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

If you want to install another OS after installing XP, (if it's on another hdd, you SHOULD leave the XP hdd connected / dont disconnect it).

Otherwise thats what will happen. You wont get a boot menu with the option to select either OS

The 2nd OS you install (it doesnt matter if its Vista, Win 7 or WIn8 - if you leave the XP hdd connected) it SHOULD pick up the XP install. And add its boot info to the 2nd OS's boot.ini file. Then you SHOULD have the option of booting into either OS

I

Thanks, Taupo,

Yep, that's what I did the second time around, and dual booting is working as it should, without EasyBCD! Thanks again. Going to be a long time before Windows 8 is my main OS though!  Too many compatibility issues with my currant hardware pariferrals and software. Also will take me a while to learn, and adjust to the new OS and GUI. Huge difference coming from XP!  I've set the Start screen to my secondary monitor and desktop to my main monitor. I like that Win 8 supports dual monitors, but don't like the (lack of) easy customization. I've installed Display Fusion, a program I'd already learned to like installed in XP. Once I get the drivers correct for my two monitors I am hoping I can run separate calibration profiles on each  monitor. Can't do that in XP, but I was told that Win 7/8  can. Hope that is correct. Win 8 64 bit is for sure quicker than my XP 32 bit install!

Regards,

Kelly

If you wanted to change the resolution, you would install the videocard drivers not the monitor drivers??

Well, I've never seen any options in monitor drivers that let you change the resolution.

Correct!  However, Win 8 says it has the latest driver for my display adapter!  I have downloaded the latest drivers from AMD for my graphics card and will try intalling them. I'm now a little worried about updating Win 8 drivers. I think I killed my first install of Win 8 with a driver. It was a recommended  update from MS through a Windows update notification  for one of my printers (not one that I downloaded from the manufacturer). I'm now very gun-shy about updating  Windows 8 drivers. The OS is still very new -- can't say I really trust it yet, especially after the printer driver related crash!

So if Win 8 says my graphics device driver is the latest,  and I can't set the correct refresh rate and resolution, what gives?  I think Windows has to have the correct driver and info about the display. On CRT displays, you can kill the monitor with a refresh rate that is too high!

Windows drivers are generic drivers. It doesnt matter WHAT (version of Windows is installed, or WHAT the device is).

They're limited in what they can do.

It's like printer drivers. Windows 8 may have some of the latest printer drivers already. It doesn't mean everything on the printer (like printing / scanning) is going to work with them

Which can be a bugger if the manufacturer's site doesn't have Win8 drivers. Even tho some sites say Windows 8 has built in printer drivers

You maybe stuffed, if you want to use all of the printer's functions. You may have to buy a new printer, that's got Windows 8 drivers on the site

So, yup if it's an AMD/ATI card, its better if you get them from whatever site. I wouldn't rely on the WIndows drivers.

The only driver I've downloaded from Windows update is the ACPI one, thats about it And the mouse / keyboard. Which haven't affected anything. Anything else, I would go to the manufacturer's site.

I wouldn;'t rely on Window update for ALL drivers. They can stuff things up

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

I guess my final idea came too late then? Shame, I thought it stood an excellent chance.

I wouldn't use Windows Update for any drivers unless I had to. Like Taupo Tech says, they can (and do) screw things up. The best place for drivers is the manufacturer's website.

Tricky

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

I guess my final idea came too late then? Shame, I thought it stood an excellent chance.

 

I wouldn't use Windows Update for any drivers unless I had to. Like Taupo Tech says, they can (and do) screw things up. The best place for drivers is the manufacturer's website.

Tricky           

Hi Tricky,

Yes, that was always my experience with Windows XP. But Windows 8 goes about everything much differently!  And quite a few of the drivers I'm finding are not really Windows 8 drivers they are Windows 7 drivers that the manufacturer is apparently saying will work with Windows 8.

Regards,

Kelly