Windows XP Setup Could Not Detect and Find Any SATA Hard Disk Drive on AHCI Mode
When installing Windows XP on SATA hard disk drive, you may encounter problem where you unable to install Windows XP on the SATA drive as the Windows XP setup installation interface does not detect and recognize any of the hard disks mounted on S-ATA (Serial ATA) ports, and thus XP installer cannot find usable physical disks on the computer system and unable to continue to install XP, forcing you to quit by pressing F3.
On newer computer and workstation system, such as Dell Precision model, if the SATA HDD is not running on RAID, there is no additional driver needed even for older operating system such as XP to recognize the drive. On SATA based disk that requires a driver, normally the system OEMs or motherboard manufacturers will provide a floppy disk with needed SATA driver, which you can then use F6 button during initial setup stage to add in third-party RAID or SCSI drivers. On newer computer such as those from Dell, HP, Acer, Lenovo, and etc, you probably find that only diagnostics or drivers CD is provided. The worse problem is that you simply cannot extract the SATA drivers from the CD as the driver that wanted to be installed during XP setup must be accompanied by a file named oemsetup.txt, beside the usual driver files and .INF file, else the SATA driver cannot be installed by XP setup to detect HDD.
Here’s a possible solution if you’re in this kind of SATA hard drives not found situation. The trick is related to ACHI (Advanced Host Controller Interface) hardware mechanism which are designed to allow software to communicate with Serial ATA (SATA) devices such as host bus adapters with features not offered by Parallel ATA (PATA) controllers such as higher speeds, hot-plugging and native command queuing (NCQ). Windows XP (and any OS older than Vista or linux kernel 2.6.19) does not have came pre-packaged with driver to support AHCI/SATA mode, thus creating a very common error that Wikipedia also described as “when attempting to install Microsoft Windows XP or a previous version on an AHCI-enabled system will cause the setup to fail with the error message ’set up could not detect hard disk drive…’”.
The ultimate solution is by using OEM Windows XP CD which comes with your system, which usually has built-in appropriate driver for S-ATA harddisks running in AHCI mode. However, if you lose or do not have the OEM XP CD, or is given Vista DVD but decide to downgrade to XP, there are 2 options to install XP from scratch.
Users can install Windows XP or Windows XP SP2 (Service Pack 2) on an AHCI enabled system by changing BIOS setting to disable AHCI (or RAID which includes AHCI in its functions) and use native SATA IDE emulation mode (SATA/PATA). In SATA IDE Emulation mode, XP setup could find the SATA drives and proceed to continue to install XP properly. How to change the BIOS settings on SATA mode is depending on which brand or model or even motherboard of your computer system. Check your system manual for more information. For example, in Dell Precision workstation, press F2 to go into BIOS, and then go to “SATA Management” to select AHCI or SATA mode. If you don’t find any option in BIOS to change AHCI support for SATA ports, most probably the drives already runs in IDE (ATA) emulation mode and therefore doesn’t require the AHCI driver. It’s because AHCI support is depending on the chipset (commonly by Intel) and the HDD. In this case, you have to figure out what’s other causes that may stop your SATA disks from functioning.
A slightly more difficult but recommended method is to create a slipstreamed XP install disc with the Intel Matrix Storage Manager which is also the AHCI SATA Controller driver included. A slipstreamed XP setup CD with AHCI SATA controller driver allows the XP OS to support hard disk on AHCI and use its advanced features such as NCQ for faster access, read and write speed. While slipstreaming, users can also have the advantage to include all updates for Windows XP for up-to-date patched OS, without the need to download and install hotfixes later.
