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Hot swap SATA hard drive on Asus P6T Deluxe

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c627627

c(n*199780) Senior Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2002
Hot swap SATA hard drive on Asus P6T Deluxe using AHCI


I have one of those "Turn any drive into a hot swappable USB drive" adapters, only I now want to hot swap my hard drive using the SATA connector on my motherboard and not through USB. In other words I want the internal hard drive to be permanently connected with a SATA cable and then just flick the adapter power switch on and have it appear in Windows like an external hard drive would.


EDIT: Resolved!


EDIT #2: As discussed here http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6623151
it appears we may have to use a SATA to eSATA cable because SATA to SATA requires extra steps. Another Edit: I now hear that Asus P6T Deluxe may not have a hot swappable eSATA port, only the SATA connections are hot-swappable, not eSATA...

EDIT # 3: Make sure you know which controllers your motherboard has and update them with latest drivers or else you'll have problems! Mine had two or three and it all worked only after I updated to latest drivers:

Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility 9.1.2.1007 was installed on Windows 7 but not on Windows XP originally. I believe this was the cause of original problems.

This entire topic is probably only about simply running Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility 9.1.2.1007 and Marvell 6121 SATA Driver v1.2.0.69 update so that all controllers are updated with latest drivers because original ones could not handle hot swapping correctly.






My tests showed that when I installed a PCI SATA card, AHCI would only work for drives connected to the PCI card itself. Windows XP did not make any modifications to allow AHCI for use later if you went back to motherboard SATA connections. Here are the tested details to make things easier:




To be able to power on / plug in your internal hard drive without shutting down your Windows XP computer:


1. Check to see if file iaStor.sys is in your \Windows\System32\Drivers\ folder. If not, go here and download the Intel Matrix Storage Manager: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=17882

File names change for updated versions but for the example of IATA89ENU.exe file downloaded to C: drive: Start Menu > Run... > C:\IATA89ENU.exe -a -a

Now go to \Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\Driver to find and copy iaStor.sys to your \Windows\System32\Drivers\ folder.


[Note that you can't just double click on IATA89ENU.exe]



2. Figure out which ICH your motherboard uses by looking it up here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_chipsets

If it's ICH8R, ICH9R, or ICH10R, then copy and paste the corresponding lines below into Notepad and Save As a file with a .reg extension. Double click on it > Yes.


3. Reboot into BIOS and switch to AHCI mode.


4. When prompted, select Install from a list or specific location (Advanced) > Next > Don't search. I will choose the driver to install. > Next > Next > Have Disk… button > Browse… to
\Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\winall\Driver

Done and here are the reg files:


For ICH10R:

Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

;
; Important: The File iastor.sys has to be present in the System32\Drivers folder.
;


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_3A22&cc_0106]
"Service"="iaStor"
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor]
"Type"=dword:00000001
"Start"=dword:00000000
"Group"="SCSI miniport"
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
"ImagePath"=hex(2):73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,44,00,\
  52,00,49,00,56,00,45,00,52,00,53,00,5c,00,69,00,61,00,53,00,74,00,6f,00,72,\
  00,2e,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,00,00
"Tag"=dword:00000019
"DisplayName"="Intel AHCI Controller"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor\Parameters]
"queuePriorityEnable"=dword:00000000
"BusType"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor\Enum]
"0"="PCI\\VEN_8086&DEV_3A22&SUBSYS_B0051458&REV_01\\3&13c0b0c5&0&FA"
"Count"=dword:00000001
"NextInstance"=dword:00000001

For ICH9R:


Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_2922&cc_0106]
"Service"="iaStor"
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor]
"Type"=dword:00000001
"Start"=dword:00000000
"Group"="SCSI miniport"
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
"ImagePath"="system32\\drivers\\iaStor.sys"
"tag"=dword:00000019
"DisplayName"="Intel AHCI Controller"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor\Parameters]
"queuePriorityEnable"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor\Enum]
"0"="PCI\\VEN_8086&DEV_2922&SUBSYS_B0051458&REV_02 \\3&13c0b0c5&0&FA"
"Count"=dword:00000001
"NextInstance"=dword:00000001


For ICH8R:


Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_2821&cc_0106]
"Service"="iaStor"
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor]
"Type"=dword:00000001
"Start"=dword:00000000
"Group"="SCSI miniport"
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
"ImagePath"="system32\\drivers\\iaStor.sys"
"tag"=dword:00000019
"DisplayName"="Intel AHCI Controller"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor\Parameters]
"queuePriorityEnable"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor\Enum]
"0"="PCI\\VEN_8086&DEV_2821&SUBSYS_B0051458&REV_02 \\3&13c0b0c5&0&FA"
"Count"=dword:00000001
"NextInstance"=dword:00000001



Of course, for Windows 7/Vista:

Before switching to AHCI, simply change the value of the following registry keys to 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Msahci
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\IastorV






