How to change Windows 7 from RAID to AHCI?

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Y0GI

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When I initially installed Windows 7 on the system in my sig, I tried unsuccessfully to install it to a RAID array consisting of 2 OCZ Vertex 2 SSDs. I soon found out that the OCZ drives are not compatible with the new Z87 chipset, so I just installed Windows 7 Pro X64 to the Seagate 1 TB HDD. The SATA mode in the BIOS was still set to "RAID" but Windows happily installed to the HDD. I have been using it this way for the past 2 months without any HDD problems.

Meanwhile, I bought a new Samsung 840 Pro 128 GB SSD to use for Windows and a few programs. I have made a lot of changes to Windows, installed MS Office, customized Firefox and I really like my current set-up. I just wish that I had installed the Samsung SSD from the start instead of trying to make the OCZ SSDs work.

So, I am starting to install the 128 GB 840 Pro and I would very much like to clone the existing 48 GB on C: drive to the SSD. The C: drive is on a 195 GB partition but I should be able to shrink that pretty easily with Disk Management. The problem that I am having is that when I go into the BIOS and change the SATA mode from RAID to AHCI Windows BSOD's on me.

I tried making the Registry changes recommended in this MS KB article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922976 but that did not work. I even tried the "Do it for me" solution and that did not work either.

Next, I let it BSOD on purpose and when I restarted, I went into the Windows Start-Up Repair Tool to see if that could make whatever changes were needed to start-up in AHCI. That didn't work either.

So now I'm fresh out of ideas. I would much prefer cloning the existing installation of Windows rather than a clean install to the SSD, but I've GOT to have AHCI mode.

Can anybody tell me how to do it?

Thanks,

Yogi
 
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Y0GI

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I thought that TRIM needed AHCI specifically?

Yogi

 
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Palorim12

Palorim12

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You also wanna make sure in device manager that your computer isn't giving the SSD a SCSI driver.
 
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Y0GI

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I'm not that far along yet, but thanks for your suggestion, David!

Yogi

 
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RealBeast

RealBeast

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No it will TRIM in RAID as long as you don't actually have a RAID array, although Intel now supports TRIM for RAID 0 using IRST 11.1.0.1006 or later.

AHCI is a subset of RAID, so everything that AHCI does in the bios RAID also does for Intel chipsets.
 
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Palorim12

Palorim12

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Not always. we've had people where they would have RAID on with ACHI and the SSD was either performaing low or not being detected until they shut RAID off and just had AHCI in the Bios. and also, if windows gives him a SCSI driver and not an ATA driver, Samsung Magician will not see the SSD and you won't get optimal performance.

go with IRST driver 12.5, we've tried the newer 12.8, but 12.5 works better with our SSDs.
 
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RealBeast

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Please clarify, do you disagree that AHCI is a subset of RAID for the modern Intel chipsets? Do Samsung drives not in a RAID array not perform the same when using Intel chipsets using the Raid bios setting compared to the AHCI? Can you point me to some of your literature on this as this is news to me.

Indeed everything I have seen from Intel is to the contrary, for example HERE stating that "if you are using a SATA hard drive, set your BIOS to RAID mode. RAID mode provides the greatest overall flexibility and upgradeability because it allows your system to be RAID ready and enable AHCI."

I understand the issue with SCSI drivers and have run into that a few times.

Thanks.

 
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Y0GI

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Here is a thread that details some of the problems encountered when the SATA mode is set to RAID: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1707614/ssd-ahci-raid.html

Yogi

 
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Y0GI

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GUNNY1966

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For starters here is what I started with:
ASUS MAXIMUS V EXTREME Z77 / 1155
16GB CORSAIR DOMINATOR PLATINUM
2 - 256GB OCZ Vertex 4, ( Currently in RAID 0 )
2 - 128GB OCZ VERTEX 4, ( Currently set in ACHI )
1 WD500GB VelociRaptor. ( Currently set in ACHI )
1 WD 1TB - 7200 , ( Currently set in ACHI )

I tried countless times to do EXACTLY what you are trying & I got NO WHERE. I also suffered a loss of speed when it was running, why I do not have a clue! I went into the UEFI & set it to ACHI yet when I re-installed the OS, I set the RAID 0 & partitioned the drives & use the IRST up with the 2 - 256GB OCZ's. I tried countless times to achieve what your trying to do & just gave up & started over! I had one issue that the Memory would NOT allow me to set the BIOS into ACHI therefore I started over completely from scratch! YES it sucked but now it's SUPER FAST! The Corsair Dominator Platinum wasn't on the QVL when I made the purchase & since ASUS has updated the BIOS so I flashed it & stored the old so I could always revert to it. In the ROG forums there is a thread about doing what your trying but I went thru it & can honestly say it wasn't successful. I'm only telling you my experience as yours may differ but I do wish you luck, If it was ANYTHING like mine, your gonna need it! I spent two solid weeks trying to achieve & failed! here is another similar post, notice he tried the OverClockers.net trying to gain information.
LINK:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/330186-30-raid-windows-ahci-registry
I think but I'm going to ask, did I miss anything as I am tired & don't wanna make a fool of myself! LOL
 
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Y0GI

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Jul 22, 2013
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Thank you for the good wishes, Gunny!

I implemented the solution recommended here: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-hardware/changing-from-raid-to-ahci/4c94f678-6bd1-48a6-b871-8872c841023a
and so far at least, it seems to be working. Computer is running just fine in AHCI Mode.

I am currently defragging and shrinking my C: drive and getting ready to clone it over to my new Samsung SSD.

Best of luck to you too!

Yogi

 
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Y0GI

Splendid
Jul 22, 2013
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It is the built in Intel Z87 chipset RAID, Gunny.

I have now installed my new Samsung 128 GB 840 Pro SSD and it is working really well.

Can somebody please mark my solution above as "Best Answer"? I am unable to select my own post.

Thanks,

Yogi

 
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SundbyCPH

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Spend some time searching for a way to change from AHCI to RAID (used AHCI by mistake during my Windows 8.1 OS install, MSI Z87-GD65 Mobo). A simple boot to safe mode and re-install the Intel IDE drivers I had did the trick. Do not know if I just was lucky. My regedit details was iaStorA=0, iaStorAV=0, iaStorV=0, atapi=0, storahci=0 and I had no msahci.
 
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