How do I change Windows XP to use AHCI disk mode rather than IDE mode for Dual boot?

Anonymous
2012-11-24T16:14:09+00:00

Original Title: How do I change Widows XP from IDE  mode to AHCI mode so that I can dual boot to Widows 8

I have XP is installed in IDE mode on one SSD, and Win 8 is installed in AHCI mode on a second SSD . How do I  switch my  XP install to boot in AHCI mode so that I can dual boot?  My motherboard is an ASRock 990FX Extreme4.  The bios can be swiched from one mode to the other, but can't be set for each drive individually. I've found plenty of guides on switching the device driver in the XP device manager, but none have worked for me. I have AHCI SATA drivers from ASRock and from AMD, but I always get the message to the effect that the driver applicable to my hardware.  Can't find any info on this here (in these forums).  In the XP device manager there are 9 devices listed. Three primary channel, three secondary channel and three dual channel. 

Regards,

Kelly

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2012-11-30T10:39:41+00:00

    Hello Again Kelly,

    TechGeek is correct that you could, if you feel capable and want to, create a slipstreamed installation CD incorporating textmode AHCI drivers and SP3 and other things too. This would be an investment for the future but given that XP is a dead product in April 2014 how much of an investment would depend on whether you think it likely another installation would be necessary.

    However, if it's not too late, here is a plan that I thought of whilst trying (unsuccessfully!) to get to sleep last night, that stands a fair chance of working...

    1. If you haven't already done so, install the Marvell drivers
    2. Move the disk onto a Marvell SATA port and check it boots OK
    3. Switch to AHCI for the SB850 chip in BIOS and reboot
    4. Hopefully, new hardware will be detected for which you have already installed the drivers, but if drivers are not found install the all in 1 again
    5. Switch the drive back to a SB850 SATA port after successful driver installation

    Tricky

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-11-29T23:43:38+00:00

    I think you are stuck with having to do a (clean) re-installation using the F6 driver diskette to solve your problem.

    Is there a particular reason you wouldn't slipstream Sp3, the sata drivers and the product key code into the disc? It sure would save a lot of time and aggravation in my experience.  It takes less than 15 minutes to create the new disc with all the drivers and key code. Should the OP so choose, the region, user account name and other settings can also be integrated. All of which saves a ton of time and trouble. This is especially true with sp3. At any given time you can look here on MS Answers and see a list of post where people are having issues installing sp3 after the fact. JMO of course.

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-11-29T22:57:00+00:00

    Karyonix: http://reboot.pro/index.php?showtopic=11729  Still correct me if I'm wrong, he seems to be talking about editing a registry key, which in my case, I don't believe to be there. So it would mean creating a new entry. I'm not qualified to be fooling around like that in the registry.

    Yes, registry editing is involved. If you don't feel comfortable editing the registry, the safest thing is don't. Especially bearing in mind that I am not convinced of the quality of the instructions. I think you are stuck with having to do a (clean) re-installation using the F6 driver diskette to solve your problem.

    Tricky

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-11-28T21:03:28+00:00

    Hello Kelly,

    I have now slipstreamed SP3 and Intel AHCI drivers onto a new installation CD and done an upgrade installation on a (almost) clean SP2 installation. Sadly from your perspective, the result was negative.

    Tricky

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  5. Anonymous
    2012-11-28T20:56:45+00:00

    I certainly don't want to be the cause of a dispute here!

    Rest assured there is no dispute. Tricky and I have worked together here for a long time and sometimes have to agree to disagree. I have the utmost respect for his efforts, but as the name implies I'm a techgeek and like any other techgeek I refuse to be wrong even when I am wrong much less when I am right...lol.

    Moving on to your issue now. I completely understand your desire to resolve the issue. I am the same way about things, but sometimes the time comes when you are just beating your head against a wall for no reason. I'm not saying that is the case here but rather making a general statement.

    I am curious if you tried the AMD driver I linked you to?

    Also, Taupo made an excellent point asking if the Xp hdd was disconnected when you installed Win8?

    If you end up performing a clean install make sure you install Xp first. I am not so familiar with Win8, but would imagine it is very much like Win7 when it comes to dual boot. Installing Win7 prior to Xp leaves you to use EasyBCD.

    My infamous Edit: Yes, creating a slipstreamed disc is the way to go. Using the driver I linked you to you can also choose to slipstream the graphics driver if your graphics are on board. The file is self extracting and will create an AMD folder at the root of your hdd provided you do not change the file path.

    I read the whole thread again before posting (and again after your reply) - I must've 'speedreading'!   

    No problem. I do it myself. You had me re-reading the entire post as well...lol.

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