Enhancing existing Windows XP images from IDE Mode

Corporate IT may be able to update an existing Windows XP image to be AHCI-compatible that was created in IDE mode. The process requires inserting the AHCI drivers into the image in a pre-installation environment. Once that is done, the system can be switched to AHCI mode safely.

Required software to insert the AHCI driver:

•Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE) CD

•Windows OPK (OEM Preinstallation Kit) CD

•MSDINST.EXE (Mass Storage Device Installer)

The OPK CD is not available for general download. It must be obtained through a Microsoft authorized distributor. MSDINST.EXE is a tool designed to insert mass storage drivers into an offline Microsoft Windows XP image.

For more information and instructions about OPK or MSDINST.EXE go to http://www.microsoft.com.

The process to update an existing Windows XP image to be AHCI compatible is as follows:

1.Boot into WinPE.

2.Run MSDINST.EXE from OPK.

MSDINST.EXE is executed from a command line where the location for the .inf file containing the PnP ID of the RAID/AHCI SATA controller of the target system and location of the Windows directory are specified.

For example: Newmsd.inf has the PnP IDs and it is in the C:\AddAHCI directory. C:\Windows is the location of the Windows directory. The command line is:

msdinst.exe c:\AddAHCI\newmsd.inf c:\windows /force

Newmsd.inf contents:

[SysprepMassStorage]

PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2822&CC_0104 = C:\Compaq\MSD\Intel\iaStor.inf PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3A02&CC_0106 = c:\Compaq\MSD\Intel\iaahci.inf PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3A22&CC_0106 = c:\Compaq\MSD\Intel\iaahci.inf PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3B22&CC_0106 = c:\Compaq\MSD\Intel\iaahci.inf PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1C02&CC_0106 = c:\Compaq\MSD\Intel\iaahci.inf PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E02&CC_0106 = c:\Compaq\MSD\Intel\iaahci.inf

…where:

Dev 2822 is the device ID for Intel(R) Desktop/Workstation/Server Express Chipset SATA Controller Dev 3A02 is the device ID for Intel(R) ICH10D/DO SATA AHCI Controller

Dev 3A22 is the device ID for Intel(R) ICH10R SATA AHCI Controller Dev 2B22 is the device ID for Intel(R) PCH SATA AHCI Controller.

Dev 1C02 is the device ID for Intel(R) Desktop/Workstation/Server Express Chipset SATA AHCI Controller. DEV 1E02 is the device ID for Intel(R) 7 Series/C216 Chipset Family SATA RAID Controller.

3.Reboot the computer.

4.Enter F10 Setup and change SATA Emulation mode to AHCI.

5.Reboot the computer into Windows XP.

_GTF Support (HP 8100 and 8200 Business PCs only)

HP Elite 8000 and 8100 Business PCs support _GTF (Get Task File) AHCI control method when in AHCI mode. The Intel AHCI driver needs a registry key to enable _GTF for each port. This registry key has been added with the Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 image that ships with HP Elite 8100 and 8200 Business PCs.

For customers using their own image, the following key is required:

HKLM\System\CCS\Services\iaStor\Parameters\Port[X]

name:GTF

value: 0=disabled 1=enabled

…where [X] represents the physical AHCI port of the connected drive to be _GTF enabled. To enable _GTF support for all ports, set this value under each port (Port0, Port1...PortN).

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