Solved changing SATA operation mode in BIOS from IDE to AHCI without reinstalling Windows XP x64 OS for ASUS P8H77-M motherboard (Rev: 1.1)

Before the Windows XP x64 Operating System (OS) installation process on Asus P8H77-M motherboard computer that has Intel H77 Express Chipset, the SATA configuration mode in the BIOS by default is set to IDE and not RAID/AHCI. Hence, the RAID/AHCI drivers are not loaded during the Windows XP x64 OS installation process.

After installing the Windows XP x64 OS, I have failed to install the Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver software v11.1.0.1006 (under SATA category) for Windows XP 32/64 bit & Win7 32/64 bit (WHQL). If I set the BIOS SATA configuration mode from IDE to AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface), the computer will get a blue screen "STOP 0x0000007B" error during bootup because the Windows XP x64 OS failed to load the AHCI drivers to detect the Seagate 2 TB SATA3 hardisk.


Solutions to change SATA operation mode in BIOS from IDE to AHCI without reinstalling Windows XP x64 OS for ASUS P8H77-M motherboard

1. Please download iaStor_64bit_forAHCI_WinXPSP2x64.rar and also the Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver software v11.1.0.1006 for Windows XP 32/64bit & Win7 32/64bit (WHQL) from Asus website.
   [iaStor_64bit_forAHCI_WinXPSP2x64.rar MD5 checksum: 83c42559d0ca79bc4290a305c2f39c88]
   
   Files inside the iaStor_64bit_forAHCI_WinXPSP2x64.rar:
   
   
   • iaStor.sys (568, 600 bytes, v11.1.0.1006, 64 bit driver)
     The iaStor.sys is from the Asus P8H77-M motherboard download site, under SATA category for Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver software v11.1.0.1006 (Intel_Rapid_V11101006_XPWin7.zip) for Windows XP 32/64bit & Win7 32/64bit (WHQL). After unzip the Intel_Rapid_V11101006_XPWin7.zip file, the iaStor.sys is under the \Driver\64bit directory.
     
     
   • ASUS P8H77-M_AHCI_HKLM_CCS_iaStor.reg file:
     
     Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
     
     [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\iaStor]
     "Type"=dword:00000001
     "Start"=dword:00000000
     "ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
     "Tag"=dword:00000019
     "ImagePath"="system32\\drivers\\iaStor.sys"
     "DisplayName"="Intel AHCI Controller"
     "Group"="SCSI Miniport"
     
     [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\iaStor\Parameters]
     "BusType"=dword:00000003
     
     [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\iaStor\Enum]
     "0"="PCI\\VEN_8086&DEV_1E02&SUBSYS_84CA1043&REV_04\\3&11583659&0&FA"
     "Count"=dword:00000001
     "NextInstance"=dword:00000001
     
     
   • ASUS P8H77-M_AHCI_HKLM_CS001_iaStor.reg file:
     
     Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
     
     [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_1e02&cc_0106]
     "Service"="iaStor"
     "ClassGUID"="{4d36e96a-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}"
   
   
2. In Windows XP x64 environment, please copy the iaStor.sys to the C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers directory. Then, kindly right-click on ASUS P8H77-M_AHCI_HKLM_CCS_iaStor.reg and click "Merge" to add the registry to the Windows XP x64 OS. Please also right-click on ASUS P8H77-M_AHCI_HKLM_CS001_iaStor.reg and click "Merge" to add the registry to the Windows XP x64 OS. Please restart the computer and go to BIOS (DO NOT allow the Windows XP x64 OS to start the bootup process).
   
   
3. During computer bootup, I pressed [DELETE] to enter BIOS. In BIOS, I clicked Advanced Mode -> Advanced -> SATA Configuration -> SATA Mode Selection and changed the SATA Mode from IDE to AHCI. I pressed [F10] to save the configuration and reset the BIOS. The Windows XP x64 OS boot up successfully without the blue screen "STOP 0x0000007B" error.
   
   
4. I login to Windows XP x64 OS. Windows XP x64 OS will automatically shown a wizard to install the new detected hardware drivers. I cancel the wizard. I opened a Windows Explorer, go to the extracted directory of Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver software v11.1.0.1006 and double-click the setup.exe to install the Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver software v11.1.0.1006. Once the installation is successfully, it will prompt me to restart the computer to apply these changes. I clicked the "Finish" button to restart the computer.
   
   
5. I login to Windows XP x64 OS. Under the Device Manager -> IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers, you will see an Intel(R) 7 Series/C216 Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller.

Reference

[1] HOWTO: enable AHCI mode after installing Windows