Related Articles
- Stop 0×0000007B Inaccessable_Boot_Device Error After Enable AHCI Mode on SATA Drive in Vista
- SATA CD/DVD-ROM Optical Drive Disappears After Enabling AHCI Mode in Vista
- Common Troubleshooting Methods When OS Install Unable to Detect SATA Harddisk Drive
- NewerTech Universal Drive Adapter for External PATA and SATA Hard Disk Drive
- Improve SATA (Serial-ATA) Hard Disk Drive Speed Performance in Vista
- SATA Hard Disk Drive Docking Station for Easy Plug and Play with USB 2.0 Interface
- Transcend Offers New 2.5-inch SATA Hard Disk with One Touch Backup Capability
- New WGA Update to Detect and Nuke Windows Vista SoftMod Activation Crack
- Optimize and Speed Up Windows Disk Defragmentation with Disk Defrag
- FlashMate Enables Hard Disk Contents Access Even When PC in Off Mode
Entries (RSS)
May 6th, 2008 17:58
Thanks.It works fine for my Lenovo X61s notebook.There is Bios setting for SATA Compatibility mode, and after that I can instal Windows XP.There is link for later adding AHCI support
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=migr-62909 for Lenovo notebooks.
Thanks again.
May 2nd, 2008 05:32
Many thanks for your help. I have been trying to dual boot Vista & XP on a Sony Vaio FZ38M. Absolutely no help from Sony & even Intel were confusing. The hdd is made by Fujitsu Knowledgebase & they helped me understand. Dual boot is now complete. Thanks again.
April 20th, 2008 20:41
I have a Lenovo 3000 N200 – Bios has setting for SATA Compatibility mode. Would that be the same thing? I supposed it would be, but Linux can’t find the drive no matter which setting I use.
I removed the vishitsta and now have Server 2003 and it is beautiful.
btw, to the OP: your English teacher failed you very badly.
April 6th, 2008 00:45
Thnx alot for this piece of advised, helped me out of trouble!
cheers
March 25th, 2008 13:06
[...] tetep aja gak berhasil detek. Akhirnya mulai buntu, tanya sama Mbah google. Dapet jawabannya di sini baru sadar, harus cek settingan BIOS nya, untuk mengubah SATA Mode : AHCI menjadi SATA Mode : [...]
March 20th, 2008 14:29
hampir aja dbunuh yg punya laptop …
ga bisa” ….
thanks ya…
March 7th, 2008 06:44
Thank you so much! This helped me in so many ways. I really appreciate it. You saved me.
February 19th, 2008 22:58
[...] tetep aja gak berhasil detek. Akhirnya mulai buntu, tanya sama Mbah google. Dapet jawabannya di sini baru sadar, harus cek settingan BIOS nya, untuk [...]
February 14th, 2008 08:31
[...] tetep aja gak berhasil detek. Akhirnya mulai buntu, tanya sama Mbah google. Dapet jawabannya di sini baru sadar, harus cek settingan BIOS nya, untuk mengubah SATA Mode : AHCI menjadi SATA Mode : IDE. [...]
February 10th, 2008 22:53
Jimmy, a big thanks for your wonderful workaround to get the Intel Matrix Storage Manager and related drivers into an existing Windows XP system.
I applied it on a Akalay laptop with Intel Core 2 Duo with 250 GB WDC WD2500BEVS-22UST SATA drive and Vista OS. After repartioning, loading windows XP SP2 and EasyBCD Boot manager I could only work with AHCI disabled. I worked on it for many hours, studied all kind of posts and official Intel advice-nothing but only your brute force method worked! You should offer/publish your solution into wikipedia because of the popularity of good old XP but the many laptops with Vista OS SATA and drives but without floppy drive (for the “official” driver load.
February 9th, 2008 22:53
Thank you so much for this!!!! You can’t beleive. I spent yesterday from 13:00-03:00 and today from 10:00-03:00 to find a solution for this problem. Oh my God! I did everything MBR erase, everything. BTW: info if others google for it I have Fujitsu-Siemens V5505 SATA laptop (of course) and lets add more keywords: Vista, downgrade to XP, XP install “There is no disk in this drive”
December 13th, 2007 23:44
[...] Link [...]
December 12th, 2007 09:22
Thanks for the info Jimmy…
December 6th, 2007 14:55
once i change the SATA mode to IDE it able the SATA. thanks for your sharing.
December 5th, 2007 04:22
If BIOS can see the 160GB SATA drive, did you check also if SATA mode if can be to native IDE or AHCI?
