I was using a USB Floppy Drive. It works with the Windows Hardware Wizard, the Windows Repair Console, and everything else that I tried EXCEPT Window XP installation.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916196/en-us http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916196/en-us

explains that only three USB Floppy Drives will work with XP Installation. These drives were once cheap but now the only sources sell them for $78+. The other alternative given by MS is to slipstream the drivers into the XP Installation CD. My XP installation CD has XP3 already install and the instructions that I could find were for slipstreaming with SP 1 or SP 2 to SP3.

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?ProductID=2101&DwnldID=18860&lang=eng&iid=dc_rss http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?ProductID=2101&DwnldID=18860&lang=eng&iid=dc_rsshttp://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htmhttp://www.alex-is.de/PHP/fusion/news.php http://www.alex-is.de/PHP/fusion/news.php

.

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&ProductFamily=Solid+State+Drives+and+Cach... http://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&ProductFamily=Solid+State+Drives+and+Cach...

　

Instructions to enable AHCI in Windows XP without reinstall:

1) Attach eSATA Docking Station to eSATA port(s) on you motherboard.

2) Clone you SSD. Skip this step and you may regret it very soon.

A) Put drive that you are using for the SSD boot drive clone into the eSATA Docking Station.

B) If you do not have software to copy a drive then download and install the free EASUS software.

C) Copy the SSD drive to the clone drive.

WARNING:

You select the Drive not the Partition to copy.

When you copy the Drive the MBR will also be copied.

IF YOU ONLY COPY THE PARTITION YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE

TO BOOT FROM THE PARTITION.

3) Shut down your computer AND power off your eSATA Docking Station.

4) Move the clone drive from step 2 to the SATA connection and power currently used by your SSD.

5) Put your SSD into the eSATA Docking Station.

6) Power on your eSATA Docking Station.

7) Power on your computer and enter your BIOS with the proper key. DEL in my case.

😎 Set the SATA Configuration to AHCI.

In my BIOS the path to this option is: Advanced / Drive Configuration / Configure SATA as then select AHCI.

9) Set the boot drive to your SSD.

10) Save BIOS setting and exit.

11) If you did the above correctly Windows XP will start and detect an unknown PCI device.

12) Point the Windows Hardware Wizard to the AHCI drivers folder or device that you created above.

13) Hardware Wizard will install the AHCI drivers.

14) Shut down your computer AND power off your eSATA Docking Station.

15) Move SSD back to internal SSD data and power cables.

16) Label, date, and store in a safe place you SSD clone drive. On a regular basis or when you make major hardware or software changes then repeat step 2.

17) Power on your computer and enter your BIOS with the proper key. DEL in my case.

18) Set the boot drive to boot your SSD first.

19) Reboot your computer.

20) Run Intel SSD Toolbox to trim your SSD.

21) Run AS SSD Benchmark.

22) Check the upper right box for iaStor to indicate that you are using AHCI. Pciide means you are using IDE.

23) Check that the alignment says OK if not consider aligning the partition. See my posts at

/thread/14108?tstart=0 http://commu...

[idata]

When I bought my INTEL DX48BT2 motherboard I tried to enable AHCI but gave up after many wasted hours. The Internet was full of instructions for enabling AHCI without reinstalling XP but none of then worked for me. Months later when I purchased my INTEL X25-M I tried again but failed. Yesterday, I was determined to get it working and discovered why I had previously failed.http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916196/en-us http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916196/en-us explains that only three USB Floppy Drives will work with XP Installation. These drives were once cheap but now the only sources sell them for $78+. The other alternative given by MS is to slipstream the drivers into the XP Installation CD. My XP installation CD has XP3 already install and the instructions that I could find were for slipstreaming with SP 1 or SP 2 to SP3.The DX48BT2 does not have a floppy connector so I was using a USB Floppy Drive. It works with the Windows Hardware Wizard, the Windows Repair Console, and everything else that I tried EXCEPT Window XP installation.After giving it some thought I realized that I could boot my SSD from an eSATA port. When XP saw the AHCI mode controller the Windows Hardware Wizard would do all the work required. The drivers could be on my USB Floppy or any folder for that matter.In less than 15 minutes I had AHCI enable and no problems!!! I had cloned my SSD earlier and that time is not included.I have written very detailed instructions on what I did and provided as many links as possible.Don't start until you have read and understand ALL the instructions below.IF YOU DON'T FELL COMFORTABLE DOING THIS THEN GET HELP FROM SOMEONE WHO IS MORE EXPERIENCED.Hardware Requirements:

1) Your motherboard must have an external eSATA connector and its BIOS must support AHCI.

