How to use Advance Host Controller Interface in Windows XP

Do you want to activate the AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Inteface) for your old hard drive when using installed Windows XP? Well, keep on reading and I'll tell you how to make that happen.

I've tried many ways for getting the AHCI work for Windows XP, by using the F6 method suggested from Microsoft site, slipstream the AHCI driver when fresh installing Windows XP, even playing around with windows' registry on installed Windows XP.

But I finally found the easiest way, tested on my old T61 laptop, to activate the AHCI mode

AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface) installed on WinXP Professional SP3 x86

bootracer's result of using AHCI on old hard drive

AHCI improved my old hard drive performance, even when using old operating system like Windows XP x86

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Before we proceed on activating the AHCI mode, firstly we should make a backup of our data, just in case the worst is show up, lol

Make sure that the hard drive is installed with Windows XP, the drive is located on primary hard drive of your laptop, otherwise the AHCI driver cannot be installed when your hard drive is on secondary hard drive bay (eq. ultrabay )

I've tried to installed the AHCI driver when the hard drive is in ultrabay, but it costs me the magnificent BSOD.

Next is download the AHCI driver for your laptop, since I'm using Lenovo Thinkpad T61, I've downloaded the Intel Matrix Storage Manager from Lenovo site.

if your laptop/pc is not configured for AHCI / RAID system, then updating SATA channel is not possible
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okay, here we go ..
1. After downloaded the AHCI driver, installed the AHCI driver and it will create a new folder on C:\Drivers\Win\IMSM

2. Bring out the Device Manager window and expand the IDE/ATAPI controllers (this screenshot is showing installed AHCI driver on my T61 )

4. Right click on Primary IDE Channel, choose Update driver, and you will see a new pop-up window

5. Choose No, not this time, then click Next.

6. A new pop-up window will show up

choose the second option, Install from a list or specific location (Advanced), then click Next

7. A new pop-up window will show up

choose the second option, Don't search. I will choose the driver to install, then click Next

8. A new pop-up window will show up

highlight the Primary IDE Channel and click Have Disk

9. A new pop-up window will show up

click browse and select the iaAHCI.inf file on C:\Drivers\Win\IMSM folder

10. Choose the correct southbridge chipset for your laptop/pc, my T61 is using ICH8M. Incorrect southbridge can cause BSOD and you won't be able to load Windows XP anymore (happened to me )

11. Click Next and let the OS install the AHCI driver. You will be prompted to restart you laptop/pc after the driver installation has finished.

12. Confirm the restart process, enter the BIOS setup, change the SATA mode from Compatibility (IDE) to AHCI (or RAID ). Save the BIOS configuration and see the magic.

13. Windows XP will ask you to restart again to make sure that the AHCI driver is installed. Confirm the restart process again.

14. After the second restart, your hard drive is fully working on AHCI mode (you can check your Device Manager and you will see Intel AHCI Controller under the IDE/ATAPI controller ).

Enjoy the new performance of your old hard drive :D

Regards,
Tommy