Question

How to enable AHCI on XP after installing in ATA mode

Asked by: Elad-a

Hi Guys,
I've just purchased a DELL Latitude E4200 Laptop with SSD storage device instead of HDD.
In the Bios there 3 options for SATA : ATA,AHCI,IRRT
If i choose the last 2 i'm getting blue screen while installing Windows XP and only in ATA mode i can install Windows XP.
Now the problem is like this :
The DVDRW drive is external and connects only via eSATA connector BUT the BIOS clearly states the eSATA devices will be disabled while in ATA mode which is correct (i installed xp in ATA mode with other external USB CDROM but i really need my DVDRW to work with current XP installation).

How can I enable AHCI now after installing XP in ATA mode without causing any blue screens ?

PLEASE HELP A.S.A.P. !

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Asked On
2009-07-26 at 04:49:08ID24600937
Topics

Computer Hard Drives

,

Windows XP Operating System

,

PC Laptops

Participating Experts
2
Points
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Comments
9

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Answers

 

by: MASQUERAIDPosted on 2009-07-26 at 05:00:52ID: 24945375

Switch into AHCI mode and run a repair/reinstall by booting from from the Dell XP CD (it includes the AHCI drivers for the E4200).
If you don't have a Dell XP CD you can slipstream the AHCI driver files using n-lite.

 

by: Elad-aPosted on 2009-07-26 at 05:05:10ID: 24945385

OK, i didn't get Dell XP CD with this E4200 but i got one with another Latitude E6400 or D630 ...
will it work too ? if so, how exactly i run repair/reinstall from it

10x

 

by: MASQUERAIDPosted on 2009-07-26 at 05:11:49ID: 24945403

Should be fine - the Dell XP CDs are generic - everyone gets the same one and it contains all the drivers Dell use up to the date of the CD you have - (so if the disk is younger than your E4200 then there's an outside chance it might not work).
Definative repair/reinstall guide here

 

by: Elad-aPosted on 2009-07-26 at 06:04:06ID: 24945580

Didn't help
I made a full reinstall by the guide but still after the reinstall finished i got the blue screen again...

any ideas ?

 

by: MASQUERAIDPosted on 2009-07-26 at 06:20:10ID: 24945645

What is the error on the BSOD?

 

by: Elad-aPosted on 2009-07-26 at 06:33:11ID: 24945700

It restarts too quickly and i can't read the BSOD error.
I presume that it has to do with AHCI because when i switch in BIOS to ATA windows XP boots normaly

 

by: gikkelPosted on 2009-07-26 at 08:29:39ID: 24946211

Did you make the reinstall with the drivers loaded (F6 during startup)?  The installation still thinks its using ata mode and pointing to the wrong driver...can you boot into safe mode with AHCI enabled?  

 

by: MASQUERAIDPosted on 2009-07-26 at 09:16:56ID: 24946428

Have a look at this one: http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=457699
Not sure if this matches your Southbridge but in theory at least should allow XP to restart with AHCI support.

 

by: Elad-aPosted on 2009-07-26 at 23:33:08ID: 24949218

Nevermind guys,
I made custom windows xp cd with NLITE and integrated the ahci drivers to it

it worked but i had to re-install

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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