Can't set AHCI in Bios

[Dave-AHCI]

Hi folks,

I want to enable AHCI mode on the bios of my oldie HP laptop (serial [Personal Information Removed]) for my new ssd (samsung evo 840/120gb), but:

1) the option for ahci is not there on the bios (f10). 

2) can't open advanced bios options (f10+a) either

3) can't find a bios update which might have ahci option

Help please. 

Trim is enabled, as per the Magician, is Ahci mode gonna make a big difference?

Many thanks, and a beer for the solver!

Dave

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Dave:

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

The product number can be found on the same label as the serial number.

Please do not post the serial number.

[Dave-AHCI]

P/n: KS157UA#ABA

It's a 2140 mini notebook with a Intel Atom N270 processor and a Intel 845GSE motherboard. OS Windows runs in 32 bits only.

Tx.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

In your model, AHCI is set by default, and cannot be changed.

You made a typo regarding the chipset.  It should be a Mobile Intel 945GSE Express Chipset.

How you can tell that AHCI is set by default...

If you go to the device manager, click to expand the IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers device manager category.

Under that category with the chipset your notebook has, you should be seeing an Intel(R) ICH7M/MDH SATA AHCI Controller.

That controller description confirms that AHCI is enabled, otherwise there would be no reference to the AHCI term in the device description.

Here is the link to the quickspecs for your notebook...

http://static.highspeedbackbone.net/pdf/HP_Mini_2140_QuickSpecsManual.pdf

[Dave-AHCI]

See your point about default, but the samsung magician says, for the ssd, that ahci mode is not enabled. Also says Trim is enabled. 

Don't know what I'm missing to do...

Tx.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

What is the name of the SATA controller under the IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers device manager category?

There isn't a thing you can do to change the drive controller setting, and if TRIM is enabled, that means that the drive controller is set either in AHCI or RAID mode, and I doubt your PC's controller is set to RAID.

[Dave-AHCI]

Under Ata/Atapi Ide I see 3 controllers:

-Ata channel 0

-Standard Sata Ahci controller

-Storage controllers Ultra Ata Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 family) - 27DF

Missing any other I should have to enable AHCI mode?

Tx.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Nope, you're good with that, but I do recommend you update the standard sata achi controller to the latest version.

See if installing this chipset driver gets the Standard Sata Ahci controller to show up as the device I posted above.

Download, unzip and run the setup application and restart the PC.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/20018/INF-Update-Utility-Primarily-for-Intel-6-5-4-3-900-S...

[Dave-AHCI]

Didn't work. After restarting, the Standard Ahci remained the same, it only updated the third one, which does nor refer to Ahci. Magician still says Ahci disabled.

Appreciatte all the help.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

I guess things are just going to have to stay the way they are then.