Change your SATA mode from IDE to AHCI

[agh55]

Hi, I have installed a Sandisk in my old Laptop  Presario CQ56. It is not as fast as I expected and I was reading that if you change  your SATA mode from IDE to AHCI in the Bios. I cant find how you do this, can anyone please help. Thanks

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

What is the full model number or product number of your CQ56?

Use this guide to find that information...please do not post the serial number.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00033108

[agh55]

Hi Paul, thanks for replying;

Product Name : Presario CQ56 Notebook PC

Product Name : LD702EA#ABU

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

According to the product number you posted, your notebook is a COMPAQ PRESARIO CQ56-156SA NOTEBOOK PC.

It has an AMD Athlon P320 processor.

The drive controller your model has is already set to AHCI by default, and there are no settings in the BIOS to change the drive controller to anything else.

The problem with AMD notebooks is that AMD does not name the drive controller as a SATA AHCI controller like the Intel CQ56 models do.

[agh55]

Hi Paul, once again thanks, I had hoped this may have solved  the problem on the Laptop with windows 10 opening the apps very slowly. Sometimes it is perfect and then on other occasions it can take 10 to 15 secs to open a web page on MS Edge.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

If you have the maximum amount of memory installed, your notebook is running at its best, I'm afraid.

The service manual indicates you can install 2 x 2 GB of memory in your model.

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c02657369

[agh55]

Hi Paul, I really appreciate your help and I hope you don't mind, I have one final question, are there a set of drivers available for this laptop for windows 10. I suspect the machine is too old.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

I don't mind at all.

No W10 drivers were released by HP for any PC's manufactured prior to August of 2013.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c05195282

You model was produced before that date.

[agh55]

Hi Paul, Again thanks, I'm trying to get as much life out of this ageing Laptop and fitted a SanDisk SSD Plus. I have been looking at their forums and one thread  they were asking to confirm if there is a SATA3 or SATA6 controller in the laptop, can you please confirm what is fitted in mine.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

The SATA controller your notebook has is SATA II (3.0 GB/s).

Even with the SATA II controller, a SSD is much faster than a mechanical hard drive.

I have SSD's in a few notebook's and desktop PC's with SATA II controllers.

I even have one in an ancient HP nc6400 notebook with a SATA I controller.

SSD's provide superior performance over a mechanical hard drive.