Thinkpads Forum

I've done a fresh vanilla install of Windows 7 x64 Ultimate on my old X301. I had the SATA configured to compatibility mode during the install, which I think is necessary. But now, when I switch back to AHCI mode windows won't boot saying there's been a hardware change.

I swear this is how I always did it, switched to compatibility mode during install and then switched back to AHCI.

Nope that's not how you do it. OS install under compatibility mode, then switched to AHCI mode will result in exactly the problem you are experiencing.

Switch to AHCI mode BEFORE OS install and leave it on AHCI. AHCI is very beneficial for SSDs and works with modern HDD without any problems. Compatibility mode is only for older HDD. All my Thinkpads, including my oldest (T42), runs in AHCI mode.

As it is, there is a way to make it work. Just google it. However, I would not bother, it's better and easier to start over again in AHCI mode.

Great. It takes forever to load up the laptop with all the updates and software. I'll Google how to switch it over and make a note for next time.

Stop! Avoid all the brain damage of reinstall or googled solutions for editing your registry. Download the driver here: http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloa ... D=DS013671

Confirm this is the right version for your system, download, install the driver, shut down, restart and go into bois, change your bios setting to ACHI, then re-boot, the driver will install in Windows and request another re-boot or two. Then you're set.

mpcook wrote:Stop! Avoid all the brain damage of reinstall or googled solutions for editing your registry. Download the driver here: http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloa ... D=DS013671

Confirm this is the right version for your system, download, install the driver, shut down, restart and go into bois, change your bios setting to ACHI, then re-boot, the driver will install in Windows and request another re-boot or two. Then you're set.

Thanks Mpcook! My system is an X301. I've found this which appears to be an ACHI driver for the X301: http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/detail. ... MIGR-70477

Mpcook, does this look correct to you? Should I be taking an image backup of my system first to be sure?

Having a good back-up of your system is never a bad idea.

I took an image, installed the Intel Storage Matrix Driver for Win 7 x64 http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloa ... D=DS003127, rebooted but got the usual BSOD. Switched back to compatibility mode and it works now.

It says that this is an AHCI driver for Win 7 x64 and the X301 but it didn't work.

phil81uk wrote:I took an image, installed the Intel Storage Matrix Driver for Win 7 x64 http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloa ... D=DS003127, rebooted but got the usual BSOD. Switched back to compatibility mode and it works now.

It says that this is an AHCI driver for Win 7 x64 and the X301 but it didn't work.

Make sure the driver is installed before you switch the mode. You will have to reboot a few times, then shut down and change to AHCI. You will have to download the driver, run it, then go to the directory it installed into, and run the install from there. Once that installs, reboot, and Windows should then install it, then you reboot again, then change to AHCI and boot again. A lot of booting.

mpcook wrote:

phil81uk wrote:I took an image, installed the Intel Storage Matrix Driver for Win 7 x64 http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloa ... D=DS003127, rebooted but got the usual BSOD. Switched back to compatibility mode and it works now.

It says that this is an AHCI driver for Win 7 x64 and the X301 but it didn't work.

Make sure the driver is installed before you switch the mode. You will have to reboot a few times, then shut down and change to AHCI. You will have to download the driver, run it, then go to the directory it installed into, and run the install from there. Once that installs, reboot, and Windows should then install it, then you reboot again, then change to AHCI and boot again. A lot of booting.

Yes, I installed the driver, rebooted, rebooted (just to be sure), then switched to AHCI mode.

Could it be the wrong driver? Should I install it via Device Manager instead? Any way to verify that it has installed?

Did you go into drivers folder and find the inf file, right click and install. If so, you could try the link in my prior message.

mpcook wrote:Did you go into drivers folder and find the inf file, right click and install. If so, you could try the link in my prior message.

I double clicked the exe downloaded from Lenovo. After extracting itself it went ahead and apparently installed the driver. I will try double clicking the .inf file. Failing that I will try your advised link. I'll do this tonight once I get home. Thanks!

Right click and select install

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