M17xR2 - Switching from AHCI to ATA results in a BIOS hang

Is it only me that the BIOS doesn't POST when selecting the ATA mode instead of AHCI or RAID?

 

Loading up XP? lol

 

I discovered yesterday that my SSD has 14MB/s 4K random read and 24 MB/s 4K random writes. (Compared to my R1 that had 23MB/s and 70MB/s respectively)
I have performed 7 clean windows installations so far and tested every possible driver combination (chipset and storage drivers), the best results I get is with the default drivers from windows (without the chipset drivers installed) (16MB/s and 32MB/s). The sequential read/write speed is the same.
In every format I do a secure erase to make sure that the performance is the maximum possible but I have to remove the disk every time and perform the erase to another laptop and the whole procedure is taking too long.
So I started playing with the BIOS and did a clean Windows installation using the RAID instead of AHCI mode but the result was the same.
When I selected ATA mode, the BIOS didn't POST and I had to remove the CMOS battery.
I just wanted to make sure that it's not only my laptop that has this BIOS bug.

 

Stamatisx -

I wonder if this is expected since the drive was previously set for AHCI. What happens if you let it sit at the hang point? Is there any drive activity at all? Does it resume itself after a set time?

I seem to recall something about this - just cant remember where. Will google about later when I have time.

 

No activity at all BatBoy, I also have another HDD on the second slot. The laptop freezes completely. I press the power button to shut it down and I after I turn it on whether I press the F2 to enter the BIOS or not, it simply halts. I cannot enter the BIOS at all. Resetting the BIOS is the only way.
Right now I am more concerned about the low random reads and writes and I don't know if it is the chipset, the drivers or the SSD to blame.

 

I've raised that issue once already. If you remember scook posted a crystalmark results of his x25m and his were much better than mine on the r2 and I couldn't figure out why. I was told by Les to bench in safe mode to see those numbers but scoop was getting them normally. I couldn't figure it out back then and now it's happening to you too.
Seems like the R1 can utilize SSDs better.
Or you could just ruine my whole theory and say that you saw those good numbers that you mentioned on R2

 

Try removing all the hard drives and then booting with ATA enabled. I have read at many a place that running in ATA boosts SSD performance but I like hot swapping too much!

Also, ATA runs fine on my machine, I have used it with mechanical drives connected via e-sata for my XP install and it never had a hiccup.

 

Safe mode gives me the exact same low numbers It was actually the first I checked before I formatted the first time.
Once I install a chipset or a storage driver (either Dell's or the latest from Intel) the random reads and writes are less than half from those with the R1.
I checked the SSD and it's fine.
So it's either the drivers or the chipset.

I will remove both disks and see if it will POST

 

same with my ssd. did you use hdtune pro?

 

I still think that ssds on R2 perform slower than on R1.

 

Ok, prior to removing both disks, I reflashed my BIOS just to make sure it wasn't a bad flash. Then I removed both disks and I left it there waiting. It took me like 3 minutes without any activity before I was able to enter the BIOS setup.
Then I put both disks back in and rebooted. The same thing, it waited there without any activity for a few minutes and it just blue screened. I tried to change the boot order so it will boot for the DVD but in vain. So ATA mode doesn't work on the R2 (at least for me).

What still remains to be answered is the low performance of the SSD but I will continue this to the other thread.

 

Unless you changed start in the msahci registry BEFORE changing the BIOS to ATA, it will bluescreen on windows start up

So that means it may actually be working. Some times my laptop hangs for a while before posting after flashes (BIOS or GPU) but it always comes out of it eventually....unless it is a CPU overclock that is too high then I have to do a CMOS pull

 

The BIOS had the default values except from the ATA mode.
The problem is that it doesn't boot from the DVD so I can't make a clean installation and check the SSD performance with different drivers on ATA mode.

 

if i got it right you say it doesnt boot with ssds at ATA mode. what i can say is that i never installed win7 on ATA mode but i used the ATA mode to update ssds firmware (using a fw update usb). During the last case the bios needed too much time to boot and be able to choose boot order . after firmware update i just turned back to AHCI. turning from ATA to AHCI is fast. the opposite is not

 

I don't know if this is similar to your issue stamatisx, but if my HDD was in AHCI and I enabled ATA, I could not boot or access the drives at all. I would have to reformat the drive under that mode to get the computer to see it and be able to boot. If I tried to go back to AHCI, same issue.

