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    SSD ATA vs AHCI (NCQ) - restore from iso?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by zipidy928, Jun 2, 2012.

  1. zipidy928

    zipidy928 Notebook Geek

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    Hello all,

    I received my R4 a couple of days ago and added the RAM upgrades and SSD, the thing is a BEAST.

    I am already up and running with my SSD and all my applications and preferences are already installed. After everything was done, I used clonezilla to backup my HD to an image so I can restore it in the future in case I run across any problems.

    After all this, I read that changing the BIOS from ATA to AHCI (NCQ) would boost performance BUT I have to re-install my OS.
    My current SATA operation is set to RAID

    My question is, after changing to AHCI, can I restore from the image I created or do I have to install everything all over again from scratch?

    Any help is much appreciated.
     
    zipidy928, Jun 2, 2012
    #1
  2. dave-p

    dave-p Notebook Deity

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    If may work OK from Raid to AHCI but if not then you would have to do a freash install of Windows if it fails to detect your installation after setting the BIOS to AHCI mode.
     
    dave-p, Jun 2, 2012
    #2
  3. zipidy928

    zipidy928 Notebook Geek

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    I tried changing to AHCI but got a BSOD while windows loaded. Changed it back to RAID and everything works.

    I'm assuming nothing was harmed from my PC.
     
    zipidy928, Jun 2, 2012
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  4. xXxPykexXx

    xXxPykexXx Notebook Consultant

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    Can you change it to AHCI if your OS is installed on the mSATA?
     
    xXxPykexXx, Jun 2, 2012
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  5. zipidy928

    zipidy928 Notebook Geek

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    Upon further research, RAID supports NCQ which is the performance feature I want from ACHI.

    I will be sticking with the RAID setup.
     
    zipidy928, Jun 2, 2012
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  6. hangar13

    hangar13 Newbie

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    My m17xr4 comes with a 32gb mSATA SSD minicard and a 720gb harddisk. I installed a new crucial m4 SSD and changed to AHCI in the bios from raid. The wmi index increased from 5.9 to 7.9. However, win 7 is now unable to recognize the minicard although it is shown in the bios. I did a fresh win 7 install and the minicard is seen. Upon updating the latest dell AHCI drivers, the minicard cannot be recognized. I guess need to wait for new bios or driver update.
     
    hangar13, Jun 8, 2012
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  7. picardsm

    picardsm Notebook Consultant

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    picardsm, Jun 8, 2012
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  8. steviejones133

    steviejones133 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Good choice. No real benefit to choose AHCI but leaving the Sata operation as Raid in bios will actually allow you to add a second SSD at some point in the future WITHOUT having to reinstall your OS - simply create a raid array by ctrl&I at boot and RST will do the rest.
     
    steviejones133, Jun 8, 2012
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  9. livid

    livid Notebook Consultant

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    You shouldn't have to do any reg edits if a RAID has not been created. The AHCI/RAID drivers from Intel serve the same purpose. RST applies to both AHCI and RAID in Windows 7. The RAID BIOS just controls the RAID functionality.
     
    livid, Jun 8, 2012
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  10. picardsm

    picardsm Notebook Consultant

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    He stated in the first post he was changing from ATA to AHCI. I believe the bluescreen he encountered was from not having the AHCI driver active in the registry. I may be wrong...


    Setting HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Msahci (Start) to 0 should solve the bluescreen

    Use at own risk, of course
     
    picardsm, Jun 13, 2012
    #10