Lenovo T400, XP clean install, can't enable AHCI (even though following the prescription)

I'm struggeling to enable AHCI, after doing a clean XP install this is what I did:

Run prepare.cmd from C:\drivers etc, reboot and enable AHCI mode:

I get a BSOD

What could be wrong?

 

The way to get ahci working is to slip stream sata drivers into xp disk before you do an install. Here's a link.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Install-Windows-XP-On-SATA-Without-a-Floppy-F6-47807.shtml

 

thanks, but no thanks I want to do a after install install.

 

I know this is not the answer you want, but have you thought of running a modern OS that does SATA by default ?

 

No I haven't, as something called "productivity" is important to me.

 

Guys, you need to answer his question, stop offering pointless workarounds. He's referring to the procedure outlined in the Intel SATA driver readme specifically for this purpose:

"

1. Start the BIOS Setup Utility menu.
2. Select Config.
3. Select Serial ATA (SATA).
4. Select Compatibility.
5. Install Windows XP and Service Pack 2.
6. Download Intel Matrix Storage Manager Driver from the Web site
and extract the driver to C:\DRIVERS\WIN\IMSM.
7. Run Intel Matrix Storage Manager Driver. To do this, go to
C:\DRIVERS\WIN\IMSM\PREPARE, and double-click install.cmd.
8. Turn the computer off and then on again.
9. Start the BIOS Setup Utility menu.
10. Select Config.
11. Select Serial ATA (SATA).
12. Select AHCI.
13. Start Windows XP. The Welcome to the Found New Hardware Wizard
appears.
14. Click No, not this time, and then click Next.
15. Select Install from a list or specific location (Advanced), and
then click Next.
16. Select Search for the best driver in these locations. Then
select Include this location in the search:, specify the path,
C:\DRIVERS\WIN\IMSM, and click Next. The Completing the Found
New Hardware Wizard appears.
17. Click Finish.
18. When the System Settings Change window appears, click Yes. The
computer restarts.
"

Now, I am having the exact same problem, I cannot enable AHCI even though I'm following these instructions. It makes me sick that I can't get a brand new laptop working properly because a major corporation can't test their own procedures. If anyone knows why I'd really appreciate an answer / fix.

 

I am getting BSOD, even after I followed the procedure!!! Dont know how to go about this, somebody elighten.

 

I have given the answer to this problem above. I know from experience on a previous laptop which I wasted the better part of a day. Slip stream and a clean install is the best approach.

 

I would agree this is the best method..

HOWEVER, let me ask a simple question..


are you using the Intel Drivers from the Intel website or the Lenovo website? I got a bluescreen even with my slipstreamed CD with the drivers from the Intel website.

Have not tried the Lenovo.

Even though they may be "out of date" the reason may be compatibility.

 

I'm not sure what drivers I used because it was several months ago. Before you install windows xp with the slip streamed drivers go into your bios and select ahci(not the compatibility mode). When you start the installation if windows is able to detect the drive then it should continue the install. If it cannot find the hard drive most likely something is wrong with the disc you prepared. Sorry I can't be more help. This all comes down to Microsoft trying to force people to switch to vista. They could have easily included the drivers in XP SP3.

 

Okay guys, found a solution. No slipstreaming needed!

1. Make sure to install/have installed the intel chipset drivers
2. In device manager, select Primary IDE channel. update driver, and choose "Have disk" pointing to the IMSM folder (intel matrix storage drivers).
3. Select the Intel ICH9M-E/M SATA AHCI Controller

Reboot and enable AHCI mode in BIOS.

Voila

 

I've gotta ask. I have a T400 on order with the XP "downgrade".

I assume that XP comes installed and Vista Ultimate is supplied on media, but maybe I'm all wet.

Is this the situation for you guys?

I've just gone through the slipstreaming process with my desktop when I installed a second HD and installed XP on it. I had to slipstream both SP2, to get the PCI drivers, and the SATA drivers. PITA, until I learned that I had to use an SP2 CD and not a copy of it on my HD. nLite said it was doing the processing but the "bootable" CD wasn't.

At least nLite allows the removal of a lot of Windows bloat before burning a bootable CD.

 

Yea... when I go through the method described 2 posts above and get to this step:

3. Select the Intel ICH9M-E/M SATA AHCI Controller

I don't see that driver listed. I get a whole bunch of other ones, but none that match this. I went ahead and tried installing a driver anyways, but now all I get is a BSOD even in compatibility mode. I feel like returning this to Lenovo since they were so kind to provide correct drivers/procedures on their own website...

I also tried slipstreaming and it didn't work. I had no idea which driver to include in the slipstream, so I chose the two outlined in the Lenovo procedures - and I got a BSOD when trying to install. Are the drivers found on Lenovo's website for the T400 wrong?

 

You might be doing something wrong, I can't see why it shouldn't be listed.

 

The driver matrix page for the T400 links to the wrong version of the Intel Matrix drivers. Here is the correct link:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-70477

 

grkn, it turns out Lenovo indeed linked the wrong drivers on their own website - what a bunch of idiots. Thanks a lot Bill12 - you've just saved me many hours of hassle. The driver grkn speaks of is now visible, and I'm currrently slipstreaming it in my XP install disc. Come to think of it, the procedure to enable AHCI AFTER windows is installed will probably work now that I have the right drivers....

 

I'm using XP SP3 and I just downloaded Bill12's driver link.. however I'm still unable to update the driver. It says that it cannot find a better driver than what I already have. Still BSOD when I try to enable AHCI.

 

Somehow I found the following guide: http://www.msfn.org/board/Integration-Intel-Sata-t107504.html
and it WORKED!!!
This is the file I integrated into my CD with nLite: http://downloadmirror.intel.com/15251/eng/STOR_all32_f6flpy32_8.6.0.1007_PV.zip

Now, when I say it worked - all I am saying that I did not get a BSOD when booting from CD, and the TEXT setup detected my HDD properly in AHCI mode. This is on Thinkpad W500.
I have not installed Windows XP yet. But will soon.

 

UPDATE: XP installed perfectly on my T61p, no issues... AHCI enabled. Therefore the above file works.

 

This is definitely the way to go:
Use nLite to slipstream the ICH9M-E/M driver into the Windows XP installation (and include IE7 and SP3 while you're at it) and you'll be able to install XP using AHCI mode. I know because I just did it and have done it on other models in the past. I had to boot into the Lenovo Vista installation in AHCI mode in order to find which driver to use so you might want to note the SATA driver on the factory image before wiping it out. I've found that a slipstreamed installation of the SATA driver, IE7, and SP3 just runs better than an installation of Windows with each component added after the fact.

 

Hello,

A lot of people here are recommending re-installing the OS with an installation CD slipstreamed with the SATA drivers. As some people have already said, this is completely unnecessary, and can be a hassle to do especially after having spent the time installing the operating system and possibly even installing all the software and device drivers.

Installing the SATA drivers after having installed the operating system is no hassle, and can be done using the install script provided by the Intel Matrix Storage Manager driver package, or manually by updating the hard drive controller driver to the SATA driver in device manager (which is what the IMSM script essentially does, but in an automated fashion).

 

It is much cleaner to slipstream not only the SATA driver but also IE7 and SP3 and then install XP. If you don't want those components then I guess you could get by with adding the drivers after the install. With nLite, though, it's just as easy to slipstream the driver into the install, plus you will have the Windows install CD with your SATA driver for later if you need to reinstall again. Another benefit to slipstreaming is you don't have to go into the BIOS to change the SATA mode to compatibility.

 

GREAT TRICK ! It just worked for me. Win XP automatically detected both the HDD and DVD drives after first restart. Thanks !