One of the main elements of any computer device, as you know, is HDD on which the information is stored. In relation to hard drives of any type, the term AHCI is used. But many users not only know how to enable AHCI, but don't even know what it is. Let's consider the meaning of the main term and the actions required to activate this mode in Windows systems.

What is AHCI?

Modern hard drives connected to the motherboard through operation can use two modes: IDE (compatibility with obsolete equipment) and AHCI - latest standard, referred to as the Advanced Host Controller Interface, which allows you to multiply the performance of the device itself and the installed operating system due to faster data readout.

Almost all modern SSDs show an increase in performance when accessed precisely when the AHCI mode is set. But this is not the most important thing.

What is AHCI mode for?

Let's leave for now the question of how to enable AHCI mode in Windows, and let's look at the benefits that a user of a modern computer can get when activating this mode.

First of all, when the AHCI mode is activated, you can change or install additional hard drives, as they say, "on the fly" (even without turning off the computer or reinstalling the operating system). This is undoubtedly a huge plus for servers.

The second aspect is related to the fact that when this mode is set, a special NCQ technology comes into play, which allows you to reduce the number of movements of the reading heads, while speeding up the simultaneous use of accesses to the hard drive different applications, programs and services. Finally, AHCI activation is believed to have a beneficial effect on the performance of the entire system. Of course, as evidenced by the reviews of experts and users, at home, there will not be much performance gain, however, subject to installation hard drive SSD this mode is still better to turn on.

What not to do and what to pay attention to initially

But the most important misconception of most users is that they try to use only the settings of the primary BIOS system for activation (at least you can read about this in most reviews of problems that arise). It is strictly forbidden to do this without performing preliminary actions in the operating system.

You can activate the mode in the BIOS only if the OS is installed on a "blank" hard drive. If you perform such a procedure with an already existing OS on board, Windows will give an error at startup and go into permanent reboot mode. Then the complaints begin, they say, the user turned on the AHCI mode in Windows, but nothing good came of it. What to say? Perhaps the basic rules were violated, since different modifications of the system require different actions.

How to check if AHCI mode is active?

But first you need to check if the mode is enabled. Perhaps its additional activation is not needed.

In the simplest case, when starting a computer terminal or laptop, you need to go into the BIOS settings and go to the SATA Mode section.

In the operating system itself, you can use the "Device Manager", called from the "Control Panel", administration or the "Run" console with the devmgmt.msc command and go to the IDE ATA / ATAPI controller section. When enabled in standard devices, the AHCI controller will be displayed. If it is not on the list, you will have to decide how to enable AHCI in the system. Again, the solution depends on which version of Windows is installed on the computer.

How to enable AHCI mode in Windows 7

So let's start with the seven. For the seventh and tenth versions, the actions look somewhat similar, but for Windows 8 they differ quite a lot.

• The first step is to call the registry editor (regedit in the Run console).
• Expand branch HKLM.
• Through the SYSTEM, CurrentControlSet directories and the final Services directory, reach the msahci folder.
• On the right, you should call the menu for editing the Start parameter and set its value to zero.
• Now in the Services directory, you need to find the IastorV directory, in which the same actions are performed for the Start parameter as described above.
• Only after these procedures are completed, the question of how to enable AHCI in the BIOS without catastrophic consequences for the system will cease to be a problem.

Actions in Windows 8/8.1

For Windows 8, the above method will not work, as there is an easier solution. In this case, you must first set the minimum system boot mode in safe mode. How to enable AHCI? Simple enough.

• To do this, first call command line(required on behalf of the administrator), and the combination bcdedit / set (current) safeboot minimal is written in it.
• After that, you need to reboot, at the very beginning of the restart, enter the BOIS settings and already there switch the mode from IDE to AHCI.
• After saving the settings, a reboot follows again, the command console is called, and the line bcdedit / deletevalue (current) safeboot is written in it, followed by another restart of the computer.

In principle, the question of how to enable AHCI in the G8 can be solved by using special utility from Intel (naturally, if there is a processor from this particular manufacturer).

