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

I'm struggling with a similar problem,  trying to change XP SP3 32 bit from IDE to AHCI mode on an old Foxconn AMD system using 790GX and SB700 chips.

 

I found this thread: http://reboot.pro/topic/16452-switch-xp-on-amd-from-ide-to-ahci/  which had someone who reported success.  So, I placed the files as suggested in Post #2 and made a bat file per Post #14.   The batch file created the registry structures as expected.

 

I rebooted without enabling AHCI and it went normally so the registry wasn't destroyed.  I then rebooted and enabled AHCI in BIOS.  This boots with a short pause while  the BIOS says "AHCI Drive Init..."  and then XP booted normally.  It said it found new hardware and asked for the files so I pointed it at the ahcix86 files from Foxconn.  It refused to load  this driver, saying it isn't for my hardware.  On subsequent boots XP doesn't find new hardware.

 

While my system continues to work, it seems to be using the old IDE driver even though BIOS is enabling AHCI mode.  I have only a shaky understanding of drivers and how they get loaded so I expected NTLDR to load ahcix86.sys because it is mentioned in CriticalDeviceDatabase.  I can't tell if this happened since AHCI is apparently enabled but Device Manager says the old IDE driver is in use.

Any thoughts on what is actually going on and how I can get the driver to load properly?

 

John

Hi John,

Thanks for the link -- there is some interesting info there. I had not seen that one before.

As for the device manager: The Sata or AHCI device will never show up as anything other that Dual Channel IDE ATAPI ...... controller. So your computer should be booting in AHCI mode!  I think you are good to go, but quite obviously, I am no expert! :-)

Regards,

Kelly

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.

Tech-Geek,

Thanks, a slipstreamed SP3 is on my to do list!

Regards,

Kelly

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

Thanks for going to all that work, Tricky!  A shame that it didn't work!

Kelly

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.

 

Hi Guys, 

Sorry about the silence. I've been busy -- re-installing everything.

to answer your questions:  yes I did try the link you gave me, Tech Geek. And yes I did disconnect the other drive when installing Win 8.

More to come,

Regards,

Kelly