The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    P-172X-FX and AHCI / Vista install

    Discussion in 'Gateway and eMachines' started by rixhobbies, May 12, 2008.

  1. rixhobbies

    rixhobbies Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    176
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    All,

    In the bios for the P-172X-FX, there is an option for the SATA controller to be in "AHCI" and "Normal" modes. AHCI is supposed to increase performance, but from what I've read, it requires a driver be loaded during the Vista installation. When you are at the screen that allows you to select the partition, you choose "advanced" and then supply the driver using a USB memory device, CD, or floppy. If you don't do this, it will blue screen during installation.

    Has anyone noticed if their machines are set to "normal" or "AHCI"? When I had my first unit, it was blue screening during the Vista installations and Gateway support was unable to assist and the unit ended up going back. But, I remember that in bios, the SATA controller was set to "AHCI".

    So now I wondering. What is it set for you guys? Has anyone had to load the "AHCI" driver during the Vista install, including RAID configs and single drive units?
     
    rixhobbies, May 12, 2008
    #1
  2. flynnaz

    flynnaz I am a Night Elf Mohawk!

    Reputations:
    256
    Messages:
    2,545
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I know the the P fx series has hardware based sata controller and raid. Usally software based raid/sata requires you to load drivers during vistas install. In other words I do not think you need to load anything or do anything special.
     
    flynnaz, May 12, 2008
    #2
  3. rixhobbies

    rixhobbies Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    176
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    So you didn't need to then. Can you tell me what you bios is set for? AHCI or normal?
     
    rixhobbies, May 12, 2008
    #3
  4. flynnaz

    flynnaz I am a Night Elf Mohawk!

    Reputations:
    256
    Messages:
    2,545
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    There is no setting or information on AHCI in the bios. From what I have looked at, when you enable raid it is in AHCI already.
     
    flynnaz, May 12, 2008
    #4
  5. rixhobbies

    rixhobbies Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    176
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    It must only show up if you have RAID turned off in bios. Since you're using RAID, can you tell if you are using AHCI or not?
     
    rixhobbies, May 12, 2008
    #5
  6. flynnaz

    flynnaz I am a Night Elf Mohawk!

    Reputations:
    256
    Messages:
    2,545
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    No I can't, there was no option to turn it on or off, when you setup raid you pick 0 or 1, and strip size, I picked 32
     
    flynnaz, May 12, 2008
    #6