There is no ide mode in BIOS. Enabling AHCI hard drives without reinstalling Windows

One of the BIOS settings is the option "SATA Mode" or "On-Chip SATA Mode"... With its help, the parameters of the SATA controller of the motherboard are adjusted. Next, we will analyze why you may need to switch modes and which one is suitable for old and new PC configurations.

All relatively modern motherboards have a controller that ensures the operation of hard drives via the SATA (Serial ATA) interface. But not only SATA drives are used by users: the IDE connection is still relevant (it is also called ATA or PATA). As such, the motherboard host controller needs legacy mode support.

The BIOS allows the user to customize the controller operating mode in accordance with the hardware and operating system on hand. Depending on the BIOS version, the values "SATA Mode" can be both basic and advanced. Below we will analyze both those and others.

Possible SATA Mode values

Now it is less and less common to find BIOS with extended functionality options "SATA Mode"... The reason for this is explained a little later, but for now we will analyze the main meanings that are in any variation. "SATA Mode".

• IDE- legacy hard disk and Windows compatibility mode. By switching to this mode, you will get all the features of the motherboard IDE controller. In general, this affects the performance of the HDD, lowering its speed. The user does not need to install additional drivers as they are already built into the operating system.
• AHCI- modern mode, which gives the user an increased speed of work with a hard disk (as a result, the entire OS), the ability to connect an SSD, "Hot Swap" technology ("hot" replacement of the drive without stopping the system). For its operation, you may need a SATA driver, which is downloaded from the motherboard manufacturer's website.
• A little less often you can find the regime RAID- it is only available to owners of motherboards that support the creation of RAID-arrays from hard drives connected to an IDE / SATA controller. This mode is designed to speed up the operation of drives, the computer itself and increase the reliability of information storage. To select this mode, at least 2 HDDs must be connected to the PC, preferably completely identical to each other, including the firmware version.

The other 3 modes are less popular. They are in some BIOS (located in "SATA Configuration") in order to fix any problems when using older operating systems:

• Enhanced Mode(Native) - activates the advanced CATA controller mode. With its help, it becomes possible to connect HDD in an amount equal to the number of corresponding connectors on the motherboard. This option is not supported by Windows ME and lower operating systems and is intended for more or less modern versions of this OS line.
• Compatible Mode(Combined) - Compatible mode with restrictions. When enabled, up to four drives become visible. It is used in cases with installed Windows 95/98 / ME, which do not know how to interact with the HDD of both interfaces in a total of more than two. By enabling this mode, you make the operating system see one of the following options:
  • two regular IDE connections;
  • one IDE and one pseudo-IDE consisting of two SATA drives;
  • two pseudo-IDEs made up of four SATA connections (this option will require a mode selection "Non-Combined" if there is one in the BIOS.).

One of the basic elements of any computer device, as you know, is a hard drive that stores information. With regard to hard drives of any type, a term such as AHCI is used. But many users not only know how to enable AHCI, but have no idea what it is. Let's consider the meaning of the main term and the steps required to activate this mode in Windows systems.

What is AHCI?

Modern hard drives connected to the motherboard through the work can use two modes: IDE (compatibility with legacy hardware) and AHCI - the latest standard, designated as Advanced Host Controller Interface, which allows you to multiply the performance of the device itself and the installed operating system due to faster reading data.

Almost all modern SSD disks show an increase in performance when accessing them exactly in the case when the AHCI mode is set. But this is not the most important thing either.

What is AHCI mode for?

Let's leave the question of how to enable AHCI mode in Windows for now, and look at the benefits that a modern computer user can get when activating this mode.

First of all, when the AHCI mode is activated, you can change or install additional hard drives, as they say, "on the fly" (even without turning off the computer or reinstalling the operating system). This is undoubtedly a huge plus for servers.

The second aspect is related to the fact that when this mode is set, a special NCQ technology comes into play, which allows you to reduce the number of movements of the read heads, while accelerating the simultaneous use of calls to the hard drive by different applications, programs and services. Finally, AHCI activation is believed to have a beneficial effect on the performance of the entire system. Of course, as evidenced by the reviews of experts and users, at home there will not be much performance gain, however, if an SSD hard drive is installed, it is still better to enable this mode.

What not to do and what to look for initially

But the main misconception of most users is that they are trying to use only the settings of the primary system BIOS for activation (at least, you can read about this in most reviews of the problems that arise). It is strictly forbidden to do this without performing preliminary actions in the operating system.

