• What is AHCI mode in BIOS. Hard drive acceleration: AHCI mode for SATA

    Enable and configure AHCI mode worth every user who wants to improve and expand the capabilities of a computer in working with hard SATA drives and especially SSDs.

    The mode allows you to increase the speed of your computer due to the increased speed of data access, and to activate it you only need to perform a few simple steps.

    Before considering options for enabling the mode, you should first familiarize yourself with its features and operating principle.

    What is AHCI

    Interface of modern hard drives SATA drives, supporting data transfer rates from 1.5 Gbit/s to 6 Gbit/s, capable of operating in two modes:

    1. AHCI.

    The first ensures compatibility with older devices (drives manufactured in 2000). The speed of even the most powerful disks in this mode is not much different from those of the most outdated models. More modern regime AHCI allows you to fully enjoy all the benefits of the SATA interface. For example, by disconnecting and connecting drives to the motherboard on the fly, without turning off the computer, or with the ability to minimally move the drive heads to increase operating speed.

    By activating the mode, the user speeds up the launch of files, reading and writing information on disks and increases the overall performance of the computer. And, although the increase may not be so significant (within 20%), for some tasks such an improvement may be important. If you have SSD drives with the SATA form factor, this option is the only option for efficient work devices.

    IMPORTANT: Should you enable AHCI on an SSD?

    When using AHCI mode on an SSD, you will only get results if you have a SATA II/III interface; in other cases there will be no improvement in performance.

    How to check if the mode is enabled

    If you are going to enable AHCI mode, make sure that it is not already used on the computer. If you don't run high-performance applications, you have powerful processor and a sufficient amount of memory, you may simply not notice what mode you are working in.

    You can check whether AHCI is enabled or not enabled in this way:

    1. First, go to the computer properties (Start menu, Computer item, Properties sub-item in the context menu);
    2. Open device manager;
    3. Open the IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers section;
    4. If there is a device here that has AHCI in its name, the mode works. If such a drive is not in the list (and you do not have an outdated IDE hard drive, but a more modern one), you will have to enable the mode yourself.

    Second way to check AHCI work– reboot the computer and go to BIOS menu(using one of the available options - for different motherboards and laptops it is slightly different, although most often it involves pressing the function keys - from Esc to F12).

    Having entered the BIOS (or UEFI), make sure in which mode SATA operates by finding the item SATA Mode or SATA Configuration.

    Tip: When established mode IDE, you should not immediately switch it to AHCI and save it - especially if you have Windows 7.

    How to enable AHCI mode

    Enabling this mode on your computer can be done directly from the BIOS.

    At the same time, if you have Windows 7, after trying to boot the system, a message like 0x0000007B INACCESSABLE_BOOT_DEVICE will most likely appear on the screen, indicating the impossibility of working with the disk. Sometimes the same situation occurs with Windows 8 and 10, but the likelihood of a message appearing is less - most often the computer starts up or begins to reboot constantly.

    The situation will be completely different if you select AHCI mode before installing the system. This will enable the software to installation disk recognize the HDD or SSD parameters when launching the installer, and there will be no problems starting the mode.

    Difficulties begin only if the system is already installed on the drive, and the user is going to change the IDE parameter to SATA and enable NCQ (Native Command Queuing, an extension of the SATA protocol, which significantly increases the speed of working with information by optimizing the order in which commands are received). In this case, you will have to use either the registry editor or safe mode, depending on the operating system. If none of these actions provide the required result, all that remains is to enable AHCI and reinstall the system.

    For Windows 7

    One of the most popular operating systems currently, Windows 7, requires using the registry or special utility. The first option includes the following steps:

    1. Launch the Registry Editor (Win + R to open the Run menu, enter the regedit command and confirm the changes);
    1. Go to section HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\msahci;
    2. Go to the Start item, whose default value is 3, and change it to zero;
    1. Go to the same subsection from msahci to IastorV and search for the Start parameter;
    2. Changing three to zero;
    3. Closing the editor.

    Now all that remains is to restart the computer and turn on desired mode AHCI in the BIOS menu. After downloading Windows systems 7 will begin to automatically install drivers for all drives connected to the motherboard, and then require another reboot to make changes. The last stage of setting up the mode is to check whether write caching mode is enabled in the disk properties. If it is not enabled, the function should be launched.