• First, from the official resource, you need to download the driver in the form of the f6flpy file and the SetupRST.exe customizer.
• After that, the desired hard drive is selected in the "Device Manager", the driver update procedure is applied, and the downloaded f6flpy file is specified as the driver itself in manual mode.
• This is followed by a reboot, and after the system starts with the AHCI mode already activated, to complete the computer setup, the SetupRST configuration executable file is launched.

How to enable AHCI in Windows 10?

As already mentioned, for the tenth version of the system, the actions are somewhat similar to those in Windows 7. The only difference is in the choice of folders and options.

• In the system registry, we find the Services directory. Here, the storahci directory is used for the Start parameter.
• Next, zero values ​​are set for parameter 0 in the storahci/StartOverride and iaStorV/StartOverride directories.
• After that, you can start activating the main value in the settings of the primary BIOS input / output system.

By the way, in the eighth version of the system, editing similar parameters can also be done. But why, if there is a simpler rational solution to the problem?

Enable AHCI in BIOS

To enter the settings on stationary computers, the Del key is most often used, and for laptops - F2, F12, combinations with the Esc and Fn keys, or special buttons on the panel like ASSIST in Sony VAIO.

Here you need to find the AHCI mode section or settings. How to enable the desired parameter in the BIOS? Just use the enter key on the SATA mode setting line, and select the parameter using the arrows with confirmation in the form of another press of Enter. Do not forget to save the changes (F10 + Y) when exiting and reboot the system. Upon restart, the system will automatically install the necessary drivers.

Possible problems

Unfortunately, sometimes unexpected errors can occur when switching to AHCI mode. It is possible that the hard drive itself does not support this mode of operation. In this case, there is nothing to try to activate AHCI.

On the other hand, if the system boots but produces some errors or crashes just after switching from IDE to AHCI, you can try to troubleshoot using a specially developed utility from Microsoft called Fix It.

If neither one nor the other helps, you will have to call the BIOS settings again and change the operating mode of the hard drive. Please note: if AHCI is activated without performing the preliminary steps in the system registry that were described above, these methods may not work. The solution will be either system recovery using removable media, or complete reinstallation Windows. So be vigilant. However, I would like to hope that it will not come to this (of course, provided that the entire sequence was performed in exactly the order that was given in the description).

With a second or clean one, you can initially enable this mode in the BIOS, so that later you do not rush about in search of a solution to activate it or troubleshoot problems and malfunctions in your computer or laptop.

Instead of total

In conclusion, it remains to add that inexperienced users who are not familiar with the intricacies of setting up the primary BIOS system and Windows operating systems should not activate this mode without special need. Anyway, on modern computers with powerful processors and large volumes random access memory performance gain will not be particularly noticeable. On old terminals or laptops, it makes no sense to use this mode at all. Basically, as already mentioned, such settings are more suitable for servers when several dozen child terminals in the local network access the hard disk.

Greetings to all, today we will consider how you can enable Windows 10 to boot using the protocol AHCI without reinstalling the operating system. How to enable AHCI mode in Windows 10 after installing the system, if for some reason reinstallation with AHCI mode pre-enabled in BIOS or UEFI is not possible, and the system was installed in IDE mode. Note that for almost all modern computers with a preinstalled OS, this mode is already enabled, and the change itself is especially relevant for SSD drives and laptops, as the AHCI mode allows you to increase the performance of the SSD and, at the same time (albeit slightly) reduce power consumption.

On my PC, like many users, the Windows 10 operating system is installed on an SSD, and all files are stored on the HDD hard drive. When installing from a flash drive chopped from the official Windows image 10 with update Creators Update, for some reason it was not possible to install it immediately in AHCI mode and had to install it using a standard IDE. As a result, the speed of the SSD according to the test is 100 units lower than the declared one, the HDD with files is annoyingly buzzing.

