ahci\sata @ toshiba a300

I've installed windows xp sp3 at my a300, but I have a problem.

every time I change from "compatibility" to "ahci" in bios, I get a blue screen at the startup, and the thing restarts.

how do I enable ahci?

here's what my device manager looks like.

 

Is there a new bios version you could flash?

 

He does not need to update his BIOS. The easiest way would be to slipstream drivers into an XP CD, but since you've already installed in ATA mode, you can follow this guide on switching to AHCI. http://forum.msi.com.tw/index.php?topic=106575.0 The process, of course, will have to be modified slightly to meet your motherboard's requirements.

 

I think your notebook has two HDDs, right ?

I don't think AHCI will help in anyway. Well, AHCI doesn't really help in the first place. (Yeah Hep!, the same thing again and again )

Well, can you download PC Wizard and HD Tune.

Upload a screenshot of the Info Page in HD Tune for both HDDs ?

 

Haha, what Andy is referring to is the fact that we're always in disagreement whether it's even worth enabling AHCI or not.

 

in my case its not a casa of luxury of choice.
the system is giving random freezes at "compability" mode... and I'm hoping for AHCI will fix it.

and my notebook came with only one hdd.

how do I determine which controler do I have (ICH8R, ICH9R , ICH7DH...)?

 

You can open device manager, or you can use a program like SIW or CPU-Z. Or, you can just google it.

 

ICH8M --> Supports 2 HDDs no RAID.

AHCI for one HDD only. What is the Ultra-ATA for ?

1st 2 posts here.

 

That's a much better link that the one I've been using.


/steals

 

my dvd player is on ultra ata.

 

DVD players or ODDs use ATAPI (Advanced Technology Attachment Packet Interface).

Ultra-ATA is normally for IDE HDDs. You should checkout the 2 Primary channels.

Anyway, AHCI will be fine unless you have one HDD.

If you add another one, the 2nd HDD will not run in AHCI mode, but in IDE mode, and will cause the 1st AHCI-enabled HDD to also run in IDE-Legacy Mode.

If the BIOS has an AHCI option for each port, then it'll be fine, but I haven't seen an ICH8M controller able to run 2 or more HDDs in AHCI mode.