AHCI BIOS error 23 after enabling AHCI from IDE mode

[thedriver]

Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P, rev1.6
BIOS FE.

I was trying to do a clean install of Windows 7 over the top of an existing Win7 install. Before starting the install, I switched the SATA controller to AHCI mode in the BIOS, but it wouldn't boot past the AHCI BIOS Screen, showing the following error:

Serial ATA AHCI Bios, Version iSRC 1.20E
Copyright (c) 2003-2008 Intel Corporation_________________________23
** This version supports only HardDisks & CDROM drives **
Please wait. This will take a few seconds.

Controller Bus#00, Device #1F, Function #02: 06 Ports, 04 Devices

If I set the SATA controller to IDE mode in the BIOS I can then install Win7, but when I set the SATA controller back to AHCI mode, (after changing the registry keys for the AHCI driver in Win7) a reboot gives the same AHCI error:

Serial ATA AHCI Bios, Version iSRC 1.20E
Copyright (c) 2003-2008 Intel Corporation_________________________23
** This version supports only HardDisks & CDROM drives **
Please wait. This will take a few seconds.

Controller Bus#00, Device #1F, Function #02: 06 Ports, 04 Devices

I have seen this same error posted on many other forums as well as Tweaktown, but haven't seen the resolution explained. Of most interest is sstalhman's post, but it doesn't quite explain how to fix it clearly enough that I can do it without being concerned about breaking everything.

I assume I need to:

• Use dskprobe or hxd to edit the partition table - how exactly?
• Write down bytes 0x1C3 and 0x1C4 (they'll be 0xFE and 0xFF with one partition, something smaller on a dual partition setup; doesn't matter, they're not used for anything important other than crashing your BIOS) - are these the correct values that I'm looking for when I'm trying to FIX the problem?
• Change these to something small: 0x06 and 0x05 will work nicely (giving you 7, 6, 5) - what should I change the values to when trying to FIX the problem?
• Save and reboot in AHCI mode

How do I go about fixing this please?


PS. When are Gigabyte going to fix this problem???

[wazza300]

Re: AHCI BIOS error 23 after enabling AHCI from IDE mode

did you do this? this is the way i enabled ahci in win7 after installing in ide mode

boot up into ide mode and make the changes

1. Startup "Regedit
2. Open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SYSTEM / CurrentControlset / Services
3. Open msahci
4. In the right field left click on "start" and go to Modify
5. In the value Data field enter "0" and click "ok"
6. exit "Regedit"
7. Reboot Rig and enter BIOS (hold "Delete" key while Booting

In your BIOS select "Integrated Peripherals" and OnChip PATA/SATA Devices. Now change SATA Mode to AHCI from IDE.

You now boot into windows 7, the OS will recognize AHCI and install the devices.

[Acebmxer]

Re: AHCI BIOS error 23 after enabling AHCI from IDE mode

what exact mother board do you have? Along with what bios is installed?

Have you tried to set the controller to raid? Raid uses ahci also but maybe it will pass. You can leave set to raid with a stand alone disk.

[thedriver]

Re: AHCI BIOS error 23 after enabling AHCI from IDE mode

did you do this? this is the way i enabled ahci in win7 after installing in ide mode

Thanks wazza300, yes that was the method I followed as I linked to the MS KB article.
Anyway, this is a BIOS problem, NOT an OS problem. If I hadn't completed those steps in the OS, I would have either a BSOD or a boot loop.
During boot the OS doesn't even start loading as it hangs on the AHCI BIOS as per the error.

what exact mother board do you have? Along with what bios is installed?
Have you tried to set the controller to raid? Raid uses ahci also but maybe it will pass.

Sorry, my bad, it's a Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P, rev1.6
BIOS FE.
No I haven't set it to RAID. I'm pretty sure the RAID BIOS is slower to boot than the AHCI and it's running as a HTPC so it's needs as quick a boot time as possible.

Regardless, this is a fault with the BIOS that I need to be able to fix. There are heaps of posts from people with the same problem, but no instructions to fix it with the hex editor.
Google - ahci isrc error 23
Google - bios ahci hang error 23

Further to this, after setting the SATA Controller to AHCI mode in the BIOS and trying to boot the OS, because the AHCI BIOS hangs, there is no way to re-enter the BIOS and change it back to IDE. You need to either disconnect the hard drives or clear the CMOS back to default. This happens because it goes through the POST checks including the AHCI BIOS before entering the BIOS configuration screen. Total pain in the ass!

[thedriver]

Re: AHCI BIOS error 23 after enabling AHCI from IDE mode

Have you tried to set the controller to raid? Raid uses ahci also but maybe it will pass. You can leave set to raid with a stand alone disk.

I just tried RAID mode on the SATA controller and get the same error on the SATA AHCI BIOS screen:

Serial ATA AHCI Bios, Version iSRC 1.20E
Copyright (c) 2003-2008 Intel Corporation****************** * * * * * * * 23
** This version supports only HardDisks & CDROM drives **
Please wait. This will take a few seconds.

[profJim]

Re: AHCI BIOS error 23 after enabling AHCI from IDE mode

Check out http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte...tml#post381120, post #35 for the procedure I used to install win7 x64 on an empty ssd.
There weren't any problems with AHCI enabled before I did a "custom" install on my P35-DS3L system.
RST could not be installed because the ICH9 chipset is not supported.
I hope this helps.

[ptruman]

Re: AHCI BIOS error 23 after enabling AHCI from IDE mode

Is your drive in SATA port 0?
I was getting freezing on 23 (and other numbers) with an SSD in port 0 on my Z68X. Moving to port 1 stopped the problem occurring.