Immediately after switching, the benefits are noticeable:

• HDD is noticeably quieter;
• SSD gives out full speed, if with IDE it gave out 425 and 445, then with AHCI it gives out full speed 514 and 548.

Now a bit of what it is...

(AHCI)

Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI) is a mechanism used to connect storage devices using the Serial ATA protocol, allowing you to use advanced features such as built-in command queuing (NCQ) and hot swapping.

Designed to replace the outdated classic ATA controller, which maintains top-down compatibility with the original IBM PC/AT, and supports DMA only as an add-on. The main real problems with this controller is the lack of support hot swap(despite the fact that eSATA equipment supports it) and command queues, on one channel (in the case of SATA, each device has one channel) - only one command can be executed at a time. Thus, using the ATA NCQ feature, even if it is supported by the disk itself, is impossible on a classic ATA controller.

When switching, with Windows already installed, the ATA controller included in the south bridge to the "AHCI" mode, this will mean, for the installed operating system, the activation of incompatible logic of the hard drive controller - this action is equivalent to installing an ATA controller board other than from the existing one, and physically switching the boot disk to this board.

And one more detail: the described actions in theory can lead to undesirable consequences, such as the inability to start the OS, in which case Windows will not find boot disk and crash with BSOD STOP 0x0000007B, INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE.. Therefore, take them on only if you know what you are doing it for, know how to get into BIOS or UEFI and are ready, in which case, to correct unforeseen consequences (for example, by reinstalling windows 10 from the start in AHCI mode).

You can find out if AHCI mode is currently enabled by looking at UEFI settings or BIOS (in the parameters of SATA devices) or directly in the OS.

Well, now let's get down to business...

Enabling AHCI using the Windows 10 Registry Editor

It seems to me that this is the easiest, and most importantly, trouble-free way.

To open the registry, press the Win + R keys on your keyboard and enter regedit.

1. Go to the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SYSTEM\ CurrentControlSet\ Services\ iaStorV, double click on the parameter Start and set its value to 0 (zero).

2. In the adjacent registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SYSTEM\ CurrentControlSet\ Services\ iaStorAV\ StartOverride for a parameter named 0 set the value to zero.

3. Section HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SYSTEM\ CurrentControlSet\ Services\ storahci for parameter Start set to 0 (zero).

4. In subsection HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SYSTEM\ CurrentControlSet\ Services\ storahci\ StartOverride for a parameter named 0 set the value to zero.

5. Close the registry editor.

In my case, the values ​​needed to be changed only in steps 2 and 4.

Restart your computer and enter UEFI or BIOS. In UEFI or BIOS, find in the SATA parameters the choice of the drive mode. Set it to AHCI, then save the settings and restart your computer.

Immediately after the reboot, the OS will begin installing the SATA drivers, and upon completion, you will be prompted to restart the computer. Do it: AHCI mode is enabled in Windows 10. But I immediately want to note that for many boards the driver is already in the OS and the system will not load it or install (install) it in the usual way for us, after rebooting, the desired AHCI is immediately turned on.

In 95%, everything goes smoothly and without a hitch, but it's still better to play it safe. To do this, do the following:

At the same time, it is better to start Windows 10 for the first time after rebooting in safe mode, and therefore I recommend enabling safe mode in advance using Win + R -

If you have UEFI, in this case I recommend doing this through "Settings" (Win + I) - "Update and Security" - "Recovery" - "Special Boot Options". Then go to "Troubleshooting" - "Advanced Options" - "UEFI Software Settings". For systems with BIOS - use the F2 key (usually on laptops) or Delete (on PCs) to enter the BIOS settings.

Modern hard drives are connected to the motherboard of computer devices via the SATA interface, which provides for operation, in particular, in IDE and AHCI modes. IDE is the old mode and is required for compatibility with legacy hardware and software. AHCI mode is also not a new development in the field of IT, it appeared back in 2004, but it is a connection mechanism that is relevant today hard drives via SATA II and SATA III interface. AHCI has a number of advantages over IDE:

• the ability to connect more devices to the motherboard;
• operation of hard drives at their maximum possible speed;
• the so-called "hot swapping" of hard drives, that is, disconnecting and connecting without having to turn off the computer;
• support for NCQ technology, which improves the performance of hard drives in multitasking conditions.