    Another option is the utility Microsoft Fix it, which allows you to get rid of errors after enabling the new mode (you can download it from the official Microsoft website). Once you launch and select the appropriate troubleshooting action, the application will automatically make any necessary changes and the error message will no longer appear.

    For Windows 8 and 8.1

    If Windows 8 or 8.1 is already installed on your computer, you can use Safe Mode to configure AHCI mode. To do this, if an error occurs:

    1. Return IDE mode to BIOS;
    2. restart your computer;
    3. Run the command line as an administrator (“Start”/“All Programs”/“Accessories”);
    4. Enter the command bcdedit /set (current) safeboot minimal
    1. Press the enter button;
    2. Restart the PC and enter the BIOS;
    3. Enable AHCI mode;
    4. Run the command line again;
    5. Enter the command bcdedit /deletevalue (current) safeboot;
    6. Reboot the system again, after which Windows should stop displaying the error message.

    If your system is running on an Intel processor, it is possible additional option enabling AHCI using a utility from this manufacturer (this method does not work for AMD).

    To use it you should:

    1. Download the f6flpy (mode driver) file from the official Intel website by selecting suitable version(x32 or x64);
    2. Download the SetupRST.exe file from the same resource;
    3. Open device manager and in the properties of your hard drive install manually new driver f6 AHCI instead of SATA;
    4. Restart the PC and enable AHCI in the BIOS (UEFI);
    5. Run the SetupRST.exe file, which should automatically resolve the problem.

    For Windows 10

    Windows 10 also allows you to use a utility to fix errors when switching modes. Intel processors, reinstalling the system and safe mode. But the most effective option is to use the Registry Editor, which is slightly different from the similar method in Windows 7.

    To use this method you need:

    1. Log in as administrator;
    2. Launch Registry Editor using one of available ways(the easiest way is through the Run window and the regedit command);
    3. Go to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStorV section and find its Start parameter, changing its value to 0;
    4. Find in the adjacent subsection Services\iaStorAV\StartOverride a parameter named 0, setting a zero value for it as well;
    5. Go to the Services\storahci subsection, reset the Start parameter;
    6. In the Services\storahci\StartOverride subsection, set the value zero for parameter 0.
    7. Close the editor and restart the computer;
    8. Enter the BIOS during system boot and enable AHCI mode.

    Tip: It is recommended to do the first Windows startup 10 in safe mode, for which this option is enabled using the “Run” menu (Win + R) and entering the msconfig command to display the system configuration window. Here you need to select the “Download” tab and check the box safe mode, specifying the “Minimal” option.

    Fig.9. Switching mode in the UEFI interface

    For standard interface You can access the BIOS settings by clicking the corresponding button when booting. function key. For example, F2 or F12, depending on the motherboard or laptop model, if the settings are made for it.

    After the first boot, Windows 10 will install all the necessary drivers to work with AHCI, and will not produce any errors in the future. At the same time, the speed of working with data should increase - especially if the drive has a SATA III interface.

    Other mode features

    For outdated Windows XP there is no option to install AHCI mode. This option was not even contemplated during its development. If you really want it, the required driver can be easily found on the Internet and integrated into the system. Instructions for the process can also be found on the Internet, but we do not recommend performing such actions. First of all, because installing the AHCI mode is unlikely to significantly speed up the processor and the entire computer, which only supports Windows XP. Secondly, significant differences between drivers increase the likelihood of an error, after which data from the disk may be lost.

    For Windows Vista The process of enabling the mode is the same as for the 7th version of the system - that is, using the registry or utility. And Windows NT can be configured similarly to the recommendations for XP. There are driver options for other systems - from Unix to MacOS, since SSD drives and SATA are gaining popularity among users of any system.

    Conclusions

    In most cases, after performing the appropriate actions on the system, AHCI mode starts working normally and the system runs a little faster. If you cannot achieve any results, you can try to reinstall the system after changing the mode - this may take more time, but it guarantees results.

    Where was it mentioned that for her normal operation AHCI mode is required. This mode unleashes the full capabilities of storage devices, which greatly improves performance. We are talking about memory storage devices - SSD, HDD. Next, you will find out what AHCI is, let’s check whether it is enabled, and if not, then enable it.

    What is AHCI?

    Previously, computers had the so-called PATA interface, to which all storage devices were connected, but its times have passed and it was replaced by the SATA interface, which will be discussed now.