 

Using ATA mode, it doesn't boot from the DVD so I can install Windows, the fact that it throws a BSOD means that it does boot from the SSD (ATA mode) after too much time.

yes that's because of the AHCI/ATA installation. That's normal

 

Does anyone have the answer to this BIOS Hang issue yet? If not I have resolution.

 

I am listening

 

Here is how to switch from ATA/IDE to AHCI mode for those not sure:
How to Enable AHCI in Windows 7 | Windows 7 News

Making the change in the BIOS only and not the OS will results in the blue screens when booting..

 

I think the point Stamatis is making is that he is seeing a hang in the BIOS portion of the power up sequence. From what he has posted, it doesn't sound like he is making it into Windows at all - so no BSOD as a result. Correct me if I misunderstood Stamatis. Sounds like a bug if others have the same result.

 

My post was mainly for the people mentioning that they could not get into windows after changing the bios setting

 

As I have already mentioned, I use the default drivers from Windows, so I tried to change the registry key to from 0 to 3 (to enable ATA) but it was already set to 3!!! That has to be the reason why it is so slow, it was running on ATA mode.

I entered the BIOS to change the AHCI mode to ATA and rebooted.
Waited for a long time and suddenly BSOD.

That sounds like a bug to me.


*EDIT*

Worst thing is that I entered the startup repair menu and I changed the registry value to 0 (to enable AHCI, since my BIOS is set to AHCI) and I get a BSOD that sucks... I will have to set the registry value back to ATA...

*EDIT #2*
I can't get to Windows no matter what now... (not even to Safe Mode) I get BSOD no matter what settings I have on BIOS or registry...

 

So this issue has a solution already?

 

If you have something to suggest please do so (I have asked you that once before)

 

If you are trying to install Xp or anything besides Vista or Windows 7 and want to switch to ATA MODE, and then get hang on the BIOS, THis is due to the SATA DVD DRIVE, yes SATA DVD DRIVE. So the solution???

Two things to do to Install XP. XP can be installed to SSD , so no problem there, you just have to do this:

Yes, Just unplug the ribbon of the DVD DRIVE in the m17x, and you use an external Drive to boot XP and install. Thats it. Nothing else... Hope this help.

 

I can confirm that when setting the ATA mode through BIOS it doens't recognise the DVD but I don't want or try to install XP. I want to install Windows 7.
I don't have an external DVD drive to use but neither can I switch to ATA mode through registry after I have installed Windows...

So the ATA is definetely an issue with this BIOS as is the chipset performance.

 

With the question Scook asked if you were wanting to install XP , and no answer, I'm assuming that.

You can't use ATA when install Windows 7, it has to be in AHCI mode. ATA is for OS besides Vista and Windows 7.

Edited: You can try install Windows 7 in ATA Mode as long as you unplugg the SATA DVD DRIVE. (I haven't tried, only XP)

Despise that you know the drive don't work in ATA, The DVD DRIVE is the problem to the HANGIN' in the BIOS when in ATA Mode.

 

I don't think that what you said is correct. You can install Windows 7 on other machines using ATA, from a very quick search:
How to enable AHCI in Windows 7 RC after installation | Windows 7 | iThinkDifferent

Regardless I believe this is an issue that has to be addressed properly and now I have to figure out why the speeds are so low (I will do that in a different thread though, I prefer to leave this one clean just for the ATA problem)

 

Any new info Stamatisx?

 

BatBoy I have sent this info to erawneila (both on PM and mentioned that on a post on the R2 A06 BIOS thread) and still waiting for a reply. Unfortunately there is nothing more I can do concerning this matter. It's up to Dell now.