SATA mode is set in the BIOS. On modern laptops, AHCI mode is usually set by default. But new motherboards for PC builds may come with an active IDE mode for hardware compatibility. You can change IDE to AHCI (or vice versa) at any time in Computer BIOS supporting both modes. Not all computers support AHCI, but most of them, because this mode has been around for 12 years. The minority are rare rare devices released to the market, respectively, before the advent of AHCI. But even if the computer is less than 12 years old, if it supports AHCI, there may still be problems with switching to this mode due to the lack of an appropriate setting in outdated version BIOS. In such cases, you must first resolve the issue with updating the BIOS.

1. How to find out which mode - IDE or AHCI - is currently set

Find out which of the modes - IDE or AHCI - is active on the computer in this moment, you can in the manager Windows devices. Opening the thread:

• "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers" in versions of Windows 8.1 and 10;
• "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers" on Windows versions 7.

If the computer's hard drives are connected via AHCI mode, the SATA AHCI controller will be present in the list of devices.

If IDE mode is active on the computer, the branch list will contain an entry, respectively, about the IDE controller.

Alternative way- using the AS SSD Benchmark utility to test the speed of hard drives. If hard drives can work in AHCI mode, but the BIOS is set to IDE, the utility will notify you with the red color value "pciide BAD".

If the computer is operating in AHCI mode, we will see the green value “storahci - OK” in the utility window.

These two methods will make it possible to understand which mode is currently set. But in order to determine whether support for AHCI mode is implemented in the BIOS, you need to enter it and find the possibility of enabling AHCI. Selecting SATA operating modes in different versions The BIOS may be in the "Advanced" or "Main" sections. For example, in the UEFI BIOS of the motherboard asus boards this is the “Advanced” section, in it you need to enter the “SATA Configuration” subsection and open the options for the “SATA Mode” parameter (SATA Mode).

Another example is the AMI BIOS (V17.9) of the motherboard MSI boards, everything is more complicated here, and not everyone will be able to immediately figure out where the AHCI setting is. In the "Integrated Peripherals" section, select the "On-Chip ATA Devices" subsection, and in it - "Raid Mode" (Raid Mode), which provides for the choice of modes for connecting hard drives.

2. Consequences of switching to AHCI mode for Windows operation

So, you can change the IDE mode to AHCI at any time in BIOS settings. That's just for Windows work such a move will not result in a slight delay in starting due to automatic installation the right drivers, as when replacing some computer components. In this case, even getting rid of binding to computer components with the help of a standard one will not help. Windows utilities Sysprep, as in the case of replacing the motherboard or processor. Changing the IDE mode to AHCI leads to serious consequences - Windows simply will no longer start. As a result, we get either blue screen death, or cyclical restart Windows with notification of incorrect system startup.

The fact is that the IDE and AHCI modes with Windows installation registered at the registry level. For hard drives to work in AHCI mode, a special driver is required, which is automatically installed with versions of Windows starting with Vista. Since the AHCI mode appeared later than Windows XP, the AHCI driver must first be integrated into the distribution kit of this version of the system by taking it from the motherboard driver disk or downloading it from the Internet.

Ideally, switching to AHCI mode should be done prior to installing or reinstalling Windows. But there are ways to activate AHCI without having to reinstall Windows - by starting safe mode or editing the system registry. Below we will consider these methods for versions of Windows 7, 8.1 and 10.

3. Mandatory measures and procedures

In principle, any experimentation with Windows can lead to undesirable results, but methods for adapting the operating system to AHCI mode must be taken with particular seriousness. Because in this case, the settings that affect the ability of the system to boot will be affected. It is strictly forbidden to proceed with the implementation of the instructions below without previously prepared emergency means. You must either burn or create and prepare Windows installation media. With the help of the latter, it will be possible to enter or, in extreme cases, start the process of reinstalling Windows.