2) One spare SATA hard drive at least as large as your SSD

3) One External Hard Drive SATA Enclosure Docking Station and cable(s) or eSATA external case. If your motherboard has 2 eSATA connectors then consider a Docking station that has 2 bays. You want one that is eSATA or eSATA and USB. The USB Docking stations without eSATA are not what you want.

Software Requirements:

1) Windows XP

2) The latest version of the AHCI drivers for your motherboard. http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?ProductID=2101&DwnldID=18860&lang=eng&iid=dc_rss http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?ProductID=2101&DwnldID=18860&lang=eng&iid=dc_rss

3) EASUS offers drive cloning software for free home use. http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm

4) AS SDD benchmark

http://www.alex-is.de/PHP/fusion/news.php http://www.alex-is.de/PHP/fusion/nes.php.

5) Intel SSD Toolbox TRIM tool. http://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&ProductFamily=Solid+State+Drives+and+Cach... http://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&ProductFamily=Solid+State+Drives+and+Cach...

Before enabling AHCI,

1) Run TRIM on all partitions on your SSD

2) Run AS Benchmark and save results for later comparison.

Instructions to enable AHCI in Windows XP without reinstall:

1) Attach eSATA Docking Station to eSATA port(s) on you motherboard.

2) Clone you SSD. Skip this step and you may regret it very soon.

A) Put drive that you are using for the SSD boot drive clone into the eSATA Docking Station.

B) If you do not have software to copy a drive then download and install the free EASUS software.

C) Copy the SSD drive to the clone drive. WARNING: You select the Drive not the Partition to copy. When you copy the Drive the MBR will also be copied. IF YOU ONLY COPY THE PARTITION YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BOOT FROM THE PARTITION. 3) Shut down your computer AND power off your eSATA Docking Station.

4) Move the clone drive from step 2 to the SATA connection and power currently used by your SSD.

5) Put your SSD into the eSATA Docking Station.

6) Power on your eSATA Docking Station.

7) Power on your computer and enter your BIOS with the proper key. DEL in my case.

😎 Set the SATA Configuration to AHCI.

In my BIOS the path to this option is: Advanced / Drive Configuration / Configure SATA as then select AHCI.

9) Set the boot drive to your SSD.

10) Save BIOS setting and exit.

11) If you did the above correctly Windows XP will start and detect an unknown PCI device.

12) Point the Windows Hardware Wizard to the AHCI drivers folder or device that you created above.

13) Hardware Wizard will install the AHCI drivers.

14) Shut down your computer AND power off your eSATA Docking Station.

15) Move SSD back to internal SSD data and power cables.

16) Label, date, and store in a safe place you SSD clone drive. On a regular basis or when you make major hardware or software changes then repeat step 2.

17) Power on your computer and enter your BIOS with the proper key. DEL in my case.

18) Set the boot drive to boot your SSD first.

19) Reboot your computer.

20) Run Intel SSD Toolbox to trim your SSD.

21) Run AS SSD Benchmark.

22) Check the upper right box for iaStor to indicate that you are using AHCI. Pciide means you are using IDE.

23) Check that the alignment says OK if not consider aligning the partition. See my posts at

/thread/14108?tstart=0 http://communities.intel.com/thread/14108?tstart=024) Save your benchmark results to compare to the one that you did while in IDE mode. My results are at /thread/14108?tstart=0 http://communities.intel.com/thread/14108?tstart=0

Over time the links above may change but at least they are a starting point.

Hope this helps!

First post was corrupted when entered. Message was edited by: James Walker

First post was corrupted when entered. Message was edited by: James Walker&# 13;

[RGiff]

James I to have a DX48BT2 Board and I had a question about the MARVELL drivers , Can you use the secondary Marvell controller to make a RAID 1 set up for back-up , with out it interfering with the SSD running in AHCI mode ??

[idata]

Robert,

I create backups by cloning my drives to the eSATA drives. I have been using IDE mode to do this. To answer your question I went into the BIOS and changed the Secondary SATA Controller Mode from IDE to RAID. On reboot, created a RAID 1 with two drives connected to eSATA.

XP Pro's Disk Management does NOT see the RAID until I manually installed the INTEL Marvell driver.

[RGiff]

I am running windows 7 Pro 64 bit, 160 gig SSD (intel ) for OS and wanted to use the esata for the RAID 1 Backup. My Sys. Right now is in AHCI mode , to benifit the SSD , for some reason windows 7 dosen't like the Marvell drivers , I was hoping I could use the RAID and it would Pas-through the AHCI ??