SATA configuration

N

nepts2

New Member
Hi.
when I install the SATA2 hdd on my comp, do I have to configure SATA2 in the BIOS in order to activate NCQ?
Because in my BIOS, it detects my SATA 2 HDD as IDE however.
Thanks.
 
You have to switch the controller to AHCI mode. I don't think it will boot into windows unless you install windows with it in ACHI mode.
 
Cromewell said:
You have to switch the controller to AHCI mode. I don't think it will boot into windows unless you install windows with it in ACHI mode.
Click to expand...
There have been issues with setting the SATA mode to AHCI, where XP wont recognize the drive. So if that happens to you, you will need to use it in IDE mode. Although from what i've heard, if you can you should run it in AHCI mode for a bit better performance.
 
Can I change it into AHCI mode in the BIOS then?

If not, then the only choice is reinstalling the windows with AHCI mode...

Is that it?

Thank you so much for your support.
 
You enable AHCI in the BIOS but as Omega said, it doesn't always agree with windows. If you do change it from IDE to ACHI I'm pretty sure you will have to reinstall windows otherwise it will just blue screen when you try and boot. By all means give it a go without reinstalling if you want to switch to AHCI but it might not work.
 
Dang... I guess I have no choice but reinstalling.
So if I install my OS to ACHI, my hdd can use full function of SATA2 and NCQ.
Right?

Thanks again.
 
Damn. I went into the BIOS (just to give it a try) and changed the mode to ACHI mode. I could successfully boot the computer but whenever I boot it, I always have to wait for configuration of ACHI thing (Because I moved the SATA cable from yellow port to purple port>).
Most crucially, my comp won't recognize the IDE CD ROM.
What should I do?
Thank you.
 
Put the hard drive on the other controller (the colour with 4 sata ports), both controllers can be run in AHCI mode independantly of each other.
 
Cromewell said:
You enable AHCI in the BIOS but as Omega said, it doesn't always agree with windows. If you do change it from IDE to ACHI I'm pretty sure you will have to reinstall windows otherwise it will just blue screen when you try and boot. By all means give it a go without reinstalling if you want to switch to AHCI but it might not work.
Click to expand...
If you are running XP, you will need to reinstall Windows if you switch to ACHI from IDE, or vice versa. Although Vista has the appropriate controllers for both so you most likely can switch in and out without needing to reinstall.
 
Well I don't get blank screen though.
Anyway, if I reinstall the windows xp, will the yellow ports(4 ports) configure hdd as AHCI and configure my IDE CD ROM>?

Thanks again.
 
You can configure them as AHCI yes, it's in the BIOS but a different option than the one you already set. I can look it up when I get home if you need the name.
 
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