The BIOS mode can be activated only if the OS is installed on a "blank" hard drive. If you perform this procedure with an existing OS on board, Windows will generate an error at startup and go into a constant reboot mode. Then they begin to complain, they say, the user turned on the AHCI mode in Windows, but nothing good came of it. What to say? Perhaps the basic rules were violated, since different modifications of the system need to take different actions.

How to check if AHCI mode is active?

But first, you should check if the mode is on. Perhaps its additional activation is not required.

In the simplest case, when starting a computer terminal or laptop, you need to go into the BIOS settings and refer to the SATA Mode section.

In the operating system itself, you can use the "Device Manager", invoked from the "Control Panel", Administration or Console "Run" command devmgmt.msc and go to the section of IDE ATA / ATAPI controllers. When enabled in standard devices, the AHCI controller will be displayed. If it is not on the list, you will have to decide how to enable AHCI in the system. Again, the solution depends on which version of Windows is installed on your computer.

How to enable AHCI mode in Windows 7

So, to begin with, consider the "seven". For the seventh and tenth versions, the actions look somewhat similar, but for Windows 8 they differ quite a lot.

• The first step is to call the registry editor (regedit in the Run console).
• Expand the HKLM branch.
• Through the SYSTEM, CurrentControlSet directories and the final Services directory, reach the msahci folder.
• On the right, you should call the menu for editing the Start parameter and set its value to zero.
• Now, in the Services directory, you need to find the IastorV directory, in which the actions described above are performed for the Start parameter.
• Only after completing these procedures, the question of how to enable AHCI in the BIOS without catastrophic consequences for the system will cease to be a problem.

Actions in Windows 8 / 8.1

For Windows 8, the above method will not work as there is an easier solution. In this case, you first need to set the system to the minimum boot mode in safe mode. How do I enable AHCI? Simple enough.

• To do this, the command line is first called (necessarily on behalf of the administrator), and the combination bcdedit / set (current) safeboot minimal is written in it.
• After that, you need to reboot, at the very beginning of the restart, enter the BOIS settings and already there switch the mode from IDE to AHCI.
• After saving the settings, a reboot follows again, the command console is called, and the line bcdedit / deletevalue (current) safeboot is written in it, followed by another restart of the computer.

In principle, the question of how to enable AHCI in the G8 can be solved by using a special utility from Intel (of course, if you have a processor from this particular manufacturer).

• First, you need to download the driver in the form of the f6flpy file and the SetupRST.exe customizer from the official resource.
• After that, the desired hard disk is selected in the "Device Manager", the driver update procedure is applied, and the downloaded f6flpy file is indicated as the driver itself in manual mode.
• This is followed by a reboot, and after starting the system with the AHCI mode already activated, the SetupRST setup executable file is launched to complete the computer setup.

How to enable AHCI in Windows 10?

As already mentioned, for the tenth version of the system, the actions are somewhat similar to those that are performed in Windows 7. The only difference is the choice of folders and parameters.

• In the system registry, we find the Services directory. Here the directory storahci is used for the Start parameter.
• Further, zero values ​​are set for parameter 0 in the storahci / StartOverride and iaStorV / StartOverride directories.
• After that, you can start activating the main value in the settings of the primary input / output system BIOS.

By the way, in the eighth version of the system, you can also edit similar parameters. But why, if there is a simpler rational solution to the problem?

Activating AHCI in BIOS

To enter the settings on stationary computers, the Del key is most often used, and for laptops - F2, F12, combinations with the Esc and Fn keys, or special buttons on the panel like ASSIST in Sony VAIO.

Here you need to find the section or settings for the AHCI mode. How to enable the required parameter in BIOS? Just use the enter key on the line for setting the SATA mode, and select the parameter using the arrows with confirmation in the form of another press of Enter. Do not forget to save the changes (F10 + Y) when exiting and reload the system. When you restart, the system will automatically install the necessary drivers.

Possible problems

Unfortunately, sometimes unexpected errors can occur when switching to AHCI mode. Perhaps the hard drive itself does not support this mode of operation. In this case, there is nothing to try to activate AHCI.

On the other hand, if the system boots, but some errors are displayed or failures occur precisely after switching from IDE to AHCI, you can try to troubleshoot problems using a specially developed utility from Microsoft called Fix It.

