Tutorial : How to switch from IRRT to AHCI mode - E6400/E6500 (Vista)

i guess i can answer my own question. with windows 7 (didnt try with vista) the driver data base is so vast that if you make sure to set it to AHCI before the install the system identifies everything and boots without any issues.

 

The latency issues some were having were pretty much put tp rest after the (then) updated version of the Intel Matrix Storage Manager was released.
Setup Win 7 using IRRT mode, and use the appropriate IMSM Application before installing any of the post-OS-install drivers.
Hope that helps; keep us posted.

 

That is not my experience, on an M4400.

I installed windows 7 64bit on a 2G X25-M 160gb with IRRT enabled. It ran like that for about a month, and updated W7 continuously.
Today I wanted to change to AHCI so I then could update the drive firmware for TRIM support.

Learning about AHCI, the KB article and IMSM on-the-fly I did this:

1. Changed to AHCI in bios -> BSOD
2. Changed back to IRRT and did more googling.
3. Did the minor regedit from the KB and then enabled AHCI -> BSOD
4. = 2.
5. Installed IMSM 8.9 and enabled AHCI (still with the minor regedit implanted) -> BSOD
6. = 2.
7. Downloaded the zip file from MiB's first post and did the major regedit
8. Changed to AHCI in bios, and could now boot! but the original install of IMSM 8.9 had been undone (by the major regedit, I pressume)
9. Installed IMSM 8.9 again
10. reboot to install firmware upgrade
11. everything works including TRIM

I did all the reboots W7 wanted to do.

This removed the annoying lag that used to be in some apps; for instance, when starting conversations in live messenger.

Big thanks to MiB and others who posted in this thread

 

Odd....i installed Win7 with IRRT in bios by accident (i need it to run in AHCI)
I set it to AHCI, inserted my Win7 DVD, rebooted and it automatically found the standard driver which is provided on the DVD. Then i only needed to update it to the latest IMSM from Intel.

 

That's useful to know. Perhaps Microsoft have preloaded all the drivers in Windows 7, which is what Dell does in its factory installation of XP (and, I assume, Vista).

John

 

I couldn't find a way to do this in e4300 despite alot of googling. Always ended up with BSOD no matter what method I tried. So I finally decided to reinstall my OS and all my programs after SATA controller is set to AHCI from IRRT.

It was definitely worth it. Even though I'm using Intel's X-25M SSD, there is a a big increase in boot and shutdown time as well as launching applications and opening folders. It now runs like those crazy fast videos I see on youtube. Glad I found this thread.

However yeah, Windows 7 is preloaded with the necessary drivers. Everything worked fine even for both IRRT and AHCI even before I installed Intel Matrix Storage Manager

 

I successfully used your tutorial to switch from IRRT to AHCI mode on my Precision M4400. I had done a re-install some time ago so when I first tried the switch I had got BSoD as you noted. So many many thanks - you saved me the pain of full re-install.

My motivation was to improve audio/DVD which was full of crackles/stutters under IRRT. However, to cut a long story short, most of these were removed under IRRT by unchecking eSATA ports in Systems Configuration - Miscellaneous devices, following Dell support advice. They thought the switch to AHCI would be a complete fix but it wasn't - I eventually found that just switching off wireless removed the last set of crackles that came in a cluster every minute. I suspect that would have worked under IRRT as well. But under AHCI I could re-check eSATA ports without re-introducing the problem.

 

All you have to do is following...

1. Close, Save and Backup all your data (if you have any)
2. Restart your computer - Start up in Boot Mode
3. Change the drive type from IRRP to AHCI
4. Apply changes - Please the OS CD into the CD Drive
5. Change the boot up sequence from HD to CD-DVD
6. Reinstall OS
7. Reinstall all the programs and software

I know this is the only way - you don't have to play with registry and make major changes by turning some thing on/off. This is a clean install and clean way to get it to work.

Thank you,
Chirag Patel

 

I have to say this is by far the most painful way to do it!! I think most people would like to avoid having to install all their software. The whole guide was aimed at switching to AHCI without a clean install. Your "guide" was always possible.

Easiest way now.
Go to BIOS, set to AHCI, insert Win7 DVD, reboot, replace standard win SATA driver with IMSM 8.9 driver and done.

 

worked like charm in W7, read fiddo's post and OP. I used IMSM 8.9

Thanks op, fiddo