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

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?

CaptainHaplo · 01-31-09, 11:26 PM

Well honestly - I can't answer. I haven't seen anything saying vista is drive space hungry. I have run both 32 and 64 bit ultimate - but I never compared the space requirements. My main drive is half a T, so I havent really run into any need to monitor space.

Sorry mate.

01-31-09, 05:36 AM	#1
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	#2
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,265 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	#3
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	#4
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/

01-31-09, 11:26 PM	#5
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	Well honestly - I can't answer. I haven't seen anything saying vista is drive space hungry. I have run both 32 and 64 bit ultimate - but I never compared the space requirements. My main drive is half a T, so I havent really run into any need to monitor space. Sorry mate. __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo

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