SB600 AHCI Drivers

pmerrill

New Member
Ok, so I've been trying to install the latest SB600 drivers on my Vista Ultimate 64 system with no luck. If I turn on AHCI I get a BSOD.

I know the process about rebuilding everything from scratch (ugh) but don't want to go there. How does one install the drivers on a working Native IDE system? I know that the driver file ahcix64s.sys need to be copied into the system32/drivers file and I also know that I need some registry settings to appear that I can see using REGEDIT but I can't seem to get those created.

The driver package I have has an ahcix64s.inf file but it won't install. When I right click on the file and select Install I get the message:

The inf file you selected does not support this method of installation.

Can someone post the registry entries one needs to create?

Is there a way of forcing the creation of the right registry entries?
 

My Computer

:D

I finally got it working! So I've switched from Native IDE to AHCI without having to reinstall Vista. I'm not sure if this is still an ongoing problem with people but if anyone is interested I can post my method here.
 

My Computer

Hi, pmerrill, and welcome to the forums.

In order to be helpful, just post the method anyway - you shouldn't need someone to ask for it.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro X64 Insider Preview (Skip Ahead) latest build
    Manufacturer/Model
    The Beast Model V (homebrew)
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 965 EE @ 3.6 GHz
    Motherboard
    eVGA X58 Classified 3 (141-GT-E770-A1)
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    3 * Mushkin 998981 Redline Enhanced triple channel DDR3 4 GB CL7 DDR3 1600 MHz (PC3-12800)
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    2 * Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA II Mech. HD
    Seagate ST1500DL001-9VT15L Barracuda 7200.12 1.5 TB S
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    Lenovo
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Ok, here's the trick.

The main reason for the crash is that you can't install the drivers because the install routines needs to recognise your hardware (so the mode must be set to AHCI) but if you change the BIOS, you can't boot because it needs the drivers. Classic Catch-22. So, you need to copy the .sys file to system32/drivers and add some registry entries using regedit before you make the switch to AHCI. The steps are as follows:

1) Download the AHCI driver for your motherboard from your MB providers site. In my case the ATI drivers are found here

https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/674/9206/0/www2.ati.com/gamesite/8-7_vista32-64_sb_66001.exe

2) Unpack the drivers and find the Vista 64 ahcix64s.sys file. In my case the file was found in

C:\ATI\SUPPORT\8-7_vista32-64_sb_66001\Packages\Drivers\SBDrv\SB6xx\RAID\LH64A\ahcix64s.sys

3) Copy this file to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\ahcix64s.sys

4) Now you need to create some registry entries that will recognise and load the driver once the mode is set to AHCI mode. The easiest way is to create a file with the entries in it. I've attached the one that I used. It's probably not minimal (there is probably some entries you don't need, but it seems to work). In order to load it into your registry you just double click or Right-Click and select Merge.

5) Reboot your system and change the BIOS from Native IDE to AHCI. On boot if it complains about unsigned drivers, then I believe you select F8 and ask Vista to ignore that on this boot.

6) Your system should now boot but you're not done yet. What you need to do is run the proper install routines, since the hardware is now visible. In my case that meant running C:\ATI\SUPPORT\8-7_vista32-64_sb_66001\setup.exe which installs the driver properly and adds a few more registry entries.

7) You'll need to reboot again and then you should be right.

8) As a further step, AMD seems to have a more up to date driver than what is in the ATI package (Version 44 versus 43). The updated driver package can be found at Software Posting

I'm pretty much sure the exact same procedure can be used for Windows XP, just install the XP drivers rather than the Vista drivers.

Enjoy!
 

Attachments

  • AHCI-Install_Vista64.reg
    596 bytes · Views: 1,080

My Computer

I also have a mb on sb600 and I've done it the same way as you. Unfortunately after rebooting and changing to AHCI my windows still gives me BSOD :( I think of giving up :( (I don't think I'll be reinstaling windows because of that).
 

My Computer

If you've tried it before, make sure that the msahci section of the registry is turned off. If you look under msahci you should see Start set to 4 and not 0. These are the MS drivers and perahps don't work. If they are being loaded first it could be confusing Vista.

Having done the conversion, there is not a huge difference in the speed of the disks over Native IDE, so I wouldn't worry that much if it does not work.

I've attached the hdtach results for my drive under vista

By the way, who manufacturers your motherboard?
 

Attachments

  • hdtach.jpg
    hdtach.jpg
    74.4 KB · Views: 403

My Computer

I tried with both settings in the registry (4 and 0) but still BSOD :/ My mb manufacturer is ASROCK (ASRock, WiFi+AP). I do agree with the way you are thinking and doing the switch in Vista for AHCI. The problem probably is in my system configuration/drivers. I think that the ahci ati drivers should be loaded first, before other drivers are loaded. The reason that I get BSOD is that other things try to load first but they can't I the system doesn't have AHCI drivers loaded first. In windows 3.11 that would be not a problem as it would only require to change one file. But I have no idea how to change the drivers loading sequence in Vista. Do you how to do it?
 

