I want to use ACHI, Satellite L310 Series

Hello, I am a new computer user and a new owner of a notebook computer. I have read a lot but I am still very new. I use Windows XP, SP3 and installed it with the SATA mode in BIOS set to Compatibility.

I want to use AHCI mode (or ACHI, I don't know for sure what it means or stands for) because I also want to use the ability of the SATA hard drive, SATA DVD-writer and want to use the eSATA port to connect to my eSATA external hard disk.

I have read that this is possible but don't really understand all about it. Device manager in Windows XP says, Pentium dual-core T4200, 4 GB memory (available 2.9 GB), Intel ICH9M 2-port SATA controller 1 (2928), Intel ICH9M 2-port SATA controller 2 (292D). I don't know what they really mean.

Is it possible that I can swith to use ACHI mode in BIOS and still use Windows XP? I have tried it but the computer will not start, so I had to switch back to Compatibility mode.

Thank you very much,

Please be kind to me. I am very new.

 

When you set the BIOS to AHCI and boot Xp it will BSOD or crash because Xp does not have AHCI SATA drivers.

I think you can boot into Xp in Comparability mode and then install the ICH9M AHCI SATA driver, and then re-boot and go into the BIOS and select AHCI mode and then your Notebook should boot into Xp fine.

You can download the AHCI/SATA driver from the link below.

http://www.getpcmemory.com/drivers/download-toshiba-satellite-l310-notebook-windows-xp-drivers/

 

Thank you, I will try to find the ICH9M AHCI SATA driver. This should not be difficult but I have read somewhere and the process is too complicated to understand. Will let you know.....

 

Thank you for the link. Now, I have Intel Matrix Storage Manager. Is it the same thing as AHCI SATA Driver for ICH9M? I'm going to read what's inside it.

 

Hello, I doubled click the file setup.exe (from Intel Matrix Storage Manager). After some time, there is a window saying something like "The hardware of this computer is not compatible" and it closed by itself after a few seconds. I am still running Windows XP and it does not hang on me.

I then changed the BIOS to AHCI mode but Windows cannot boot, so I changed back to Compatibility mode.


Then I read something from the Internet that says "You cannot install the Intel Matrix Storage Manager because you hardware does not have RAID.

Please help. What do I do next? (I already backed up the system disk of Windows XP using Acronis True Image Home Edition, version 11 before I did this).

How can I upgrade in BIOS to AHCI mode. It is currently in Compatibility mode.

 

Well the problem is that, the driver does not see the controller since it's in compatibility mode. The best way to do it, is to reinstall Windows from a CD on which you slipstreamed the AHCI drivers, using nLite(prior to reinstall turn AHCI on in BIOS, so that the drivers get installed directly from Windows CD).

nLite: http://www.nliteos.com/
How to: http://maxeasyguide.blogspot.com/2008/04/preparations-for-winxp-installation-cd.html

Note that you need to use the drivers for your controller(not the ones that are linked in the article).

 

Thank you very much. At first I thought I would have to reinstall Windows while AHCI mode is on. I have read but I think it is difficult for me to understand. Then I have read that it is also possible to activate it even after Windows XP has been installed. Some people seem to say that it is very easy but I never get the step-by-step method to do it.

Guess, I have to re-install Windows (and all programs all over again). Thank you for the links, it will take some time to read.....

When I bought the notebook computer, there is a piece of paper that says for the DVD-drive to work, the BIOS must be in Compatibility mode. I don't understand why (I did not expect this problem when I bought the computer.)

Now, I wonder how I use the Windows XP installation CD, if I turn AHCI on the BIOS. I'm so confused but still trying. Thank you, everybody.

 

Turn AHCI mode on then Install Xp , when you get a prompt to press F6 to install additional driver , you need to have the SATA/AHCI drivers of a Floppy Disk or Usb Memory Stick.

 

Thank you. But where can I get the SATA/AHCI drivers? How many files in all that are needed? I guess there are not many files that are really needed because they can fit in one floppy. What are the filenames? So that I know that this time they are the correct drivers. Thank you.

Are they the same drivers in the Intel Matrix Storage Manager that I downloaded before? (When I downloaded them, the page says that it is the SATA/AHCI drivers for that chipset? Are they the same thing?