Enabling SATA mode to AHCI after XP Install (applicable to most laptops, or systems)

If you want to enable SATA mode as AHCI after installing Windows XP, then read on. It's a bit of a long read because of step-by-step instructions, but worth it.

I did this on on Acer Aspire 5315-2153, it seems like the basic strategy should work on other laptops or systems.

For whatever reason, you may have installed Windows XP on your new laptops with SATA Native Mode disabled in the BIOS. Once XP is installed, enabling it in the BIOS will result in a BSOD upon loading Windows because XP doesn't have the correct drivers.

I read that enabling SATA native mode will give you a slight performance inrease and slightly increased battery life, so it seems worthwhile to me

Here's how I did it on a Acer Aspire 5315-2153 running Windows XP (32 Bit version):

- 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: Intel 82801HEM/HBM SATA AHCI Storage Controller

- Right-Click on that 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 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.