Can't boot into AHCI mode after installing Windows 8

[StrykerX]

Hey guys. Really weird issue here and can't find anyone with the same problem, hoping somebody can point me in the right direction.

Hardware info you probably need:

MOBO: Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD3R
Crucial M4 SSD in main SATA port
WD Black HD in secondary SATA port
DVD drive in a third SATA port

I had Windows 7 installed on my SSD, wanted to make the leap to Windows 8 (don't ask why). Windows 7 was installed on AHCI mode and running on AHCI mode just fine. Mobo was set to AHCI mode.

I installed Windows 8 from a USB drive (while mobo was set to AHCI mode). It detected all my drives. I deleted the old partitions and formatted a new one. After it installed, it wouldn't get past mobo AHCI controller screen and it said: Controller Bus #00 etc etc. It hanged there with a blinking cursor.

I tried restarting and getting back into BIOS but it wouldn't let me. BIOS always comes after that screen usually and it wouldn't get past that screen. Only way to fix this was to reset my CMOS (and the only way to do that on my board is taking out the battery as far as I know).

After resetting CMOS I was able to boot into BIOS no problem, and with IDE set by default, my SSD booted just fine and Windows 8 loaded. After finishing the Windows 8 install and installing some drivers I tried setting it back to AHCI with no luck, same problem.

Anyone have any ideas? Really frustrated here, especially since every failed attempt means taking out my graphics card so I can reach my CMOS battery and then taking out my CMOS battery.

[Matt3o]

you can't switch from ide to ahci once the OS has been installed. I would try to reset the cmos to default, set to ahci, and reinstall the OS.

[Jocelyn]

you can't switch from ide to ahci once the OS has been installed. I would try to reset the cmos to default, set to ahci, and reinstall the OS.

Yes you can. All you need to do is make a simple registry change with Win 7, but it still looks easy for Win 8.

When they mention CMOS setup in the link below, they're referring to the bios. I don't have a Win 8 PC, but I'd give it try if I were you. Worst case scenario, you reinstall
http://superuser.com/questions/471102/change-from-ide-to-ahci-after-installing-windows-8

Edit: If you do decide to reinstall, disconnect the WD prior to doing so.

[StrykerX]

you can't switch from ide to ahci once the OS has been installed. I would try to reset the cmos to default, set to ahci, and reinstall the OS.

I installed it as AHCI in the first place, so I'm not sure what you mean...

[Lanx]

yea i did that ide to ahci after install on my ssd with win7 recently, worked fine (confirmed by double ssd read speeds). with the regedit setting.

[StrykerX]

you can't switch from ide to ahci once the OS has been installed. I would try to reset the cmos to default, set to ahci, and reinstall the OS.

Yes you can. All you need to do is make a simple regedit change with Win 7, but it still looks easy for Win 8.

When they mention CMOS setup in the link below, they're referring to the bios. I don't have a Win 8 PC, but I'd give it try if I were you. Worst case scenario, you reinstall
http://superuser.com/questions/471102/change-from-ide-to-ahci-after-installing-windows-8

Edit: If you do decide to reinstall, disconnect the WD prior to doing so.

I tried the registry tweak and it still freezes on the AHCI controller screen when booting.

Do you think disconnecting the WD is the key?

[Jocelyn]

I tried the registry tweak and it still freezes on the AHCI controller screen when booting.

Do you think disconnecting the WD is the key?

Well the reason I mentioned disconnecting the WD prior to installation, is because Windows sometimes will write the MBR/hidden partition to that second disk. I'd ignore that for now. More importantly, did you follow the directions at the bottom called "I Found the solution!"?

It would appear these extra steps are needed when fixing IDE/AHCI for Windows 8

Edit: I just reread the link I gave you and it looks like there are two ways. If you're not getting past the post, I feel the second/last method would be best.
I'm also assumimg these steps are after making the registry change, so you may have to boot back in with IDE, remake the registry change, then do the following.

1. Click the Restart button with Shift key and set the Reboot option to safe mode.
2. Reboot and enter CMOS setup (before entering Windows in safe mode) (Pretty sure they mean the bios)
3. Change (IDE AHCI or RAID(XHD)).
4. Boot into Windows in safe mode.
5. Reboot Windows in normal mode (free from halt errors while booting).
6. You can use AHCI or Intel RST (SSD acceleration) with RAID or EXT.




Edit 2: Well after seeing this below the second method "Result. Registry hacking did nothing for me - this worked first time. Thanks!", my guess is that all you need to do is the above and ignore anything registry related.

[tp4tissue]

If it doesn't work, that's not the end of the world... the whole "trim" thing is a bit overblown, to the average user, the degradation is very small and overall UN-noticeable.

[StrykerX]

I tried the registry tweak and it still freezes on the AHCI controller screen when booting.

Do you think disconnecting the WD is the key?

Well the reason I mentioned disconnecting the WD prior to installation, is because Windows sometimes will write the MBR/hidden partition to that second disk. I'd ignore that for now. More importantly, did you follow the directions at the bottom called "I Found the solution!"?

It would appear these extra steps are needed when fixing IDE/AHCI for Windows 8

Edit: I just reread the link I gave you and it looks like there are two ways. If you're not getting past the post, I feel the second/last method would be best.
I'm also assumimg these steps are after making the registry change, so you may have to boot back in with IDE, remake the registry change, then do the following.

1. Click the Restart button with Shift key and set the Reboot option to safe mode.
2. Reboot and enter CMOS setup (before entering Windows in safe mode) (Pretty sure they mean the bios)
3. Change (IDE AHCI or RAID(XHD)).
4. Boot into Windows in safe mode.
5. Reboot Windows in normal mode (free from halt errors while booting).
6. You can use AHCI or Intel RST (SSD acceleration) with RAID or EXT.




Edit 2: Well after seeing this below the second method "Result. Registry hacking did nothing for me - this worked first time. Thanks!", my guess is that all you need to do is the above and ignore anything registry related.

Sorry meant to reply earlier but had a crazy day.

That didn't work for me. After switching to AHCI it halted at the same spot, never got into safe mode. I am attaching a picture in case you guys aren't familiar with the screen:



When I am halting on that screen, no matter what, I cannot boot into BIOS. Even if I press DEL at the screen I am suppose to press it on, it will not go to BIOS. The ONLY way to get back into BIOS is to reset CMOS (and the only way for me to do that is removing my CMOS battery) and it is becoming really annoying. So I did that, and now back in IDE mode by default, it booted into safe mode.

And look. I INSTALLED Win8 on AHCI. This isn't a case where I installed it when it was set on IDE and then switched.

I'm really frustrated Hoping somebody has some more ideas, thanks for all the help thus far.