The procedure is as follows:

• Step 1 - check the AHCI enable setting in the BIOS;
• Step 2 - preparation of emergency means;
• Step 3 - depending on the chosen method, either setting up the next system startup in safe mode, or editing the system registry;
• Step 4 - reboot, enter BIOS and enable AHCI mode;
• Step 5 - Start the computer.

4. Windows Safe Mode

The first method is designed for the fact that when entering a safe windows mode the AHCI driver will be installed automatically. But, unfortunately, it will not work in every case. On a running system, you need to configure the next startup in safe mode, reboot, enter the BIOS and set the AHCI mode. After starting the computer in safe mode, the AHCI driver is supposed to be installed. If everything goes well, all that remains is to reboot the system in normal operation.

Universal way entering safe mode at the next Windows boot for all current versions of the system - use the msconfig utility, called using the "Run" command.

5. Editing the Windows Registry

If the method with safe mode did not work, you can avoid reinstalling the system by editing its registry. To launch the registry editor, in the Run command field, enter:

4.1 Editing the Windows 8.1 and 10 registry

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services

In this branch, we look for the “iaStorV” folder, click on it, open the “Start” parameter and set its value to “0”. Click "OK".

Open the "iaStorV" folder, select the "StartOverride" subfolder, open the "0" parameter and set its value to "0". Click "OK".

We go down alphabetically and find the folder "storahci". We make a click on it, open the "ErrorControl" parameter. We remove the preset value "3" and enter "0" instead. Click "OK".

4.2. Editing the Windows 7 Registry

Open the branch in the registry editor window:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services

In the branch we find the “iaStorV” folder, click on it, open the “Start” parameter and set the value to “0”. Click "OK".

After editing the registry, we restart the computer, go into the BIOS, activate the AHCI mode and start the system.

6. If Windows won't boot

If none of the methods helped to adapt Windows to work in AHCI mode, the system will have to be reinstalled. But you can start the current Windows if, for example, you need to remove the settings of installed software or save some important files stored on drive C in a safe place. To do this, you need to enter the BIOS again and set the IDE active mode setting back.

However, it may also happen that the system cannot boot in either AHCI or IDE mode. If there is no blue screen of death, but versions of Windows 8.1 and 10 reboot cyclically, giving a screen that says " Automatic recovery”, click “Advanced options”.

Going to the "Select action" menu, we go through the path indicated in the screenshot below and roll back to the restore point.

If a blue screen of death appears when the computer starts, boot from the Windows installation media and select the “System Restore” option at the bottom of the system installation.

Once in the "Select action" menu, we follow the steps described above.

Those who chose the way Reserve copy with the help of third-party software, they use, respectively, the bootable media of the backup program.

Have a great day!

Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI) is a mechanism used to connect storage devices using the Serial ATA protocol, allowing you to use advanced features such as built-in command queuing (NCQ) and hot swapping.

Designed to replace the outdated classic ATA controller, which maintains top-down compatibility with the original IBM PC/AT, and supports DMA only as an add-on. The main real problems of this controller are the lack of hot-swap support (despite the fact that eSATA hardware supports it) and command queues, on one channel (in the case of SATA each device has one channel) - only one command can be executed at a time. Thus, using the ATA NCQ feature, even if it is supported by the disk itself, is impossible on a classic ATA controller.

When switching, with Windows already installed, the ATA controller included in the south bridge to the "AHCI" mode, this will mean, for the installed operating system, the activation of incompatible logic of the hard drive controller - this action is equivalent to installing an ATA controller board other than from the existing one, and physically switching the boot disk to this board.

In this case, Windows will not find the boot disk at boot and will crash with a BSOD STOP 0x0000007B, INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE.

