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    RAID to ACHI frustration!

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by oneartist, Nov 10, 2012.

  1. oneartist

    oneartist Notebook Enthusiast

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    I changed my HD to SSD in my i7 620 E6510 Latitude. I did a clean install using an upgrade disk to Win7 64bit. Then, I read that AHCI was a better controller than RAID for the SSD. I changed the BIOS setting to AHCI just before a re-install Win7. The wizard would not let my select Upgrade since it was already 64bit. After I choose New Install, it wanted a driver. I searched and put a AHCI controller driver on a thumb drive. The installer loaded it and I thought I was getting there. But, I could never get that drive to boot again, even if I changed BIOS back to RAID. I kept getting ctrl alt delete. It is possible that I got the wrong AHCI controller. I had to take it out and put the old spinner back. What is the right AHCI controller for my Dell? And what is the best way to install it from scratch? Any help appreciated.
     
    oneartist, Nov 10, 2012
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  2. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    Are you using a Dell Windows 7 disc? My E6410 recognized the drive changing to AHCI.
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Nov 10, 2012
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  3. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

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    If you only had a single drive in the 'RAID' mode; then I wouldn't have worried about anything: you were using the AHCI driver.

    As mentioned above: since you need to re-install Windows on the SSD: simply put the SATA mode to AHCI and do a clean install (sorry).
     
    tilleroftheearth, Nov 11, 2012
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  4. oneartist

    oneartist Notebook Enthusiast

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    It is a refurbished E6510 and the original disk says "operating system already installed on your computer. Reinstallation DVD Windows 7 Pro 32 Bit." Then, I bought a boxed version of "Win7 Ultimate 64 Bit Anytime Upgrade" which comes in a two disk set of 32 Bit and 64 Bit. I'm rigging this up for recording and I will put a 750GB WD Black in the optical bay in a caddy. I'll also connect the Original WD 250GB via eSATA port for samples. So, the RAID could be a problem if it sees those drives. The existing Storage controller: "Intel(R) ICH8M-E/ICH9M-E SATA RAID Controller." To reformat the SSD, I will put in the Optical bay. I've done this before and it does not format it in NTFS but three other letters.This was a problem with the upgrade disk and one partition was MBR. I will change the BIOS to AHCI just before I do a clean install using the Upgrade disk on the SSD, Will the installation disk load the proper controller for AHCI? Or, will I have to go find them? I am slowly learning.
     
    oneartist, Nov 11, 2012
    #4