How to enable AHCI in Windows: step-by-step instructions, features and feedback

One of the main elements of any computer device, as you know, is a hard disk on which information is stored. With respect to hard disks of any type, a term such as AHCI is used. But many users not only know how to turn on AHCI, but do not even know what it is. Consider the meaning of the main term and the actions necessary to activate this mode in Windows-systems.

What is AHCI?

Modern hard drives connected to the motherboard via the SATA interface can use two modes: IDE (compatibility with outdated equipment) and AHCI - the newest standard, designated as the Advanced Host Controller Interface, which allows many times to increase the performance of the device itself and the installed operating system for Account for faster data reading.

Almost all modern SSD-drives increase performance when accessing them, they show exactly when the AHCI mode is set. But this is not the most important thing.

Why use AHCI mode?

Let's leave for now the question of how to enable AHCI mode in Windows, but let's look at the advantages that a user of a modern computer can get when activating this mode.

First of all, when the AHCI mode is activated, you can change or install additional hard disks, as they say, "on the fly" (even without shutting down the computer or reinstalling the operating system). This is undoubtedly a huge plus for servers.

The second aspect is connected with the fact that when setting this mode, a special NCQ technology comes into effect, which allows reducing the number of read head movements, while accelerating the simultaneous use of applications to the hard drive by different applications, programs and services. Finally, it is believed that the activation of AHCI favorably affects the performance of the entire system. Of course, as evidenced by feedback from specialists and users, there will not be a performance boost at home, but if you install an SSD hard disk, it's better to include this mode anyway.

What not to do and what to look for initially

But the most important misconception of most users is that they are trying to activate only the settings of the primary BIOS system (at least, this can be read in most reviews of emerging problems). This is strictly forbidden without performing preliminary actions in the operating system.

You can activate the mode in the BIOS only if the OS is installed on a "clean" hard disk. If you perform this procedure with an existing OS on board, Windows will give an error at startup and go into constant reboot mode. Then complaints begin, they say, the user turned on AHCI mode in Windows, but nothing good came of it. What to say? It is possible that the basic rules were violated, because different actions need to be taken in different modifications of the system.

How can I check if AHCI mode is active?

But first, you should check if the mode is enabled. Perhaps, its additional activation is not needed.

In the simplest case, when you start the computer terminal or laptop, you need to go into the BIOS settings and refer to the SATA Mode section.

In the operating system itself, you can use Device Manager called from the Control Panel, Administration or Console Run with devmgmt.msc and go to the ATA / ATAPI IDE controllers section. When the mode is enabled in standard devices, the AHCI controller will be displayed. If it is not listed, you will have to decide how to enable AHCI in the system. Again, the solution depends on which version of Windows is installed on the computer.

How to enable AHCI mode in Windows 7

So, first, consider the "seven". For the seventh and tenth versions of the action look somewhat similar, but for Windows 8 differ quite strongly.

• The first step is to call the Registry Editor (regedit in the Run console).
• Expand the HKLM branch.
• Through the SYSTEM, CurrentControlSet and the Services directory, go to the msahci folder.
• On the right, call the menu for editing the Start parameter and set its value to zero.
• Now, in the Services directory, you need to find the IastorV directory, where the Start parameter is similar to the above.
• Only after these procedures are completed, the question of how to enable AHCI in the BIOS without catastrophic consequences for the system will cease to be a problem.

Steps in Windows 8 / 8.1

For Windows 8, the above procedure is not suitable, because there is a simpler solution. In this case, you first need to set the mode of minimum system boot in safe mode. How to enable AHCI? Simple enough.

• To do this, you first call the command line (necessarily on behalf of the administrator), and it prescribes the combination bcdedit / set {current} safeboot minimal.
• After this, it is necessary to restart, at the very beginning of the restart enter the BOIS settings and already there switch mode from IDE to AHCI.
• After saving the settings again, you need to reboot, the console is invoked, and the line bcdedit / deletevalue {current} safeboot is written in it, and then another computer restart is required.

In principle, the question of how to include AHCI in the G8 can be solved by using a special utility from Intel (of course, if there is a processor of this manufacturer).

• First, with the official resource, you need to download the driver in the form of the file f6flpy and the SetupRST.exe.
• After that, the desired hard disk is selected in the Device Manager, the driver update procedure is applied, and the downloaded file f6flpy is indicated as the manual driver itself.
• Then restart, and after the start of the system with the AHCI mode already enabled, SetupRST is executed to complete the computer setup.

How to enable AHCI in Windows 10?

As already mentioned, for the tenth version of the system, the actions are somewhat similar to those that are produced in Windows 7. The only difference is the choice of folders and parameters.

• In the system registry, we find the Services directory. Here, the storahci directory is used for the Start parameter.
• Further zero values are set for the parameter 0 in the storahci / StartOverride and iaStorV / StartOverride directories.
• After that, you can proceed to activate the main value in the settings of the primary BIOS input / output system.

By the way, in the eighth version of the system, you can also edit similar parameters. But why, if there is a simpler and more rational solution to the problem?

Enabling AHCI in the BIOS

To enter the settings on desktop computers, the Del key is most often used, and for laptops - F2, F12, combinations with Esc and Fn keys or special buttons on the panel like ASSIST in Sony VAIO.

Here you need to find a section or settings for the AHCI mode. How do I enable the required parameter in the BIOS? Simply on the SATA mode setting line, use the enter key, and use the arrow keys to confirm the selection with an additional Enter key. We do not forget to save the changes (F10 + Y) on the output and reboot the system. When the system is restarted, the system automatically installs the necessary drivers.

Possible problems

Unfortunately, sometimes when you switch to AHCI mode, unexpected errors can occur. Perhaps the hard drive itself does not support this mode of operation. In this case, there is nothing to try and activate AHCI.

On the other hand, if the system boots, but some errors or malfunctions occur after switching from IDE to AHCI, you can try to fix the problem using a specially developed utility called Microsoft Fix It.

If neither does help, you will need to call up the BIOS settings again and change the mode of the hard drive. Note: if AHCI was activated without performing preliminary actions in the system registry, which were described above, such methods may not work. The output will be either a system recovery using removable media, or a complete reinstallation of Windows. So be vigilant. However, I would like to hope that this will not come to pass (of course, provided that the whole sequence was performed in the order that was given in the description).

If the system is re-installed or cleaned, you can initially enable this mode in the BIOS so that you do not have to rush in to find a solution to activate it or troubleshoot any problems or malfunctions in your computer or laptop.

Instead of the total

In conclusion, it remains to add that inexperienced users who are not familiar with the intricacies of setting up the primary BIOS and operating systems of Windows, without special need to activate this mode is not worth it. Anyway, on modern computers with powerful processors and large amounts of RAM, the performance gain will not be particularly noticeable. On old terminals or laptops to use this mode in general there is no sense. Basically, as already mentioned, such settings are more suitable for servers, when several tens of child terminals are accessed to the hard disk in the local network.