If neither one nor the other helps, you will have to call the BIOS settings again and change the operating mode of the hard drive. Please note: if AHCI was activated without performing the preliminary actions in the system registry, which were described above, such methods may not work. The solution is either to restore the system using removable media, or to completely reinstall Windows. So be careful. However, I would like to hope that it will not come to this (of course, provided that the entire sequence was performed exactly in the order that was given in the description).

When repeated or clean, you can initially enable this mode in the BIOS, so that later you do not rush in search of a solution to activate it or troubleshoot emerging problems and malfunctions in the computer or laptop.

Instead of a total

In conclusion, it remains to add that inexperienced users who are not familiar with the intricacies of setting up the primary BIOS and Windows operating systems should not activate this mode without special need. All the same, on modern computers with powerful processors and large amounts of RAM, the performance gain will not be particularly noticeable. On old terminals or laptops, it makes no sense to use this mode at all. Basically, as already mentioned, such settings are more suitable for servers when several dozen child terminals in the local network access the hard disk.

Hello everyone, I would like to tell you how to choose the right mode for the hard drive so that it works as it should.

This article is most likely suitable for medium-sized computers that may have the wrong option selected. But just in case, check it out. Before that, I also somehow did not think about it until my director told me.

In general, more to the point) First you need to go into the BIOS of your computer. Different versions of the BIOS have different login buttons, usually del on computers and F2 on laptops. When the computer boots up, it usually says press F2 (Del) for bios. Just in case, here's a hint:

Features of activating the AHCI mode in different versions of Windows

Check the integrity of the backup image again for 100%. This second backup image is not required for the switch, but it provides an additional layer of protection in the event of operator error. If an error occurs, you should not use the second backup image for the restore operation. Instead, make a copy and use the copy for the restore operation. I once had a restore operation due to a bad target disk and the hang messed up the backup image. You can either remove the boot disk or leave it in the machine.

How to enter BIOS in different versions:

On the computer:

On a laptop:

After you log in, you need to look for the Sata Configuration parameter. In it, you must select the AHCI mode.

However, if something goes wrong, you could lose both drives. Without going around it, many users won't feel any difference. Thus, computer manufacturers are trying to avoid possible hardware and software compatibility issues.

How do I know which mode the computer controller is in?

It can be checked in several ways.

If for some reason the first method didn't work, here's another way.

As you can see, these actions can theoretically lead to undesirable consequences, such as the inability to start the operating system.

At the same time I will tell you what these modes are:

IDE Mode

The IDE (Integrated Development Environment) connector is an outdated connector (developed in the 80s), as you can see in the picture, it used to be used to connect hard drives, floppy drives, cdiroms, etc. what supported such connectors. In those days, of course, this was the crazy popularity of this connector, but now, of course, it only remains to remember and change it on old computers.

A VCR is an electronic device used to record video clips and footage of events in a specific area. VCRs are used for both security and personal use - the latter include cameras with camera technology. When the Registry Editor window appears, navigate to the next location.

Note. Do not delete or modify the values ​​of other records with which you are not familiar. What is the cause of these problems? Let me uncover the real truth and suggest an easy way around this problem. When you try to install your operating system, you will notice that the installation procedure has failed and usually a blue screen is displayed announcing the missing driver for the hard drive.

SATA (Serial ATA) connector replaced IDE, for connecting devices that support this invention. The advantages of the sata interface in speed and temperature (we will be less on sata devices), you will not feel the difference on weak screws, but on more powerful ides, the interface will not give much power, although now you will almost not find them.

Solving the compatibility problem. Everything should work again. The specification describes a system memory structure for hardware vendors to exchange data between system host memory and attached storage devices. In the right pane, double-click Start.

However, automatically translated articles may contain errors in vocabulary, syntax or grammar, such as those that a foreigner might make in the language. Microsoft is not responsible for any inaccuracies, errors, or damage caused by incorrect translation of the content or our customers' use of it. Microsoft updates its translation software frequently.

In addition to all this, even the cords themselves are more convenient and take up less space. Sata connectors support HotSwap and HotPlug i.e. hot swappable, which is convenient in servers. No need to reboot or shutdown.

AHCI is a mode for connecting SATA devices, so I came to the answer to all the articles. Thanks to this mode, sata devices work properly.

