Vista user. Should I switch to AHCI mode or stick to IDE?

Castout · 01-29-09, 10:22 PM

Hi Warhawk.
I use Advanced system care. It's acceptable.

I assume you're still running on IDE mode? why the hesitation to switch to AHCI?

AVGWarhawk · 01-30-09, 08:46 AM

The hesitation is that I do not know what these are

CaptainHaplo · 01-30-09, 07:20 PM

AHCI is used in SATA configurations - if your currently use IDE then you can't switch to AHCI as your drives are not SATA - they are EIDE.

The first question (provided you have compatible hardware) that needs to be answered is why do you want to switch? Is there some indication you have that you will get a performance or reliability increase?

In the case of AHCI - you are already using your OS. Switching to AHCI after the OS is installed is a real pain in the arse. About the only way to do it reasonably still requires an OS "repair" to be run to allow the OS to see your drives once you swap to an AHCI mode on the controller.

Honestly - this is one of those times that "new technology" (though it isn't really new) just isn't worth the hassle. Next time your doing a full system rebuild, make sure you have AHCI ready drivers for your controller and then enable it. Until then - I have to advise against it.

Your not really missing any "bang for the buck" in reality without it.

Castout · 01-31-09, 05:36 AM

Hi Haplo switching to AHCI for Vista user is done merely by making modification to a registry value. I've posted the procedure I took from official Microsoft database.

For Vista it's not a pain in the ass to switch to AHCI mode after OS installation unlike in XP. So I thought it might be worth switching for.

AVGWarhawk · 01-31-09, 07:06 AM

My drive is SATA already.

CaptainHaplo · 01-31-09, 03:38 PM

Castout - its supposedly as simply as changing the registry entry. Only one problem - if your current SATA driver doesnt support AHCI your screwed because on reboot - you will get no hard disk drive found halfway through the boot process. Its possible you could get back in with safe mode - but no guarantee. If you can then you can swap the reg entry back. If not - your doing a repair of your system at least - a full format and rebuild at worst.

Before you do this - make sure the driver your OS is currently using for the Sata controller supports AHCI. Just a word of warning. Again - I also have to say - why fix it if its not broke? There is no real performance gain unless your also running a raid array from what I have found.

Castout · 01-31-09, 07:28 PM

Okay thanks for the advice.

One more thing since switching to Vista x64 environment it seems that it is HDD space hungry compared to XP x86. IS this caused by Vista or the x64 environment?

01-29-09, 10:22 PM	#1
Castout Silent Hunter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Jakarta Posts: 4,794 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 6	Hi Warhawk. I use Advanced system care. It's acceptable. I assume you're still running on IDE mode? why the hesitation to switch to AHCI? __________________ My blog: http://exposingsingapore.wordpress.com/

01-30-09, 08:46 AM	#2
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,276 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	The hesitation is that I do not know what these are __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

01-30-09, 07:20 PM	#3
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	AHCI is used in SATA configurations - if your currently use IDE then you can't switch to AHCI as your drives are not SATA - they are EIDE. The first question (provided you have compatible hardware) that needs to be answered is why do you want to switch? Is there some indication you have that you will get a performance or reliability increase? In the case of AHCI - you are already using your OS. Switching to AHCI after the OS is installed is a real pain in the arse. About the only way to do it reasonably still requires an OS "repair" to be run to allow the OS to see your drives once you swap to an AHCI mode on the controller. Honestly - this is one of those times that "new technology" (though it isn't really new) just isn't worth the hassle. Next time your doing a full system rebuild, make sure you have AHCI ready drivers for your controller and then enable it. Until then - I have to advise against it. Your not really missing any "bang for the buck" in reality without it. __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo

01-31-09, 05:36 AM	#4
Castout Silent Hunter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Jakarta Posts: 4,794 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 6	Hi Haplo switching to AHCI for Vista user is done merely by making modification to a registry value. I've posted the procedure I took from official Microsoft database. For Vista it's not a pain in the ass to switch to AHCI mode after OS installation unlike in XP. So I thought it might be worth switching for. __________________ My blog: http://exposingsingapore.wordpress.com/

01-31-09, 07:06 AM	#5
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,276 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	My drive is SATA already. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

01-31-09, 03:38 PM	#6
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	Castout - its supposedly as simply as changing the registry entry. Only one problem - if your current SATA driver doesnt support AHCI your screwed because on reboot - you will get no hard disk drive found halfway through the boot process. Its possible you could get back in with safe mode - but no guarantee. If you can then you can swap the reg entry back. If not - your doing a repair of your system at least - a full format and rebuild at worst. Before you do this - make sure the driver your OS is currently using for the Sata controller supports AHCI. Just a word of warning. Again - I also have to say - why fix it if its not broke? There is no real performance gain unless your also running a raid array from what I have found. __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo

01-31-09, 07:28 PM	#7
Castout Silent Hunter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Jakarta Posts: 4,794 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 6	Okay thanks for the advice. One more thing since switching to Vista x64 environment it seems that it is HDD space hungry compared to XP x86. IS this caused by Vista or the x64 environment? __________________ My blog: http://exposingsingapore.wordpress.com/

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