My Computer

I have the same problem.My mb is asrock 4Core1333-FullHD.I have always bsod.I use vista ultimate x64.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    intel 8200
    Motherboard
    asrock 4Core1333-FullHD
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ati xpress 1250
    Monitor(s) Displays
    benq 20 inch
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Internet Speed
    8000Mb down 1024Mb up
The only good reason for using AHCI is for eSATA hot swapping. Otherwise don't bother with it, it'll likely cause you more grief than performance.

msahci loads very late when I boot my system, so that's not the issue. The storage driver is the first thing loading, and it doesn't need the msahci driver to do its job. It's more likely to be the registrypatch that's the problem.

The first line is system specific, you may need to figure out the appropriate replacement for pci#ven_1002&dev_4380 for your motherboard somehow. It can be done with a linux liveCD (set the sata to AHCI, boot the livecd, bring up a terminal and use the command "lspci -n", don't include the quotes, it'll show you a list of devices. Find the one for the storage controller and take a note of the vendorID and deviceID)
 

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System One

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    Home made
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    AMD Athlon X2 6000+
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    ASRock ALiveXfire-eSATA2
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    2x2GiB DDR2 PC2-6400
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    GeCube ATI Radeon HD3870 512MiB GDDR4
    Sound Card
    Built in HD Audio, digital output
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    Samsung SyncMaster 206BW, SyncMaster 940B
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050 + 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    WDC 250GB SATA + lots of externals. :)
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    Antec Earthwatts 500W
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    Antec Sonata III
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    Air
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15 (1st edition w blue lightning)
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    Logitech G9
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    DL/UL: 50/10Mbit
Hi, I have a motherboard ATI sb600 on vista ultimate x64 and i have the same problem but my notebook is a toshiba satellite a215 s5818 and my bios has simple, and just i can change a boot mode, any one here can help me? and i follow all steps and i have not changes.
 

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I try with xp sp3.It 's ok,but the boot is slow and i don't see the difference.With Vista i only have blue screen.I use ati 8.8 drivers.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    intel 8200
    Motherboard
    asrock 4Core1333-FullHD
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ati xpress 1250
    Monitor(s) Displays
    benq 20 inch
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Internet Speed
    8000Mb down 1024Mb up
i had the same problem trying to enable ahci on a system with vista already installed. every single time, i got a bsod. it frustrated me to no end and just decided to stay with native ide mode. at the time i only had one hard drive and was definitely getting another with the intention of setting up a raid. i had also just purchased a new radeon 3870. for reasons i cannot remember now, i did an os reinstall and set up the raid array with ati raid controller drivers (it is listed in system info as ati ahci compatible raid controller). all was cool at first boot--until i installed the catalyst suite for the 3870. every single time i installed the catalyst suite and rebooted, i got a bsod. it wasn't until i did a manual install and took a chance at disabling the northbridge filter driver from the install that i was able to boot without a bsod. i know this is a little different that what the original post stated, but i thought i'd share this because maybe when you are installing the ati driver package something is in the package that causes you to bsod when you enable the ahci mode.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Garage PC
    CPU
    Intel Pentium E3300 @ 2.5GHz
    Motherboard
    BioStar G41-M7
    Memory
    A-Data PC2-6400 (2 X 2GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Diamond Radeon HD 4650
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP Mx705 (CRT)
    Screen Resolution
    1152x864
    Hard Drives
    320 GB Hitachi - System Drive /
    100 GB Maxtor - Diagnostic Application /
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    LOGISYS PS480E12 480W
    Case
    Generic Barebones Case
    Cooling
    Stock Intel HSF
    Keyboard
    Generic PS/2
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    10 d / 1 u
Did make your install with the floppy raid install from ati?
I 'll try today with ati 8.9.perhaps it's a problem with the driver.I don't know.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    intel 8200
    Motherboard
    asrock 4Core1333-FullHD
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ati xpress 1250
    Monitor(s) Displays
    benq 20 inch
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Internet Speed
    8000Mb down 1024Mb up
no, i made the floppy from the asus cd rom--it has a mode to where you can copy the raid controller drivers from the cd-rom to a floppy. i think it was when i did use the ati drivers included with the catalyst suite that caused the problems. i would suggest to do a manual install with the catalyst suite and de-select the northbridge filter driver--that's what seemed to cause me problems when i installed the catalyst suite after i got my raid controller up and working.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Garage PC
    CPU
    Intel Pentium E3300 @ 2.5GHz
    Motherboard
    BioStar G41-M7
    Memory
    A-Data PC2-6400 (2 X 2GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Diamond Radeon HD 4650
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP Mx705 (CRT)
    Screen Resolution
    1152x864
    Hard Drives
    320 GB Hitachi - System Drive /
    100 GB Maxtor - Diagnostic Application /
    PSU
    LOGISYS PS480E12 480W
    Case
    Generic Barebones Case
    Cooling
    Stock Intel HSF
    Keyboard
    Generic PS/2
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    10 d / 1 u
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