    SATA has two operating modes:

    IDE(Integrated Development Environment) – this mode needed to create compatibility with outdated devices, which are still connected via the PATA interface, which can be said that the SATA interface with IDE mode is almost the same as PATA.

    AHCI(Advanced Host Controller Interface) is SATA mode, revealing all the capabilities of memory storage devices. It has several interesting features: hot plugging and hot plugging hard drives, that is, you can do this while the computer is turned on. Another possibility is NCQ technology, which reduces the number of read head movements of hard drives and also improves drive performance.

    Using this mode will have a positive effect, in practice it is not that noticeable, to be honest, but still, there is something, so I would recommend turning on this mode if it is turned off, especially since there is nothing complicated about it.

    Does your computer have AHCI mode?

    There are two ways to find out if there is an AHCI mode on a PC or laptop; if you have it quite new, then most likely you have it.

    First method : We have to go to Device Manager where you expand the tab IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers, or something similar, and if the controller name contains the word AHCI, then this mode is used.


    Second method : The presence and use of AHCI mode can be viewed and. There you should find SATA mode, or something similar and check what is there, if AHCI, then you can rest assured.

    I would like to remind you that instead of the AHCI item there may be IDE, but you should not immediately switch this mode, below you will find out why.

    How to enable AHCI mode in the operating system?

    AHCI is enabled through the BIOS. Most likely, you have SATA interfaces on your motherboard, but you cannot activate the AHCI function in the BIOS. Most likely the problem is in the BIOS firmware, and it needs to be updated, but this should not be done without special knowledge.

    If you have modern versions Windows, then you already have the AHCI driver installed, it is required. It's built in since Windows Vista. In this case, you can activate AHCI without any problems.

    What to say about Windows XP, at that time there was no AHCI mode yet, and the SATA interface was just being developed. But required driver can be found on the Internet and used in Windows XP.

    You shouldn’t immediately fly and download drivers, because everything can end badly if you download the wrong one. The fact is that for Windows XP AHCI drivers have differences, firstly, you need , or name south bridge(you can use the AIDA64 program), and only then look for the driver using this data. Usage wrong driver contributes to errors and system malfunction, followed by data loss.

    That's all, I told you about the features of the AHCI mode, now you know how to check for its presence and how to enable it.

    It is quite natural that owners of desktop computing systems and laptops strive in one way or another to increase their performance. To solve this problem, some use the so-called overclocking (overclocking) of components, while others make adjustments through the capabilities provided by the developers. When choosing any method, it is important to understand what exactly you want to get and to have a good understanding of the features of the chosen method.

    "Bottleneck"

    It is known that one of the slowest components of modern computing system is based on a classic spindle system. Today, SSD analogues have appeared, but they have not yet become widespread due to their too high cost.

    That's why regular HDDs are installed on almost every computer. The result is that DDR3 memory easily transfers 20,000 MB/s; internal bus central processor allows you to process ten times more data; and a hard drive with the SATA-3 standard only “accelerates” to a real 100 megabytes per second under ideal conditions. It is no coincidence that it is recommended at least for system files use high-performance SSD models. From all of the above, a simple conclusion follows: it is the HDD that slows down the modern system, thereby being a “bottleneck”. And since the user can easily make changes to the way the disk subsystem processes commands, affecting speed to a certain extent, you can often hear the question of which mode is better: AHCI or IDE.

    Standards

    The interaction of the disk with other components of the computer system occurs through a special control controller. This chip serves as a kind of command translator, converter. Until recently, the only “language” understood by the controller was the IDE protocol.

    It originated at the dawn of the computer industry and has been modernized several times. With the advent of high-speed SATA drives, a radical reworking of the protocol was required. This is how it arose to easily cope with the increased data flow (interface), supports the fashionable NCQ command queue and implements the ability to turn off the device “on the fly”. So what is AHCI? IDE with some new features added. Everything is so simple at first glance.

    Opportunities and prospects

    Since the standards are backward compatible (SATA devices work perfectly using the IDE protocol), the BIOS or its equivalent almost always contains an item that allows you to select the desired mode.

    In many cases, this is the only way to ensure normal computer performance. The mode selection function is present only in software those motherboards that support SATA. This is all modern systems. However, hybrid solutions can also be attributed here, allowing you to connect both classic IDE devices (PATA, wide connector comb) and SATA (compact connector). So, AHCI or IDE? Which is better? To make it easier to understand this, here is a list of “bonuses” that a user receives by activating a more modern mode:

    1. via internal electronic circuits “disk controller - board controller” reaches from 1.5 Gb/s (gigabit) for modification SATA-1 to 6 in the third revision. Let us remember that UDMA-6, in which old hard drives can work, provides only 133 Mbit/s.

