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Switch from IDE to AHCI with new platform - Recommended!

After reversing minlogon, I managed to switch from IDE to AHCI mode on the new Gigabyte GA-H55M-UD2H platform. It was not as simple as I thought, but it is worth it because it makes access to a large Music Library (all its CUE files) a lot faster. On my 2000 CDs library it takes about a minute in AHCI mode, compared to over 5 min in IDE mode.

This is how to make the switch --

After looking on many forums and many BSOD, I found the solution at this link: http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/457699-enable-ahci-on-intel-chipsets/page15588980114.

There is an AHCI WINDOWS XP PATCH to download. It is a few years old, but with a few changes it works.

Together with an old version of Intel Matrix Storage Manager, in Prepare directory there is a little "INSTALL.CMD" program with the following string:

rundll32.exe setupapi.dll,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 132 %~dp0imsm_pre.inf

It refers to "imsm_pre.inf" which one has to "mod" with the right Southbridge code. The new Intel H55 is not part of its list, but from the up-to-date driver I discovered that it is "3B22"

1) Make sure AHCI is not enabled in your BIOS.
2) Open \\PREPARE\IMSM_PRE.inf in Notepad.
3) Replace any instance of XXXX with "3B22".
4) Save the file and close Notepad.
5) Run INSTALL.CMD in PREPARE directory.
6) Exit Windows and reboot.
7) Enable AHCI in your BIOS and save.
8) Start Windows XP, The Found New Hardware wizard will start automatically.
9) Point to directory on your HD where you have previously d/l and unzipped the latest version of "intel_sata_irst_32" driver from Gigabyte site.

That's it! Enjoy.



This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
  Atma-Sphere Music Systems, Inc.  


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