Moving from IDE to AHCI

[N0Spin]

Hey Everyone,

I recently installed Windows 7 Home Premium on a new blank SATA hard drive which I had formatted using the default settings under Windows XP Disk Management.

Prior to installing Windows 7 on this PC, I disconnected my other SATA hard drives to preclude any issues during formatting/installation.

What I would like to know is whether changing the BIOS disk access mode from IDE to AHCI will impact my ability to access my old hard drives (once I reconnect them)?

Thank you.

 

[tripledouce]

Yes when you change the storage mode it changes the drivers that windows installs to communicate with the hard drive.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

Understand that when you make the change in BIOS Windows will no longer boot.

This may help you make the switch without having to reinstall: http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/987378-how-to-switch-from-ide-to-ahci-without-repairingreinstalling-windows/

 

[N0Spin]

Thank you for your responses.

Now provided that I get Windows 7 running on AHCI either by doing the reg. change etc, or by re-installing, what would I then need to do, if anything, to access the data on my old hard drives?

 

[ex_bubblehead]

Thank you for your responses.

Now provided that I get Windows 7 running on AHCI either by doing the reg. change etc, or by re-installing, what would I then need to do, if anything, to access the data on my old hard drives?

Nothing, except maybe having to take ownership of the files/folders.

 

[N0Spin]

Nothing, except maybe having to take ownership of the files/folders.

That was my most significant concern.

I was trying to figure out if needed to plow through a huge amount of cleanup and archiving (several 600GB HDs full of music, video and data, etc) BEFORE I attempt to switch the system over to use AHCI, and then add these data drives back in before I serialize this Windows 7 installation and lock down my hardware config.

I was hoping to pickup an SSD on sale (as a primary boot drive), but missed my chance on Cyber-Monday so now I'll probably just wait until the Christmas Eve or post holiday sales.


Thanks again.

 

[N0Spin]

Best answer selected by N0Spin.