    2. When talking about which is better - AHCI or IDE, one cannot fail to mention support for NCQ technology. Its essence lies in the fact that the hard drive can “interfere” with the command flow queue, rearranging them to improve operating efficiency.

    3. Possibility of “hot” replacement of the device, which does not require shutting down the entire system.

    4. Parallel access to all disks at once, without using alternate switching.

    Here is a very tempting list of possibilities. It is not surprising that the question is: “AHCI or IDE: which is better?” is perhaps one of the most painful. Many computer owners, surprisingly, still believe in the “magic button”.

    Theory and practice

    So, after all, AHCI or IDE - which is better? From the above list we can conclude that the outdated protocol is significantly inferior to the new one. However, this is not entirely true. Let's consider this point in more detail. Yes, indeed, the data transfer speed has increased tenfold, however magnetic disks in hard drives they both rotated at a speed of 7200 rpm (the most popular solution), and still rotate. Accordingly, no revolutionary breakthroughs occurred in the reading process. In no way HDD test the user will not see 6 Gbit transfer. Even 200 Mbit is unattainable! Exception - solid state drives. If there is such a device in the system, then you don’t have to deal with the question: “AHCI or IDE: which is better?”, but immediately activate the updated protocol. However, as we pointed out, due to cost, such drives have not yet become widespread.

    Very often in debates about whether AHCI or IDE is better, the main argument in favor of the former is the protocol's ability to support NCQ. Indeed, when several programs are actively accessing the hard drive this function allows you to rebuild the flow of requests in the most in the best possible way. However, on an average computer, more than two or three programs rarely access the disk at the same time, so it is impossible to talk about a complete lack of acceleration, but it is obtained within the margin of error.

    IDE or AHCI - which is better? Windows 7, when the latter mode is activated, supports connecting/disconnecting a SATA device on the fly. Quite convenient, especially in server systems where shutdown is undesirable. However, to use “hot swap” it is recommended to use not internal connectors, but SATA modifications routed to the case.

    And finally, the protocol allows several hard drives on the bus to work simultaneously, rather than waiting for requests. It is in in this case NCQ's potential is fully realized. Not relevant for the average computer.

    As a result, it turns out that although the AHCI protocol is more interesting from a technological point of view, nevertheless, the majority of users will receive nothing but moral satisfaction from its inclusion. There are only two exceptions to general rule: server system and use of SSD.

    Nuances of use

    Although you can switch modes in the BIOS in a few seconds, you should keep one thing in mind important point. It is as follows: if the operating system was installed, for example, with AHCI, then after transferring to IDE, loading may not be possible. This is not a rule, but most often this is how things happen. Therefore, even before installing the distribution, you need to decide which disk subsystem protocol you plan to work with.

    AHCI driver packages began to be integrated into the system only with Vista. All previous solutions from Microsoft do not have built-in support, so you need to either use “assemblies” or prepare media with the appropriate driver before installation. Windows 7 works great with the new standard. Switching SATA from IDE mode to AHCI must be done from the BIOS (item Configure SATA). In very rare cases, changes to the registry may be required.

    Switching method

    In order to get into the BIOS, immediately after turning on the computer system, you need to press the Delete button several times in a row ( personal computers) or F2 (laptops). Depending on the implementation, the required item may be located in any sections. For example, it may require a translation to activate it Boot Mode in CSM instead of UEFI, after which Compatible (IDE) and AHCI appear. The item you are looking for may be in the SATA Enhanced section. You need to carefully review the entire existing list. After switching, press ESC and agree to save the changes.

    Results

    The decision about which protocol to choose depends on several factors. First of all, it depends on the operating system used. From compatibility at the “hardware” level. And of course from the load on the subsystem. The higher it is, the more preferable AHCI is. If we analyze all the reviews, we can say that both protocols work great, with correct setting without causing any disruptions. However, it is more appropriate to use updated version. This is, so to speak, a foundation “for the future,” for example, for the purchase of an SSD.

    Competent operation of a computer becomes possible in cases where the operating system and hardware interact harmoniously. Technologies are developing, especially in the storage category. Modern SSD drives and hard drives differ in that they work faster versions, used 5 – 10 years ago.

