MediaCentre Hangs and Buttons Reversed...+ AHCI

Hi all

Im sure this must have happened to someone else before, but I cant find any decent results (maybe my search terms suck?) To be honest Iv googled and bookmarked so many pages to sort this laptop out I'm kinda in information overload.

I completely formatted this laptop M1330 and installed Vista x64.

Had the AHCI issue, so stuck it to ATA.

1. How do I get AHCI working now I have got everything installed? I read numerous times to install this Intel Matrox Storage Driver but both the Dell and Intel's version's say that its not supported, then exits. That Reg key was already at 0 too.

After I reinstalled the laptop I reinstalled the MediaDirect from the disk that came with the Laptop. Just now I thought Id try it, and it just gets stuck on preparing for first use - stayed there for 20 mins with 0 activity.

Then, rebooting just kept resuming MD...now it seems the power and MD button have reversed

Thanks in advance - these are the last 3 issues I have as far as I know!

 

1) u have to do it on first boot... otherwise, u cant do it anymore, have to reinstall if u want AHCI

2) probably the installtion got wonky.... theres a way to edit the config so that each button boots a particular partition..... MD and Vista partitions got switched probably...

 

1. I read that it could be switched AFTER vista installation, so someone must have done it. It was in a huge thread which I lost the link to...

2. Do you know how? Anyone?

 

Yup you can. All you have to do is install Intel Matrix Storage Manager for Vista 64-bit.

http://www.x-drivers.com/catalog/drivers/sata_controllers/companies/intel/models/ich6r/8357.html

Get that, and install, then you can enable AHCI.

MD had a problem probably since you didn't get the hard drive AHCI working properly from the initial install.

 

Thanks Forte.

Problem with that file, as with all the other ones I have tried (variations of this Intel software) is I get the error:

This computer does not meet minimum requirements for installing this software.

Setup will now exit.

Help

 

Just want to make sure... did you load the 64-bit Intel Matrix Storage Manager at the beginning of the Vista installation?

 

Ok, straaaange turn of events.

I manually extracted the files and made Vista use the inf files from within Device Manager, enabled AHCI and it booted, woohoo!

Shut down, tried MD (using the right button), and now I get a BSOD - portcls.sys is the offending file, KERNEL_DATA_INPAGE_ERROR.

Any suggestions?

 

No, I started the Vista 64 install and it BSOD's me, a quick google told me to turn off AHCI so I just did that. Wish I found this forum earlier lol >.>

 

lol. Well, why don't you just disable AHCI, try the Vista 64-bit install again and load up the AHCI drivers properly this time?

 

Sorry for the spam....just exited from the BSOD, rebooted and it asked me:

Delete restoration data and continue to boot
Something else (short term memory loss..)

I chose the first one, MD booted again, and now its back to the "Dell Media Direct is being installed for the first time..." screen.

I guess we'll see if it works...how long should this process take?
I dont see any activity.

 

Well, inserting MD disc first to set up the partitions.. it doesn't take long at all. When it tells you to, just take out your mediadirect disc, and stick in your vista 64-bit disc and restart making sure to boot from the Vista 64-bit. The Vista installation is what takes longest.

 

I already installed so many programs, tweaks here and there...I really cant be bothered to reinstall again haha.

For the time being Id rather live without AHCI if I absolutely HAD to reinstall.

 

Yeah but if you think about it, if you don't do it now, you will accumulate more programs over time and you will be even worse off considering that your really not taking full advantage of the performance of your SATA drive...

Even though you did a lot of stuff now, your going to get more in the future and things do pile up. Better to fix it now than later.

Of course the decisions up to you, but thats just how I feel about it.

 

Well, it just stayed there. I tried booting from the MD disc but I didnt want to play around with my partitons in case it scred my install up.

Half way there, AHCI is definately on with a great boot/shutdown time, just MediaDirect now (which isnt a must, just "nice to have")

 

Oh, AHCI is on after I forced Vista to take the Intel drivers. Just MD now

Thanks for the help.

 

If your anything like me... you won't even touch MD. I have it on my M1530 just because I think it'll come in handy one day... but I do have this feeling that I will never use it. I just dont want to get rid of it just because I dont want to have to reinstall vista just to go through all the partitioning and stuff again.

 

MD works within Vista, and it boots into Vista fast enough, so screw it.

Thanks for the help so far, I'll revisit it one day when I can be bothered.

 

Since your willing to live with it.. that works.