*EDIT*

To recapitalize, In ATA mode the DVD drive is not recognized. If you unplug the DVD drive the BIOS doesn't hang on POST (thanks Rengsey R. H. Jr. we have both confirmed that).
This ATA mode issue is not SSD related because I have tried that mode with a single HDD as well.
I suspect that because of this BIOS issue, the chipset performance is capped to SATA I (that's why we see slow 4K random performance, the numbers are almost identical for all of us)

 

Thanks for working out why the bios hangs in ATA.
I can upgrade my SSD firmware now.
Does this only affect the BD-Rom we got or all drives on that slot?

Also, +rep to both of you.

Thanks

-Ash

 

Is that the only way to get XP installed on to the r2.... unplug blue ray and set to ATA.

Iv tryed to install xp will not get to setup screen keeps BSODS after loading drivers.

Also tryed using winlite to intergrate storage drivers into cd with no success.

Any help would be great as i do like running xp now and again as second boot option.

 

Yes, that's the only solution , to unplug SATA DVD/BD Drive to install OS in ATA mode, via external usb drive .

 

Stamatis,

What about the BSOD you got when changing the registry value from 3 to 0?
I mean "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servi ces\msahci"
change "Start" from 3 to 0.
I have AHCI in the BIOS and was thinking of changing this as it's said to improve SSD performance. I am glad i searched on the forums so i'm not tweaking it till you reply.

Let me know man. By the way are you Greek?

 

tb303, I tried everything, even that registry tweak (normally it is 0, I saw it only once set to 3 probably because I was manually forcing different drivers -including older ones-), for sure it won't improve the performance of the SSD. Your best chance right now is to do a clean windows installation and use the default drivers from MS but still the performance of the SSD, especially the random 4K reads and writes, will be limited to around 14MB/s and 25MB/s respectively. Only Dell can solve this problem and we are all waiting for an official response.

(Yes I am a Greek)

 

Hi Rengsey,

Where is the access to the Blue Drive to remove the cable? i am tyring to do what you sugest here and get a windows xp 32bit install in place. I can't seem to find the cable to disconneted the drive.

 

Ok reporting back.

i tried Regency's post (remove BDVD Drive). works 100% ok first boot on ata mode afterwards. Getting to the cable to remove it does require you to take a lot apart on the laptop. takes about 20 mins to get to the cable. you can see how to get to the cable in this video by Moo

M17x Allpowerful CPU guide on Vimeo

now i will try to install windows XP 32bit on my m17xR2.

-star-

 

Ok, so i have managed to get to this point:

blue Ray Rom removed and m17xr2 is booting in ATA mode.
i have an usb drive that boots and starts the install for XP SP2 32 with the Pm55 5 series chip set drivers slip streamed.

however

i am still getting the BSOD when i get to the "welcome to windows installation". is this a bad selection of driver?

i used the 32bit f6 drivers from intel's website. with nlite selected the iStor inf file and of the available options selested the 2 or 3 from the top labeled series Intel(R) Series 5 SATA AHCI ~

any ideas? Goodstone were you able to get windows xp to install on your machine?

 

No i havnt.

dont really want to strip the computer to install xp. Would be nice to run it though.

 

You don't actually have to strip the computer to remove the Drive. Just unplug the ribbon of the drive.

Remove battery , remove the two screws , and pull out the palm rest. After removing it, you can see the Drive ribbon cable. Just unplug it. It's simple.


Edited: I installed XP 64bit Professional(OEM that I got from AMD) It runs smooth. I never had any BSOD once it was installed and running. The only issue was that at that time I had Xfire 4870 , and I couldn't figure how to get Xfire in XP , so I went back to Windows 7.

If you figure out Xfire in Xp , it will be X-cellent.

 

I was never able to get xfire working on my R1 in xp either, and I spent alot of time on it

 

Dont you have to remove touch panel and keyboard to remove palm rest?


just removed palm rest and studied video of replaceing cpu on m17x. please correct me if i am wrong. You have to remove touch panel,keyboard,palmreset and top chassis to gain access to ribbon cable to rom drive.
Aall i see is wifi and bluetooth modules. i have no access to ribbon cable for rom drive

 

thats true you gotta do what is in the video. to get to the ribbon you have to remove pull up the grey divider which covers the entire mother board. removal (as seen in the video) isn't hard just don't rush and make sure to remember where the screws go.

i am still trying to figure out how to get xp on this thing...

-star-