Vista - Does Vista prefer SATA BIOS setting IDE or AHCI ?? (KB922976)

My system specs:

OS Name Microsoft® Windows VistaT Ultimate
Version 6.0.6002 Service Pack 2 Build 6002
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Model Maximus Extreme (ASUS)
System Type x64-based PC
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Extreme CPU Q6850 @ 3.00GHz, 2997 Mhz, 4
Core(s)
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. 0904, 12/18/2007
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.0.6002.18005"
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB
Total Physical Memory 4.00 GB
Available Physical Memory 2.76 GB
Total Virtual Memory 8.20 GB
Available Virtual Memory 6.93 GB
Page File Space 4.29 GB

Background:

I have had ongoing random freezes for months that might have to do with my
PC 700 watt power supply, my house wiring, a mix of causes - maybe all of
the above. Please do not address such issues for this posting - the reason
I mention it is that often these malfunctions cause my system to lose its
default BIOS settings, including date/time, & the more I have to enter the
BIOS to reset settings - the more questions I have about those BIOS
settings.

So - focusing upon my motherboard's SATA option setting - it had a default
setting for IDE that I never changed - but AHCI is available. I checked
Wikipedia for a general overview of AHCI that I do not claim to understand -
but it has useful info for determining the correct Vista BIOS setting.
Basically - it informs that (1) Vista is fully AHCI compatible (2) but it
warns that changing to an AHCI setting will cause Vista crashes (BSODs)
unless the specified users fail to follow the correct protocol - referring
to MS KB922976:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922976

Here are my questions for this newsgroup - disregarding what I have
described above about my unstable/randomly dysfunctional Vista PC - &
assuming that my system has consistently been A-OK & is still functioning
satisfactorily:

1. What is the correct/preferred SATA BIOS setting for my system
specs/motherboard? (NOTE: I installed Vista Ultimate 64X retail on a new,
custom built, barebones PC that did not have an installed OS - & I never
changed the SATA mode of the boot drive - ALSO at Vista installation, the
motherboard BIOS setting for plug&play was DISABLED - meaning that the BIOS
controlled the settings for ALL devices - but if the setting were ENABLED,
the BIOS online help explains that my system BIOS would still control the
device settings required for booting the system - but all other devices
would would be software controlled - I assume by the Vista OS)
2. Given the KB922976 protocol - requiring registry changes for users who
plan to change the SATA mode of their boot drive - or for users who have
gotten the specific error message that the KB protocol is designed to
correct - does my system really require/or even benefit from a change of
setting from IDE to AHCI ??

Comment - I'm sorry this post had to be so complicated but - isn't that the
obvious downside of living in this brave, new, digital age?

Blithe

"Blithe" <invalid@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:OyZSvY7CKHA.4792@xxxxxx
Vista doesn't care what kind of hard drive is installed..

--

Mike Hall - MVP Windows Experience
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/

> Vista doesn't care what kind of hard drive is installed..
Thanks Mike - I'll take from your answer that in my case either an 'IDE' or
'AHCI' setting will function equally well.

Blithe




"Mike Hall - MVP" <mikehall@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:OTRjGy8CKHA.1380@xxxxxx