AHCI is

If you see errors and want to help with these efforts, please fill out the survey at the bottom of this article. This section, method, or task contains steps that indicate how to modify the registry. However, if you modify the registry incorrectly, serious problems can arise. So be sure to follow these steps. For added protection, back up the registry before modifying it.

Then you can restore the registry if there is a problem. This behavior speeds up the startup process of the operating system. When you change the boot disk to a disabled driver, you must enable the new driver before changing the hardware configuration. This issue only affects the initial unit. If the block that is being modified is not a load module, this problem does not occur.

In order for all devices to work well for you, you need to select it (of course, if you have not already selected it).

But first you need to select the achi mode in windows, otherwise you will not start Windows! You can of course try, but most likely. Therefore, I will show you how to put achi mode on vdvs 7.

How do I enable ACHI mode?

This is done using the registry.

These include hot-swap and power management functions. This contact information is subject to change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third party contact information. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products. Let's look at a typical blue screen.

We left saving changes and we left. We now reboot and our operating system will boot correctly. But thanks to this, you no longer need to reinstall the operating system. A number of English terms called technologies require clarification.

Press start - execute (or WIN + R).

Enter regedit and hit enter.

The Registry Editor will appear. In it we follow the path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ services \ msahci

Change the Start value (default 3, if disabled), to enable ACHI, set 0 (achi mode is enabled). And then we go to the registry.

You will also need chipset support. You now have hardware support, but you should also be interested in software support. You must keep this in mind during installation when you need to attach the driver diskette to the installer. This behavior speeds up the download process.

If you changed the boot disk to a disabled driver, you must enable this new driver before changing the hardware configuration. This problem only applies to the boot disk. If the change occurs on a disk that is not, this problem does not occur. But all betrayal does not end.

I'll tell you right away how to change ide to achi in Windows XP, I still did not understand. Sat for 2 hours until patience ran out. (Purely logically, I can assume you need to replace the driver and install achi in the BIOS).

We go into the BIOS as I said above and look for the Sata Configuration parameter (or something similar) for example:

We have shown that with a small reading of small blocks, it has a clear positive impact on hard drive performance. Given this significant increase, this is a slight decrease in sequential transfer rates and generally write speeds.

However, it may happen that after switching this option, the system stops working. How can I do this without changing the controller settings? You can change the controller mode in the motherboard settings. This makes the drives more efficient and can handle the latest technology to improve performance. How can I change it without causing system problems?

We select the AHCI parameter and your equipment will work as it should 🙂

We must first invoke the process of restarting the computer in Safe Mode so that the appropriate drivers are installed. Then we need to invoke the appropriate command, which will lead to the next restart of the computer in safe mode. In the Start menu, you will find the Command Prompt feature. Right-click it and select "Run as administrator". The command window is displayed in administrator mode. We enter the following command to make the computer boot into Safe Mode.

Now we are waiting for the computer to start in safe mode - it will recognize the new disk controller mode and install the appropriate drivers. When the system starts, restart the command prompt in administrator mode and enter the following command to remove the safe mode entry.

Just on the same day, as I found out, I persuaded the boss to throw all the old cartridges into the trash) Just in case, I asked the refuelers of the cartridges if they would accept them, they said we didn't need screws - enough))))

Well, with peace of mind, they hammered all the boxes into our truck and drove out of town)

At the end, there were boxes under the ceiling)

Reboot your computer. There will be no blue screen error this time. We offer specialized services for data recovery on hard drives with logical, electronic, firmware and mechanical defects. Electronic defects usually occur due to poor power quality or improper operation of the hard disk by the user; it does not show up in the bios and does not make any noise, behaves as if it was not fed.

Damage to this area in any way prevents access to the data. These types of defects are due to manufacturing defects or environmental degradation, almost never to the way they are used. To recover data in such a situation, you need to fix the problem with the firmware, then you can perform a data recovery. This type of malfunction can occur due to voltage fluctuations due to manufacturing defects or improper handling.

Now there is so much space in the office ...)

The question of changing the AHCI mode on the IDE is asked by users who need to perform a disk check programmatically or install Windows XP on a relatively new computer or laptop. If you do not switch modes at this moment, the device simply will not see the distribution kit.

What is the difference between AHCI mode and IDE?

IDE is a 40-pin connector for a disk (and not only) to the motherboard. Such a connector is not used in modern devices. Hence, the IDE can be found on older devices. You may need it only in extreme cases, for example, to install Windows XP or Vista. The data transfer rate through such a connector is 1000 Mbps.

