Thinkpads Forum

I have been sifting through threads trying to find an answer to this with no clear cut solution. I installed Vista x64 on my T60 and all the drivers are installed except the AHCI support. I have to keep my Serial ATA settings on "Compatibility" mode in the BIOS to get Vista to boot. Is there a solution to this?

Also, I will be switching to Vista Home Premium 32 bit next week (I'm just using RC2 right now). Is there an AHCI driver for the 32 bit addition and just not Vista 64 bit? I'm more concerned about getting the 32 bit driver than anything else, but I wanted to ask about the 64 bit driver in case someone else needed that as well. Thanks for the help everyone!

Did you install Vista with ACHI enabled? If reinstalling or some sort of repair install might be in order with ACHI enabled.

You need to install the Intel matrix manager from Intel
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts ... bmit=Go%21

sr. Technician wrote:Did you install Vista with ACHI enabled? If reinstalling or some sort of repair install might be in order with ACHI enabled.

Hm... when I installed I had changed the settings to "Compatibility". If I re-install with it set to AHCI will it then just install the driver during the windows install and work?

steveg47 wrote:You need to install the Intel matrix manager from Intel

I was thinking the same thing so I tried this last night but the install gave me an error message and refused to continue.

Here is the download from Intel. You would use the floppy version while doing a clean install of Vista. The other one would be installed after Vista is installed, but this requires you to install Vista in compatibility mode. I suspect that upgrading from XP would not require installing the Intel Matrix Storage Manager again, as it is should already be installed with XP.

At least the above is how I understand it. I have not used the Intel Matrix Storage Manager with Vista, because my T42 does not need or use it. I suggest going through the Readme info on Intel's page.

Intel® Matrix Storage Manager
4 downloads on 1 page supported for Windows Vista*

GomJabbar wrote:Here is the download from Intel...

Intel® Matrix Storage Manager
4 downloads on 1 page supported for Windows Vista*

Unfortunately, the software that is downloaded from that link does not work with Vista so I cannot use it. Is there any way to do the floppy install during the vista install (F6 method) without having a floppy drive?

In my experience with vista, both beta RC and final, I've found that you need to install vista while you have your harddrive set to ahci, otherwise vista can't figure it out.

Hi

I installed Vista with ahci mode enabled and didn't get any errors,
but when vista tries to boot, i get a bluescreen which say's i should use checkdsk.
In compatible mode i can boot Vista without any problems but
i didn't get any ahci driver to install so i can boot Vista with ahci too.
very strange because the installation went flawless in ahci mode

cu

It seems as if we are all at the mercy of Lenovo to release a vista AHCI driver... It is strange that they don't have one available since they are shipping Thinkpads with Vista installed and you can do the express upgrade to get a Vista disc as well. I guess the question now is has anyone installed a fresh copy of Vista and actually gotten it to boot with AHCI enabled?

Chrispy wrote:It seems as if we are all at the mercy of Lenovo to release a vista AHCI driver... It is strange that they don't have one available since they are shipping Thinkpads with Vista installed and you can do the express upgrade to get a Vista disc as well. I guess the question now is has anyone installed a fresh copy of Vista and actually gotten it to boot with AHCI enabled?

Yes, with no problems. It's the same Intel driver that XP uses; that is if you download the latest driver from Intel.

steveg47 wrote:Yes, with no problems. It's the same Intel driver that XP uses; that is if you download the latest driver from Intel.

Are you running the 32bit or 64bit version? I tried that same Intel driver and it failed to install so I'm at a loss right now.

Just curious. Did you take the time to read the Read Me (txt) file on Intel's site? I did suggest you go through it. I had not yet read it until just now (which should be apparent from my previous post's inaccuracies). The Read Me (txt) file seems to layout the procedure pretty well.

Intel wrote:5.1 General Installation Notes

1. If you are installing the operating system on a system
configured for RAID or AHCI mode, you must pre-install
the Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager driver using the
F6 installation method described in section 5.3.

2. The 'Intel(R) Chipset Software Installation Utility'
must be installed on the system after a supported
Microsoft* Windows* operating system has been installed.

3. To install the Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager,
double-click on the self-extracting and self-installing
setup file and answer all prompts presented.

Be sure and read section 5.3 Pre-Installation Using the F6 Method in the same Read Me file.

steveg47 wrote:Are you running the 32bit or 64bit version? I tried that same Intel driver and it failed to install so I'm at a loss right now.

I am running the 32bit version. Sounds like you may never have installed the Intel chipset software first.

GomJabbar, It is not necessary to use the F6 method. Installation with Vista is exactly the same as with XP. Vista can be installed in compatiblity mode after which the Intel chipset driver is installed and then the AHCI Serial ATA Controller. After successful installation of both drivers the T60 is rebooted and within the bios AHCI mode can be enabled. That's it. I've done this dozens of time installing XP and the procedure is exactly the same for Vista.

Just a suggestion, but this thread would probably be bettered served in the Vista forum.

Steve, thanks so much for all the advice. When my 32-bit Vista Home Premium arrives I'm going to follow your advice to get AHCI working. I think something just went screwy with my 64-bit install as it just ignores the Intel Chipset driver installation grrr. I'm sure when I do the re-install everything will be good to go. Thanks for putting me at ease

Oh, and I agree that perhaps this thread would be better served in the Vista area since this method probably applies to more than just the T60. Thanks again all for the help and advice!

Chrispy wrote:I guess the question now is has anyone installed a fresh copy of Vista and actually gotten it to boot with AHCI enabled?

Yeah I did. No problems. BIOS was set to AHCI mode.

WPWoodJr wrote:

Chrispy wrote:I guess the question now is has anyone installed a fresh copy of Vista and actually gotten it to boot with AHCI enabled?

Yeah I did. No problems. BIOS was set to AHCI mode.

same here, i was using vista ultimate x86 oem though. i totally forgotten to take it off AHCI when installing

Just wanted to chime in with another "Same here" comment since I installed and ran Vista in AHCI mode and never had to provide a driver. If I understand it correctly, Vista is supposed to recognize AHCI devices without an additional driver, that's why Intel doesn't provide one. I'm not sure what the problem is for the OP and others, but it could be related to installing in Compatibility mode and trying to switch back to AHCI.

kf_man wrote:Just wanted to chime in with another "Same here" comment since I installed and ran Vista in AHCI mode and never had to provide a driver. If I understand it correctly, Vista is supposed to recognize AHCI devices without an additional driver, that's why Intel doesn't provide one. I'm not sure what the problem is for the OP and others, but it could be related to installing in Compatibility mode and trying to switch back to AHCI.

I re-installed with AHCI enabled and Vista loaded and boots with no problems at all. That was a nice easy solution! Thanks to everyone for the help

No, I also installed in AHCI Mode but i get BSODs in AHCI Mode when the System trys to boot (green bar).

cu