[thedriver]

Re: AHCI BIOS error 23 after enabling AHCI from IDE mode

Check out http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte...tml#post381120, post #35 for the procedure I used to install win7 x64 on an empty ssd.
There weren't any problems with AHCI enabled before I did a "custom" install on my P35-DS3L system.

The cause of this problem is the partitions on the disk and the way the AHCI BIOS reads the partition information. I noticed you created 5 partitions on your disk; I think this resolved the problem before it even started.

Is your drive in SATA port 0?
I was getting freezing on 23 (and other numbers) with an SSD in port 0 on my Z68X. Moving to port 1 stopped the problem occurring.

Interesting. Yes, my boot disk is on SATA port 0.

POSSIBLE RESOLUTION:
I have actually found a simple fix for the problem.
I shrunk the Windows 7 System Reserved partition by 1MB to modify the partition information on the drive (I couldn't figure out how to do it with the hex editor).

Open Computer Management, then go to Disk Management, select the 100MB System Reserved partition on the boot drive and right click and select Shrink Volume. then shrink the volume by just 1MB.

I'd still like an actual solution to this (I've only applied a band aid fix).
Even more, I'd like Gigabyte (and other vendors) to fix the problem with the BIOS to prevent this from happening in the first place.

[ea3ot]

Re: AHCI BIOS error 23 after enabling AHCI from IDE mode

Same thing, Just equal happens to me with an X48T-DQ6 when i first install an SSD Patriot in IDE mode. I have never find a solution, and Im still using this SSD in IDE for that reason. About your Fix, I check my Disk C and I c,ant see any partition there for shrink. Do not exist in my case, Why? I d,ont know

[thedriver]

Re: AHCI BIOS error 23 after enabling AHCI from IDE mode

Same thing, Just equal happens to me with an X48T-DQ6 when i first install an SSD Patriot in IDE mode. I have never find a solution, and Im still using this SSD in IDE for that reason. About your Fix, I check my Disk C and I c,ant see any partition there for shrink. Do not exist in my case, Why? I d,ont know

Hi ea3ot,
You could try to shrink the volume of your C: drive by 1MB and see if that works, but I don't think it will.

Otherwise, if you have only recently installed Windows 7 on you Patriot SSD, then I would suggest reinstalling Windows on the SSD to create the correct partitions (including the System Reserved Recovery partition). Backup any data first then reinstall Windows. During the Windows installation process delete any partitions that exist on your Patriot SSD, then select the Patriot SSD as your installation location; do not create any partitions first.
The Windows installation process should create a 100MB System Reserved partition which you can later resize.
Windows will also automatically align the partitions on the SSD for optimum performance.

Please let us know how you go as there are a LOT of people out there that have this problem. But unfortunately, I haven't found any other answers.

[ea3ot]

Re: AHCI BIOS error 23 after enabling AHCI from IDE mode

First of all thanks for your help. I have dowlnload Parted Magic and I have made an ISO CD. With this CD I will make a Secure Earse of the SSD and clean my C:disk. Once it,s done, I will reboot in the Bios and change to ACHI and again reboot but this time with de W7 DVD. I hope that works. Need work. The problem as you say is switch from IDE to AHCI with no formatting., but if you formatt all must be run ok ( I hope).

Guide Secure Erase With bootable CD/USB Linux.. Point and Click Method

[thedriver]

Re: AHCI BIOS error 23 after enabling AHCI from IDE mode

First of all thanks for your help. I have dowlnload Parted Magic and I have made an ISO CD. With this CD I will make a Secure Earse of the SSD and clean my C:disk. Once it,s done, I will reboot in the Bios and change to ACHI and again reboot but this time with de W7 DVD. I hope that works. Need work. The problem as you say is switch from IDE to AHCI with no formatting., but if you formatt all must be run ok ( I hope).

I wouldn't suggest using secure erase on an SSD. SSDs are not designed to be written to with such intensity, you will potentially shorten the life span of your SSD. Check with Patriot first what their recommendation is.
I would suggest just using the Windows installation to delete your partitions. You should see Windows create a 100MB system partition during the install.

[ea3ot]

Re: AHCI BIOS error 23 after enabling AHCI from IDE mode

Thanks for the advice... as you see this Guide is from the OCZ forums. I will check in Patriot web side. , And BTW, have you finally switch to ACHI reformatting or not?, and if u consider the long time and efforts of reformatting and loading all your sofwtare again that AHCI mode pay for all that heavy job ???

[profJim]

Re: AHCI BIOS error 23 after enabling AHCI from IDE mode

For me, the main advantage to AHCI is the hot swap drive feature.
A web search using: ahci vs ide performance
will show that there are some benefits with each mode for consumer use. Servers with heavy use ahci mode.
Using secure erase before you reinstall the operating system resets your ssd to factory performance levels.
I don't have a problem with using secure erase, as long as it isn't used frequently.

I don't have a separate Recovery partition on my ssd because I formatted the drive to use all available space before I installed the operating system. My ssd has an inaccessible Recovery folder on the ssd. This setup requires a single partition backup image instead of having to backup two partition images each time. Both of my ssd boot drives have been trouble free, even though my backup system doesn't have AHCI because the N650SLI-DS4 has an Nvidia chipset.

[ea3ot]

Re: AHCI BIOS error 23 after enabling AHCI from IDE mode

Well, I finally use AHCI in the pc. . The SSD Disk benchmark is much better, by far than before in IDE. I did formatt , it was the only way in my case 1.5 days bussy with the PC...Next step soon will be change my old 775 to a new 1155, Around Christmas, Im still thinking what MB I gonna buy