How to Change from IDE to AHCI/RAID Mode after Installation Windows XP

Definition
  • AHCI: Advanced Host Controller Interface, The specification describes a system memory structure for computer hardware vendors to exchange data between host system memory and attached storage devices.
  • RAID: Redundant Array of Independent Disks, a storage technology that provides increased reliability and functions through redundancy. This is achieved by combining multiple disk drive components into a logical unit, where data is distributed across the drives in one of several ways called "RAID levels".
Both AHCI and RAID has SATA's advanced capabilities to the system:
  • Enable Hot swapping
  • Enable Native Command Queuing (NCQ: SATA Harddisk capability), might improve computer/system/hard disk responsiveness, especially in multi-tasking environment.
  • RAID has many more capabilities than AHCI depends on its scheme level (e.g. RAID 0, RAID 1) and  provides a different balance between two key goals: increase data reliability and increase input/output performance.

Instalation
If you have a Windows XP installed and then you would like to convert the system to AHCI/RAID (BIOS of the Motherboard must have an option to enable AHCI/RAID), then you should do these steps:

A. Download require drivers for Intel or AMD
  1. Intel Matrix Storage Manager "IATA88Enu.exe" or "AMD AHCI/RAID driver" (The "88" on IATA means version).
  2. "f6flpy32" (zip/rar file) or "AMD AHCI/RAID driver" from the motherboard manufacture. Normally this is the drivers you need for the "F6 mode" when you install Windows XP.
  3. Use the following command to extract the Intel Matrix Storage Manager IATA88Enu.exe driver files : Click Start > Run > type this command: cmd > enter, and then type this command: c:\iata88enu.exe -a -a -pc:\.  On that path directory, you would have file “IaStor.sys” (intel) or “ahcix86.sys” (amd).
 
 
B. By Explorer, Open the path directory which fills “IaStor.sys” or “ahcix86.sys”.
And Copy to c:\windows\system32\
C. Open Notepad, Copy and Paste the following registry:
a). AHCI: For INTEL chipset, copy below to the notepad and save it as “ahci.reg”:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_2922&cc_0106]
“Service”=”iaStor”
“ClassGUID”=”{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}”
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor]
“Type”=dword:00000001
“Start”=dword:00000000
“Group”=”SCSI miniport”“ErrorControl”=dword:00000001
“ImagePath”=”system32\\drivers\\iaStor.sys”
“tag”=dword:00000019
“DisplayName”=”Intel AHCI Controller”
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor\Parameters]
“queuePriorityEnable”=dword:00000000
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor\Enum]
“0?=”PCI\\VEN_8086&DEV_2922&SUBSYS_B0051458&REV_02\\3&13c0b0c5&0&FA”
“Count”=dword:00000001
“NextInstance”=dword:00000001

b). AHCI/RAID: For AMD x86 chipset, copy below to the notepad and save it as “ahcix86.reg”:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_1002&dev_4380&subsys_82311043]
"Service"="ahcix86"
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E97B-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ahcix86]
"Type"=dword:00000001
"Start"=dword:00000000
"Group"="SCSI miniport"
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001"ImagePath"="system32\\drivers\\ahcix86.sys"
"tag"=dword:00000019
"DisplayName"="AMD AHCI Compatible RAID Controller"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ahcix86\Parameters\PnpInterface]
"5"=dword:0x00000001
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ahcix86\Settings\CAM]
"EnableALPEDisableHotplug"=dword:0
"EnableCCC"=dword:1
"CCCTimeoutValue"=dword:10
"CCCCompletionValue"=dword:32
"NCQEnableDiskIDBits"=dword:0"EnableHIPM"=dword:0
"EnableDIPM"=dword:0
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ahcix86\Enum]
"0"="PCI\\VEN_1002&DEV_4380&SUBSYS_82311043\\3&13c0b0c5&0&FA"
"Count"=dword:00000001
"NextInstance"=dword:00000001

c). RAID: For INTEL chipset, copy below to the notepad and save it as “RAID.reg”:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_2822&cc_0104]
"Service"="iaStor"
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E97B-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor]
"Type"=dword:00000001
"Start"=dword:00000000
"Group"="SCSI miniport"
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
"ImagePath"="system32\\drivers\\iaStor.sys"
"tag"=dword:00000019
"DisplayName"="Intel RAID Controller"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor\Parameters]
"queuePriorityEnable"=dword:00000000
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor\Enum]
"0"="PCI\\VEN_8086&DEV_2822&SUBSYS_4F4A8086&REV_02\\3&61aaa01&0&FA"
"Count"=dword:00000001
"NextInstance"=dword:00000001
 
 
D. Go to Computer > Properties > Hardware > Device manager.
  • Under IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers, right-click the first INTEL(R) Controller or AMD SATA Controller, and update the driver. Manually install by browse to the folder where you extracted file  – “f6flpy32" Or AMD ahci driver.
  • Choose the “iaAHCI.inf” or “ahcix86.inf” to install. Here will install all the AHCI drivers.

E. Double check you’ve copied the IaStor.sys or ahcix86.sys file as part of step B.
  • Now do this: Run the "ahci.reg" or ahcix86.reg file to add the entries into the registry.
  • For RAID.reg, you need to delete the registry key  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor first, before you run the raid.reg.
  • Reboot the computer/laptop and enter the BIOS.
  • Change the setting for the onboard Intel/AMD controller to AHCI/RAID, save and exit BIOS.
  • Especialy for RAID, after BIOS changed, you should setup level of RAID type (e.g.RAID 0, RAID 1).
  • Boot into Windows.
 
 
F. Windows will startup, find the new hardware, and install drivers automatically. 

  • If the system wants to restore the drivers, just ignore it. But, you should do this... Open "Intel Matrix Storage Manager IATA88Enu.exe" and install it again (on the same way, AMD doesn't need to do this again).
  • It will setup the "Intel Matrix Storage Manager" and the AHCI-SATA driver should install completely.
  • Restart your desktop/laptop.
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