    Data transfer is carried out using the SATA interface; it is through it that the computer is connected to the drive. It is noted that the SATA interface can operate in two modes: AHCI and IDE. If used in computer SSD or modern hard drive, then AHCI mode can significantly speed up the computer. You can find out about ahci in this article.

    AHCI as a parameter is one of the modes for transmitting information via the SATA interface. Through this interface It is possible to transfer data at speeds from 1.5 to 6 Gb/s. It is in AHCI mode that maximum speeds are supported, which will be relevant for working with modern drives. If you look at the IDE mode, the SATA interface supports it only for compatibility with older types of hard drives.

    In the default settings of the Windows system, AHCI mode is not always enabled, even if the drives are connected via SATA to system board. This significantly reduces the performance of the computer, since the disk speed indicators are limited by software. If you install ahci mode, the speed of the drive can be increased from 20 to 30%. This will become evident from the general sensations from the operation of the computer you are using.

    How to determine if AHCI mode is enabled

    Often, users do not even know that they need to enable AHCI mode to improve computer performance. Windows by default does not always enable AHCI mode for working with SSDs and HDDs. To check whether AHCI mode is enabled in Windows, you need to perform the following operation:

    1. Right-click on “Start”. Then a drop-down menu appears where you need to select “Device Manager”.
    2. Then a list opens with “IDE/ATAPI Controllers” devices.
    3. Review the list of devices in detail. If there is no ahci mode in the name, then most likely it is disabled in the system.

    Another version, according to which there are no devices using AHCI mode in the list, is due to the fact that old-style drives that are not capable of working with the new mode are connected to the motherboard.

    There is also a way to check in which mode the SATA interface operates using the BIOS. To do this, you need to restart the computer, and while loading, press “F2” or “Del”. This will launch the BIOS, where you need to go to the SATA Mode menu and find out whether the option is IDE or AHCI.

    If you see in the BIOS menu that the SATA interface is connected to work in IDE mode, then you should not switch to AHCI mode. It won't do any good.

    Enabling AHCI mode in Windows

    In Windows operating systems, support for AHCI mode began with Windows 7. It can also be enabled in Windows XP, but this requires the ahci driver, which is available on the Internet. This driver was created by enthusiasts. This method will not increase performance, so when working with Windows XP it is better to abandon the use of AHCI mode and continue working with drives using a standard IDE.

    Enabling ahci mode involves work where you need to set the appropriate settings for SATA in the BIOS. The operation is carried out before installing the operating system, otherwise the computer will display error 0x0000007BINACCESSABLE_BOOT_DEVICE when booting or will constant reboot. To switch from ide to ahci mode on a Windows computer, you need to make certain changes in the registry. Let's look at the steps that need to be performed for individual versions of operating systems.

    Enabling AHCI mode in Windows 10

    If you are interested in how to enable ahci mode in Windows 10, then it is worth knowing that Microsoft does not offer a setting that allows you to enable support for AHCI mode on the fly if SATA previously worked with IDE. To correctly switch to AHCI mode, you must perform the following steps:

    1. The Registry Editor starts. To do this, press the “R+Windows” keys on the keyboard. In the window that appears, you need to enter the regedit command.
    2. Then you need to follow this path in the registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStorV.
    3. In the folder that opens, select Start by double click left mouse button. In the "Values" menu you need to set it to 0, and then click "OK".
    4. Then you need to set the Start indicator to 0 in the path:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\storahci

    1. The value 0 for 0 parameters is set in the following sections:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\storahci\StartOverride

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStorV\StartOverride

    1. When all the required parameters are set, you need to restart the computer to enter the registry. It sets AHCI mode to ensure work with the SATA interface.

    When the operating system boots Windows system, you will be prompted to install the drivers required to work with AHCI mode.