After IDE, a new SATA connector appeared on motherboards and hard drives. It outperforms its predecessor with good speed. The AHCI mode is responsible for this work. The data transfer rate in this mode is from 1500 to 6000 Mbps (depending on which SATA I, II or III is used).

If your device has a SATA connector, then it is better to use it, as IDE mode slows down the performance of the hard drive. You can switch to it if drivers for SATA are not added to your PC or in cases that require it.

How do I switch from AHCI to IDE?

Depending on the motherboard model and the BIOS firmware version, the steps for switching modes will be different.

• Boot into the BIOS. If your PC is old, then go to the "Main" mode and select "Sata Mode" or "Configure SATA as". Two choices will appear: "IDE Mode" and "AHCI Mode"

• If the firmware of your BIOS is different, then you need to find the "Security" section and change the "Secure Boot" setting by setting "Disabled".

• This setting can be in the "Boot" section.

• Next, go to the "Advanced" tab and go to the "System Configuration" item.

• A new menu will open. We select "SATA Controller Mode". In it we change "AHCI" to "Compatibility" (in new IDE firmware).

It is worth noting that if you do not have a "SATA Controller Mode" section, you need to switch "UEFI Boot" to "CSM Boot" in the same section.

It is important to note that some motherboard and laptop manufacturers have severely cut BIOSa functionality, and therefore it is impossible to switch to IDE mode.

Every hard drive in a modern computer is connected to the system through a controller. This controller can usually communicate with the hard drive through a number of different protocols. For maximum compatibility, many computers are configured in the BIOS to use an older IDE interface for interacting with modern SATA hard drives.

This parameter is acceptable for the average computer user, but the IDE lacks support for new technologies such as Native Command Queuing (NCQ means that type Command Queuing Organizations) and hot plugging hard drives (add or remove drives without restarting the computer).

Intel invented a new controller interface known as AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface) that supports modern SATA hard drives. If you have a hard drive that supports NCQ, it is worth trying to change the interface to improve the performance of the drive.

The main issue preventing users from changing the storage protocol from IDE to AHCI in the past has been a blue screen that can only be resolved by undoing the BIOS changes and reinstalling Windows. The driver is the cause of the problem. Only IDE drivers were included in Window, and there are no AHCI drivers, and therefore Windows cannot read from the hard drive and throws BSOD with error code 0x0000005B.

There is now a simple solution that will allow you to switch between IDE and AHCI in BIOS and Windows will boot without issue. The point is to have the AHCI drivers loaded into Windows before making any changes to the settings in the BIOS.

Enabling AHCI in the registry

Enable mode AHCI in BIOS in the following way:

• Press the F2 key on the computer logo screen and enter BIOS.
• In the BIOS Utility dialog box, select Advanced -> IDE Configuration.
• From the IDE configuration menu, choose Configure SATA.
• In the SATA menu options
  AHCI for a system using SATA drives (no RAID).
• Press F10 to save changes and exit

What to do if you have a SATA hard drive installed in your computer, and you forgot to switch the option in the BIOS before installing the OS "SATA Mode" from the meaning IDE on the value SATA(option name in BIOS may differ)? Usually, already installed Windows, after switching the value of this option, gives a blue screen. Some people find nothing better than reinstalling the OS again. But there is another way.

I recently had this problem. I tested the hard disk in a client laptop using the mHDD utility, having previously switched the "SATA Mode" option in the BIOS to IDE mode. After testing, I forgot to switch back and installed the operating system. I found my error already at the stage of installing drivers in the installed system, when I did not want to install the Intel AHCI driver. Fortunately, the problem was solved without reinstalling the OS, just digging into the Windows registry. Read on to learn how to do this.

First of all, we call the "Run" dialog box. It is called through the Start menu or by the Win + R key combination. In the Run dialog box, enter and execute the command "Regedit"(without quotes).

In the opened registry editor, we find the following section:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ services \ msahci

In this section, we need to change the value of the "Start" key to 0.

Now we find the next section:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ services \ iaStorV

And also change the value of the "Start" key to 0.

After the steps described above, restart the PC. When rebooting, enter the BIOS and change the value of the "SATA Mode" option from the IDE value to the AHCI value. We save the changes to the BIOS settings and restart the computer.

After restarting, Windows will find new hardware and install its driver. After that, you can safely roll the Intel AHCI driver, because now our hard drive will work in AHCI mode.