Text taken from the free encyclopedia http://wikipedia.org/

So, since you came to my site, it means that we have a common problem, which you got after buying a new SSD (For example, in OGO.ru). And after reading the text above, you could understand its root. For some reason, Microsoft still cannot make a free transition from one driver to another. And to do this, users have to work a little with their hands, but in principle, very little. To solve the problem, before switching to the BIOS, set to windows driver AHCI, or rather, make a small amendment to the registry. This instruction is for Windows 7 operating systems, Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008R2. For Windows 8, the instruction is slightly different and is available at the link:

I. Manually Switching Windows 7 to AHCI Mode

1) Go to the registry. To do this, use WIN + R and in the window that opens, write regedit:

2) The built-in "Registry Editor" will open Windows systems. On the left side of the window, follow the path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\msahci

3) Double click to open the parameter Start and change the value to 0 (default value is " 3 » - AHCI is not supported):

4) That's all, close the registry and restart the computer.

5) During boot, go into the BIOS and enable AHCI support. How to do this can be found in the instruction manual for your motherboard. Save the settings and restart the computer.

After starting, Windows will install the AHCI driver itself and restart again. After restarting, the hard drives will work in the AHCI standard.

Read how to determine what mode the computer controller is in. As well as, how to activate the AHCI mode of the SATA interface on a computer with already installed Windows . Many will reasonably have a question: why do we need an IDE mode for a SATA drive, if the AHCI mode is “native” for it and it is the one in which the SATA drive will work adequately for its characteristics and purpose. Moreover, many manufacturers motherboards by default, they are set to PATA compatibility mode - IDE.

The SATA interface can operate in two modes, IDE and AHCI:

• IDE is a compatibility mode for older hardware and software. In essence, the capabilities of SATA in this mode are no different from those of its predecessor, the ATA (or PATA) interface;
• AHCI is a new storage mode in which the computer takes full advantage of SATA, chief among which are: faster hard and SSD drive ov(Native Command Queuing or NCQ technology), as well as the possibility of "hot" replacement of hard drives. Activating the AHCI mode helps speed up access to files stored on storage devices, and has a positive effect on the overall performance of the computer.

Many will reasonably have a question: why do we need an IDE mode for a SATA drive, if the AHCI mode is “native” for it and it is the one in which the SATA drive will work adequately for its characteristics and purpose. Moreover, many motherboard manufacturers by default set them to PATA compatibility mode - IDE.

The thing is that the operation of the controller in AHCI mode began to be supported by operating systems starting with Vista. That is, if a disk with Windows XP is connected to a system whose controller operates in AHCI mode, the user will receive a BSOD error (“blue screen of death”). And on the other hand, any SATA drive can work freely in IDE mode. Moreover, many users, not knowing about it, will not even feel any difference. In this way, computer manufacturers try to avoid possible problems with computer compatibility and software users.

Another important difference between IDE and AHCI concerns working with SSD drives. Keep in mind that it is impossible to install an operating system in IDE mode on an SSD drive; this will require AHCI activation.

How to determine in which mode the computer controller is operating?

It is likely that AHCI mode is already enabled on your computer. You can check this in several ways:

Method 1

• Go to
• Open section “IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers”
• If in this section there is a device with the word “AHCI” in the name, as in our case, then the AHCI mode on the computer is already in use.

Method 2

Please note that the BIOS of some computers does not have the ability to change the mode to AHCI. In this case, the problem can sometimes be solved by updating (flashing) the BIOS version.

How to activate the AHCI mode of the SATA interface on a computer with Windows already installed?

There are several ways to activate the AHCI mode of the SATA interface on a computer with Windows already installed, while maintaining its performance:

THE FIRST:

If for some reason the first method did not work, also pay attention to second option. But first, if you have any errors while Windows startup with AHCI mode, return to IDE mode and turn on the computer.

Thereafter:

As you can see, the described actions in theory can lead to undesirable consequences, such as the inability to start the operating system. Therefore, take on them only if you know what you are doing it for, you can enter the BIOS or UEFI and are ready to correct unforeseen consequences if something happens. For example, by reinstalling Windows from the beginning in AHCI mode.