    Enabling AHCI mode in Windows 8 and 8.1

    To enable AHCI mode in Windows 8 and 8.1, you need to perform some operations on the command line. You need to do the following:

    1. Launch command line from the administrator. You need to right-click on “Start” and select the appropriate section.
    2. Then enter and use the following command at the command line:

    bcdedit /set (current) safeboot minimal

    1. Reboot your computer. During startup, open the BIOS, where you need to switch the mode from IDE to AHCI for the SATA interface.
    2. Reboot the OS and launch the command line. Entering and using the command:

    bcdedit /deletevalue (current) safeboot

    1. Another restart of the computer.

    If the computer uses an Intel CPU, then it is possible to use standard utility from the company. This will allow you to carry out the required actions for switching Windows to work with AHCI mode. This is done like this:

    1. Download the following files from the official Intel website:
    • SetupRST.exe is an executable file that provides configuration.
    • f6flpy – driver.
    1. Then you need to right-click on “Start” and open “Device Manager”. In the list where devices are displayed, select the menu “ Disk devices" Called context menu for a drive where Windows OS is installed. In this menu, select the “Update drivers” option.
    2. The utility that updates the drivers will start. It selects the “Search and install drivers manually” option. The downloaded f6flpy driver is then installed.
    3. The computer is rebooted, and AHCI mode needs to be activated in the BIOS.
    4. At loading Windows, you need to execute the SetupRST file, which configures the computer.

    This method is only relevant for versions of computers running on Intel processors. For AMD processors There are currently no such solutions.

    Enabling AHCI mode in Windows 7

    You can find out how to enable ahci mode in Windows 7. following instructions. The activation method is quite close to the operation with Windows 10. Here it will be necessary to make certain changes in the registry in this way:

    1. Launch the registry editor using the combination “R+Windows”. Enter the regedit command in the Run menu and click OK.
    2. Then you need to go to the registry editor along the following path, and Stars is set to 0:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\msahci

    1. Then the Start parameter, which is located in this folder, is set to 0:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\IastorV

    1. The computer reboots, and the AHCI mode for the SATA interface is selected in the BIOS.

    When the computer boots for the first time, you need to install the entire list of drivers offered by the operating system.

    After the computer has entered AHCI mode, errors may occur. They can be eliminated by using free utility"Microsoft Fix it." The program is distinguished by the presence of Russian localization, and it is not difficult to understand it.

    In most cases, when the above steps are performed, AHCI mode works fine. The system starts working significantly faster. If no results are achieved, then you can reinstall the system when the mode change occurs. It takes time, but the result is guaranteed.

    AHCI Video

    What is AHCI mode and why should it be enabled? AHCI is a mechanism for working with information storage devices. For example, with hard drives or SSD drives. This mode has replaced the more outdated IDE mode. The dawn of this “protocol” came, perhaps, in 2011. At that time prices for SSD drives have become more or less available for home use.

    We will not disclose all the technical details about how the AHCI mode works. For a regular user It will be enough to know that with AHCI enabled, the speed of working with the disk and its service life increase. But to experience the beauty of its work, you must have it installed on your computer. SSD drive With SATA interface 6Gbit.

    This is where we will finish the story about the details of the operation of the AHCI mode and move on to considering the issue of enabling it in the system.

    It’s worth mentioning right away that the connection mode for AHCI drives must be supported by your motherboard. Fortunately today, we can confidently say that almost any motherboard released from 2008 onwards has this capability.

    Increase PC speed using AHCI mode

    What is the difficulty when switching to AHCI mode? If you are just going to install the operating system, then no problems will arise. You just need to enable this mode in the BIOS of your computer and only then carry out Windows installation. As a rule enable AHCI it is possible through the BIOS in the section on working with storage devices Storage Configuration.

    On different models For motherboards, this section may have a different but similar name. For example, SATA Configuration, SATA Mode, etc. The guideline for your search will be the ability to select from a list of the following modes: IDE, AHCI, RAID.

    Switching to AHCI without reinstalling the operating system

    So, we figured out installing a clean OS, everything is simple! Now let's look at the situation of turning on AHCI for already working Windows . The fact is that when you change modes in the BIOS, the operating system will stop loading with various types of errors.

    These errors are caused by the lack of the required driver hard disk controller when loading the OS. That is why before changing BIOS settings we will need to prepare the operating system.

    To do this, open the Registry Editor through the menu Start > Run > Regedit and we will find the following subsections in it:

    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Msahci
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\IastorV

    In each section you will need to open the parameter Start and replace its value with - 0 .

    After making changes, you need to restart the computer, go into the BIOS, enable AHCI mode and save the changes. operating system At the first start, it will install a new driver and will be ready for further work.

    As a rule this method is working and suitable for everyone Windows versions starting from version 7 and higher. If you were unable to figure it out with the first method, then you can try to enable AHCI mode a little differently or contact our team for help.

    Read more: