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]

Robert,

My eSATA RAID 1 is two WD Raptor WD740 73.4 GB drives attached to DX48BT2 via eSATA iStarUSA HDD Docking Station xAGE-902DU-SAU.

I use premium shielded eSATA external cables from SATACables.com. Bought the cables when I was having problems connecting eSATA drives to my cable box DVRs. The problems turned out to be with outside wiring. Never had a problem with the cables that came with the HDD Docking Station, use the cables because I have them.

Added eSATA cables info.

[idata]

Robert,

Intel® Driver Update Utility does not recognize the need for INTEL MARVELL drivers. They must be manually downloaded and installed then the eSATA RAID is recognized. When the Secondary SATA Controller Mode is IDE no drivers are required to see eSATA drives. Have tested eSATA RAID 1 in XP Pro and Windows 7 Enterprise 64 Bit. No problems encountered.

[RGiff]

well I'll give that a try when I get a chance right now my Esata drive has a project on it that I will need to transfer to another HD. Before I can try the Marvell set-up again But thanks for the INFO

[RGiff]

Can you tell me the Ver. # of the Marvell drivers that you used with Windows 7 ??

[idata]

Robert,

I am running the latest Marvell driver 1.2.0.7103 from http://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&keyword=%22marvell%22 http://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&keyword=%22marvell%22