Driver install question

[Grenpara]

Hey Guys & Gals,

I am writing to ask a question about Motherboard drivers and Windows 8.1.

I had a computer crash and tried to install windows 8.1 again and tried several times.
I finally gave up and had a computer shop do it, but there is a glitch.
Seems the wrong pre-load driver was put in or not installed at all.
I did not know until it was to late and i have already installed dozens of programs.

So now my question, is there anyway to install the pre-load drivers without needing to reinstall windows again?

The problem is not horrible but a pain as my 2 esata ports only see one drive each when they used to see 4 each. I am told it is likely the pre-load driver was missed or the wrong on put in during the windows install.

Any help or advice would be great.
Thanks in advance
Fred

 

[RaDiKaL_]

If by "pre-load" drivers you mean the mobo drivers then yes, you can install them at any given time.

Download them from your mobo's website and install them, sometimes it is advised to first disable your antivirus before installing drivers to avoid any issues should the antivirus block your drivers files.

Restart your pc after installing them and everything should be fine.

 

[Grenpara]

If by "pre-load" drivers you mean the mobo drivers then yes, you can install them at any given time.

Download them from your mobo's website and install them, sometimes it is advised to first disable your antivirus before installing drivers to avoid any issues should the antivirus block your drivers files.

Restart your pc after installing them and everything should be fine.

Hello RaDiKaL_,

Ok I will try to explain better. There are tons of drivers for my mobo and 1 driver is called pre-load. So when you start installing windows and it gives you option for new Windows install or add another windows os on that screen there is a button called Driver and it is to add what is called a pre-load driver. I am told it had to be installed on that screen. All the other drivers are installed once windows is set up and running.

So I think it is that driver that is missing I think.
But while waiting for responses I found many youtube and other sites that say to turn on ACHI in Windows. My system has ahci but according https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkXtjIMkFTc it says to edit registry and enable AHCI. It is on in my BIOS but my setting do not match what that and some other videos say. Some ahci setting are on and others are off.

So I do not want to reinstall os yet again as i spent a week fighting and thats when i went to computer shop and they fixed system. But the 2 esata ports no longer have multiplier. So my 4 HDD bay units when connected to esata now only show 1 drive and the rest do not show up.

Hope that makes better sense.
Thanks in advance
Fred

 

[RaDiKaL_]

Preload drivers are only needed to detect a hard drive / SSD that's being connected to a port which Windows installer cannot recognize by default. Since you were able to install windows there is no need for that preload driver.

It's another driver you are missing, check under device manager to see which components are lacking its drivers.

 

[Grenpara]

Preload drivers are only needed to detect a hard drive / SSD that's being connected to a port which Windows installer cannot recognize by default. Since you were able to install windows there is no need for that preload driver.

It's another driver you are missing, check under device manager to see which components are lacking its drivers.

EDIT:

Hey RaDiKaL,

I found something and I hope you know it.
I typed msinfo32 and in the screen it shows BIOS as Legacy mode.

Shouldn't it be set for AHCI?

https://1drv.ms/i/s!Am1WbqxCs_uYighG-skeGk8H4icG

I tried switching in bios to "UEFI Only" but then computer would not boot at all it could not see the SSD.

please let me know.
Thanks in advance
Fred

Preload drivers are only needed to detect a hard drive / SSD that's being connected to a port which Windows installer cannot recognize by default. Since you were able to install windows there is no need for that preload driver.

It's another driver you are missing, check under device manager to see which components are lacking its drivers.

Hey RaDiKal_,

I have checked every driver and update to either current ones off the Gigiabyte support pacg for my Mobo. I have ensured all Bios options are set correctly with Gigabyte and spent 1.5 hours on the phone with them and they kept pointing to either the Pre-load/install driver or one called Marvell 9128 AHCI/RAID driver. Problem is adding that driver did not help we tried automatic install and manual install.

Here is a question, I have found This site https://appuals.com/how-to-enable-ahci-mode-in-windows-8-and-8-1/ and http://www.ithinkdiff.com/how-to-enable-ahci-in-windows-8-after-installation/ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkXtjIMkFTc Sorry for the links but I have to explain. Those links talk about enabling AHCI in Windows 8.1 and when I go to all those links listed on those pages I notice a problem.

Some links they list show as ahci off on my system and some are on, so could it be that that is why I have trouble with my esata ports? And should I try to turn them all on as the links suggest?

Thanks in advance
Fred

 

[RaDiKaL_]

BIOS Legacy and UEFI mode aren't really a concern, if your system has been installed under legacy that's no problem, it only affects if you have HDDs with 2TB+ of capacity (each).

The AHCI mode doesn't affect at all if an HDD/SSD is recognized or not, what it affects however is the performance of them. If your OS has been installed under AHCI the moment you turn it off in BIOS your OS won't load, same thing the other way around.

"install driver or one called Marvell 9128 AHCI/RAID driver"

That one is most likely the case, your mobo has an extra Marvell controller for sata ports, if those drivers are not installed your OS won't be able to use those ports.

Make sure that chipset (Marvell) is enabled on your mobo's BIOS, sometimes they come disabled as default, or even at an individual level (each port).

Finally, after making sure those ports / Marvell chipset is enabled in BIOS make sure your HDDs do appear detected in BIOS, if they don't in it we are wasting time on drivers for your OS since there's not the problem.

 

[MickyDee]

Go to the makers page for the motherboard you have and download the drivers (most current) and install. Sounds like you might just need the USB driver but they usually have a file that that has them all in one.