Computer

[ParadigmDawg]

It's nice to see that even with all that money you make, you're still as cheap as we are when it comes to this stuff and insist on doing it yourself.

It's kind of fun and frustrating at the same time. I think I now understand that I have to do a fresh install of Win7 and pick AHCI at that time. I also think it's silly that I took out my 1 Terabyte HD and used my 500 GB HD for storage. I think I have a better understanding of what I am doing now but I am not sure how much further I will take it. My computer is fast again but "they" say I am chocking down by 50% by not using AHCI.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

It's still the same, Dell Inspiron 580, Intel Core I5.

Lets start by installing latest bios - http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=P9J9H
also I found this:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/295102-32-dell-inspiron-bios-recognize-samsung

Like I said - update the bios and re-connect the SSD sata cable

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Lets start by installing latest bios - http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=P9J9H
also I found this:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/295102-32-dell-inspiron-bios-recognize-samsung

Like I said - update the bios and re-connect the SSD sata cable

I updated the BIOS but I don't really think I have any other issue going on at this int except the inability to select AHCI. It take my computer about 3 seconds to boot and right at 1 second to pull up the web.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/desktop/f/3514/t/19381770
Checkout last post. You pc should support AHCI mode.
here's a test - try to install intel rapid storage. if it doesn't fail the install = AHCI maybe enabled by default
As for bios update: An earlier version of bios for your pc DID enable AHCI mode - http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=VC7G5. Is in it was NOT available in the original bios.
Try to look for it again for "SATA mode". Do keep in mind than Win7 will NOT boot after you change the setting to AHCI.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I did the BIOS update and then the "enable AHCI" option appeared and I checked it.

I am uncertain what it means when you state that "Win7 will NOT boot after you change the setting to AHCI". Is that a good thing or bad thing?

I am certain that my computer is really fast now.

It seems I am maxed out on what the machine will do with the only issue being that my system doesn't support a SATA 6 Gb/s(SATA3) port.



I basically followed this last night after you had me update the BIOS and everything came out fine. I kind of even feel like a computer nerd.

Luckily, after much research, I found a procedure that allowed me to install the SATA AHCI drivers without reinstalling Windows 7. Thanks to Windows7Themes.net for having the answer:

• Basically, change the following registry key to 0:
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\services\msahci\Start
• Restart the computer once (without changing any BIOS settings) and Windows will load default AHCI drivers. You may not notice anything happening, so let Windows sit for a minute or two after reboot to give it enough time to make sure this process happened.
• Restart the computer again and change the SATA operation to AHCI in BIOS. Save the BIOS settings and when Windows boots again, it should not crash with a blue screen. This time you should notice that Windows is installing new hardware, which includes several SATA AHCI components (similar to what the picture above shows). Windows will probably ask to restart once more.

At this point you should have a functioning Windows 7 install with default SATA AHCI drivers operating. I then was able to install the vendor specific drivers from Intel because they now recognized the controller properly. Yay! A few hours of my life gone, but at least I learned something!

This whole problem could have been avoided if Windows 7 would have installed the AHCI drivers properly in the first place, and/or if the Intel drivers were smart enough to recognize that the controller in ATA mode is in fact the correct controller and simply installed the drivers anyway. But issues like this are why we do what we do, so hopefully my experience will save some of you some grief!

 

[Adam]

Congrats! I'm glad that folks helped you get up and running the way you wanted.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Congrats! I'm glad that folks helped you get up and running the way you wanted.

I am thankful. Normally I would just end up going and purchasing a new computer and then spend 9 million hours reloaded my music.

Speaking of... all of my music is now on the external HD and I can play it from my computer but I can't figure out how to stream it to my main system like I have always done directly from my computer. It finds my server and that states "empty". I assume it's a sharing issue but I have tried about everything I know to fix it. Any thoughts on that?

 

[Adam]

Speaking of... all of my music is now on the external HD and I can play it from my computer but I can't figure out how to stream it to my main system like I have always done directly from my computer. It finds my server and that states "empty". I assume it's a sharing issue but I have tried about everything I know to fix it. Any thoughts on that?

I don't know what software you're using, but with Universal Media Server (i.e. PS3 Media Server), I specify which drives/folders are available for streaming. So, perhaps you had it set up to share the "C" drive and need to add whatever drive letter is associated with that external drive.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I just stream directly from WMP 11 to the Denon.

 

[Adam]

I just stream directly from WMP 11 to the Denon.

Check out this link.

 

[selden]

Check which Bios version you have. You might need to update the computer's firmware.
See http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=VC7G5

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Check out this link.

I think your close but when I go in and configure that way I get a prompt that states" windows added the location to your library but couldn't share the location. HD-HSU2 (I drive) the file sharing wizard ca'r share the root of a drive".

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Congrats. Yes the registry hack does fix the issue. I was a bit hesitant to mention it, but you found and done it so huge congrats!

Also don't worry too much about lack of sata 3. Sata 2 maxes out at about 300MB/s read&writes and it's about 3-4 times faster than most hard drives are capable of. Not to mention near zero seek time.
Enjoy.

I typically try to change ahci settings before i install Windows

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Congrats. Yes the registry hack does fix the issue. I was a bit hesitant to mention it, but you found and done it so huge congrats!

Also don't worry too much about lack of sata 3. Sata 2 maxes out at about 300MB/s read&writes and it's about 3-4 times faster than most hard drives are capable of. Not to mention near zero seek time.
Enjoy.

I typically try to change ahci settings before i install Windows

Yes sir, I read plenty about "bricking" my computer but I was willing to take a chance and this thing is ungodly quick now. I have a major issue of not being able to stream my music at this point and I can't figure it out.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Check out this link.

When I get to this point it seems "sharing" is locked and I can't change anything.

 

[Adam]

Are you logged in as an administrator?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Are you logged in as an administrator?

Yes

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

In explorer make sure Libraries are visible. Right click on music library (not a folder), click on add location

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Man, I can't get that part figured out.

 

[Alex2507]

Buy a Walkman.