December 4th, 2007 15:26
I just buy a intel desktop board DP35DP with 160G SATA and currently my Window XP SP2 has been corrupted, when I formatting the SATA using the Window XP Boot disc it mention drive not found but in the BIOS able to detect my SATA. Anyone can help me on this?
December 2nd, 2007 17:24
Hi,
I have Asus (P5S800-VM) motherboard & I didn’t have floppy disk
and tried to set up windows service pack 2 on Sata Drive (160GB.)
But I can’t do that
Could u plz somebody support me?
Waitiing for your reply…..
November 29th, 2007 07:13
You saved me 180 bucks in not having to buy a vista dvd. I can’t thank you enough!
November 26th, 2007 03:35
Hey thanks for the help! it worked!
November 19th, 2007 22:17
If your only using AHCI is it ok to set the Intel Storage Matrix service to “manual”? Iaantmon.exe leaks handles like crazy. Thanks.
November 13th, 2007 06:24
Windows XP drivers are at http://www.acerpanam.com/flex/acerdrivers/bin/drivers.html?CFID=4671072&CFTOKEN=18750356
except the modem I used Agere Systems HDA modem driver.
Trickiest part is enabling SATA mode to AHCI in the BIOS…
- Download the Intel Matrix Storage Manager software from Intel (I think it’s iata_enu.exe)or AHCI_Intel_v7.5.0.1017_XP.zip from Acer web site.
- Extract files from AHCI_Intel_v7.5.0.1017_XP.zip to e.g. C:\AHCI_Intel_v7_5_0_1017_XP files need: (you may delete the rest)
iaahci.cat
iaahci.inf
iastor.cat
iastor.inf
iastor.sys
TXTSSETUP.OEM
- Now go to Device Manager, under IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers you should
see some Intel(R) ICH8H Ultra ATA or SATA controller (whatever) above Intel(R) ICH8M Ultra ATA Storage Controller 2850
- Right-Click on that first controller and select Update Driver
- Say no to connecting to Windows Update to search, hit Next
- Select Install fro a list or specific location (Advanced), hit Next
- Select “Don’t search. I will choose the driver to install”, hit Next
- Select Have Disk
- Browse to C:\AHCI_Intel_v7_5_0_1017_XP and highlight the iastor.inf file, hit Open
- Select OK
- Now you should have a list of controllers, for the Acer 5315-2153 choose Intel 82801HEM/HBM SATA AHCI Storage Controller, hit Next
- You’ll get warned that installing the device driver is not recommended, click Yes to continue installing
- Click Finish
- Click Yes to restart your computer
When your computer boots up, you need to hit F2 to enter the BIOS. Change SATA mode to AHCI, save changes and exit.
After you log into Windows, your computer will find the “new” hardware. Wait until you get the popup message to restart your computer, say Yes to restart one last time.
You may download also from Intel web site the RAID/AHCI Software – Intel® Matrix Storage Manager (iata70_enu.exe 5640KB) and install it in your system, it may fix in case you got the wrong Intel 82801 AHCI controller.
Good luck.
November 11th, 2007 04:45
Jimmy,
Could you please let me know what sound driver works for the ACER Aspire 5315-2153 once you downgraded to Windows XP?
Thanks,
John
November 8th, 2007 11:08
I got one Acer Aspire 5315-2153 laptop finally working with SATA mode=AHCI mode set in the BIOS after forcing to install device driver of Intel(R) 82801HEM/HBM SATA AHCI Controller. I hope I got the correct controller though…
See snapshots…
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2300/1912110634_3843cd2047_o.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2349/1911277445_c0777cd0d1_o.jpg
November 8th, 2007 09:23
I also bought two of these Acer Aspire 5315-2153 at Walmart, one laptop I already installed XP Pro SP2 by switching SATA mode to IDE. Is there way to install AHCI devicer driver after XP SP2 install then put back to AHCI mode?
October 23rd, 2007 02:25
[...] mode on SATA hard drive also requires appropriate drivers in Windows XP/Vista. Disable AHCI or change SATA mode to IDE emulation mode in BIOS so that SATA hard drive will work as just a normal hard drive utilizing native SATA driver in [...]