Enable AHCI in Windows 8 and Windows 10 after Installation  

Brink said:

Hello @FrankW,

If you don't have Optane, then it would be best to switch to AHCI, and uninstall the Intel app afterwards.

Most Laptop Manufacturers seem to load the RST software as they set , even Laptops with only one Drive to use RAID mode for some reason ...... been like that on all 5 laptops I have had in the last 18months from Acer , MSI, Asus etc. And it doesn't really effect anything it seems....

HOWEVER Intel has recently deprecated both RST and the Optane Memory App , and now advises to use ONLY the

The Intel® Optane™ Memory and Storage Management Hardware Support Application

which appears to be what FrankW has installed.


More Info here:

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000055419/technologies.html

So I overcame the problems outlined above, and got the PC onto AHCI and bootable. Hurrah. Can't say I have noticed any real difference, but that's okay.

However:-
1. When I start up the PC I still get the "updating AHCI driver" step appearing before it loads up - wonder if I need to revisit the Registry somewhere?
2. I thought a new hard drive would fix this problem, but it happened again this morning. When I boot up the PC it flashes the lights on the keyboard then just dies, and I need to press the start button several times before it will start - any idea what could be causing this? Once I get it up and running it works fine.

Thanks,

David

Brink,

Will that address my first or second problem?.

How do I know which drivers I already have in place? I downloaded a couple of chipset drivers, the PC told me one was older than what I had so I didn't update it. The other one came up with a Terms and Conditions page, and I wasn't sure if I should proceed or not?

None of the available ACHI drivers were for Windows 10. I have a Gigabyte Technology H61M-S2-B3.

dave12cd said:

Brink,
Will that address my first or second problem?.
How do I know which drivers I already have in place? I downloaded a couple of chipset drivers, the PC told me one was older than what I had so I didn't update it. The other one came up with a Terms and Conditions page, and I wasn't sure if I should proceed or not?
None of the available ACHI drivers were for Windows 10. I have a Gigabyte Technology H61M-S2-B3.

1 is the Chipset the other is the Intel Management Engine



My usual suggestion on older hardware is to try the Windows 7 x64 bit Drivers ( not Win 8 ) if not specific Win 10 drivers are available.

On my older X58 board I am using the Intel RST drivers v12.9.4.1000 .
Typically it is best to use the Best Driver available from the Series matching the Intel RST Bios on the Motherboard, but the next series Up is usually ok too.

The WinRaid Forum has a lot of info ...maybe to much :) but on this page you will find a Spolier with the 12.xxxx Driver still available.
Forum - Intel RST/RSTe Drivers (latest: v17.8.8.1072 WHQL/v6.2.2.1006 WHQL)

There is no real need to Run the the RST Software if you don't want too , it is not required for the Drivers to work , it really only to help maintain a RAID Setup IF you have one .....eg most Laptops don't have raid as they don't have two identical Drives.

You may need to disable Driver downloads for Win10 ( Brink has a tutorial ) , so it doesn't try to update it automatically afterwards ...the latest ISN'T always the greatest......with Drivers...

Enable or Disable Driver Updates in Windows Update in Windows 10

KB.

FrankW said:

Hi @Kbird
I saw that Intel note and when I tried to uninstall RST I got that warning about SATA HDD issues. I don't intend to spend any more money on my Acer so won't install Optane memory or buy a SDD, just use it for casual work and internet. Having said that would Optane perhaps manage the RAM of my 2 GPU's or my future DRAM, 2 DDR4 (pair) in Dual Channel that I plan?
Maybe I will just live with Intel's RST "depreciation" or I may go AHCI like Shawn suggested.......
Thanks for your reply.
Frank
@Kbird saw your name in several RST related posts and wonder if you know of a safe way to uninstall RST and Optane from my system Windows10 1909 x64 Home single language.
I read this old post about W7 to uninstall the RST driver rather than with Control Panel Programs and features-uninstall:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...0-89843c9d9b22
I could not find anything on W10 Forums about uninstalling these (pervasive) Intel programs but plenty of issues and BSODs caused by RST and Optane, maybe stuff for a good Tutorial.....
Frank

Hi Frank, I didn't make it back here last night....... yes I've been running Raid System for many years , long before SSDs , for performance purposes , though these days SSDs are cheap enough and large enough not to bother... An SSD and more RAM will help an older Laptop , I'd try an SSD if you have at least 8GB of RAM 1st ( 16GB better with Win10) you may not get 100% performance from an SSD if the Laptop is Sata2 (3GB) only, but it's still way quicker than a HDD.

And NO the Optane Software has nothing to do with the GPU Ram or the main DRAM your system uses....

You can do a screen grab of the Intel Warning and post it but my guess is it is a generic Warning and there should be no issues as Win10 will just install the Win10 Microsoft (M$) Driver if it doesn't find an Intel one. ( as mentioned in your linked article) Win10 may also try to install a Driver from Windows Update if you have not turned that option off ( see my previous post to David12cd above) ...I usually do turn this off as I don't trust M$ to look after my Hardware... I am pro-active in this regard and once it works ....don't fix it if it ain't broke :)

If you don't already use Macrium Reflect , get the Free Version and backup your system 1st and make sure to make the RESCUE DISK ..this is critical....no point having a Backup of your HDD if you don't have the Rescue Disk ...well to Rescue you...

KB.

Personally of Late I have not had to use this method as Win10 is smart enough now after a reboot into Safe Mode to re-write these registry entries for you .... you don't need to invoke BCEdit to get into SafeMode as mentioned in this link below either ..... and will maybe need your Password....not Pin ..Password ...so make sure you know it or have it handy.

Attn. SSD owners - Enabling AHCI mode AFTER Windows 10 installation.


KB