_____________________
Intel i7 920 [200] BCLK x 19 = 3.80 GHz @ [1.4000] CPU Voltage & [1.35000] QPI/DRAM Uncore Voltage, Batch 3836A394
3 x 1GB G.SKIL DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) [DDR3-1691MHz] 10-10-10-24 @ 1.64 DRAM Bus Voltage
ASUS P6T Deluxe v.1 [LGA 1366 Intel X58]BIOS 1606
Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme 1366 RT with 120mm Scythe S-Flex F fan
ASUS EAH4850 Radeon HD 4850 1GB DDR3 @ 625 MHz GPU & 1986 MHz Memory
OCZ Agility 60GB SSD
Asus Xonar DX sound card
Antec nine hundred case, two front 120mm fans, one back 120mm Fan, one top 200mm fan
Corsair CMPSU-750TX 750W
 
Last edited:
You do need AHCI or RAID enabled for hot-swapping. I haven't used an adapter power switch, but I can just plug the SATA data and power connectors to a HDD/SSD and then it shows up in Windows.

Have you tried that? Just to make sure the adapter switch isn't causing a problem somehow.
 
Do I have to enable AHCI in BIOS to do this because I blue screen when I do that or can I leave it in IDE mode?
Yes. The reason you bluscreen is that you can't boot into windows in AHCI mode if you have windows loading the IDE drivers. Before switching to AHCI in bios you need to tell windows to load the AHCI drives. Instructions. Then, I believe, you will have to install you chipsets AHCI drivers, because the Microsoft ones do not support hot swap.
 
Informative post :thup:

Is the reason I didn't have to tell Windows to load the drives or install drivers because I installed Windows with RAID enabled? Just wondering since I didn't have to do anything to get it to work.
 
Informative post :thup:

Is the reason I didn't have to tell Windows to load the drives or install drivers because I installed Windows with RAID enabled? Just wondering since I didn't have to do anything to get it to work.
If you have AHCI/RAID enabled when you install Vista/7 it is will set things up correctly on its own.
 
I think we went over this before and that you can set things up on your current Windows Vista/7 installation... but for Windows XP, I think the conclusion was that there is nothing that could be done and you had to install Windows XP from scratch to get AHCI or Raid enabled...


Is there anything that can be done to enable AHCI on a current Windows XP installation?
 
Last edited:
Do I connect the SATA drive to regular SATA connector or to SAS connector in order to hot swap it? Do I use regular or SAS cables? Can SAS cables be used instead of SATA cables on any system if you don't have SATA cables?


 

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Last edited:
Thanks for the link, I was going to try the simpler raid card then back to motherboard method but since I won't get my old raid card before next week, I may as well try that link.


The guide starts by saying "copy and paste the following lines into that reg-file and save it (use the right content for your controller (ICH8R, ICH9R and ICH7DH)."


So, only of of the three listed? Which one for Asus P6T Deluxe? The next step says to copy the iaStor.sys file and tries to explain where to get it but the method described does not get me iaStor.sys...
 
OK, will use that one. Where in the mobo manual does it specify which ICH it is, in case people need to do this on different mobos?

Where is the Intel Matrix Storage Manager-Packet (IATA621_CD.EXE)?



I want to find out how to do this anyway but the real reason why I wanted to do it is to protect a 2TB SATA drive. They are notorious for their unreliability so I thought I would extend its life by *only* turning it on with a power switch whenever I actually needed the data from it which is not very often.


Does hot plugging have any affect on its longevity? Perhaps I should just use superfast shutdown to switch the PC off, switch on the hard drive (I have it connected to external power with a switch), then start the computer again and do that instead of turning it on while the computer is running using AHCI related methods...
 
Last edited:
I suppose we got all the parts now. Thank you!


My remaining questions are:
• Technically, I could install an empty PCI SATA card first in Windows XP, then switch Windows XP hard drive to it, then enable AHCI.

After this is all done, then I could remove the card and switch back to the motherboard because the drivers would already be there?

EDIT: Tested not to work for me. I could only install a PCI SATA card and AHCI would only work for drives connected to the PCI card itself.


• Do I connect the SATA drive to regular SATA connector or to SAS RAID connector on motherboard in order to hot swap it? Do I use regular or SAS cables? Can SAS cables be used instead of SATA cables on any system if you don't have SATA cables? (see picture in post#7 of this thread.)
 
Last edited:
• Technically, I could install an empty PCI SATA card first in Windows XP, then switch Windows XP hard drive to it, then enable AHCI.

After this is all done, then I could remove the card and switch back to the motherboard because the drivers would already be there?
I have no idea. I suppose it might work.
• Do I connect the SATA drive to regular SATA connector or to SAS RAID connector on motherboard in order to hot swap it? Do I use regular or SAS cables? Can SAS cables be used instead of SATA cables on any system if you don't have SATA cables? (see picture in post#7 of this thread.)
Yes, as long as the SAS driver supports hot swap, you can hood the SATA drive up to it.
 
My tests showed that when I installed a PCI SATA card, AHCI would only work for drives connected to the PCI card itself. Windows XP did not make any modifications to allow AHCI for use later if you went back to motherboard SATA connections. So now, since the original guide is confusing, here are the tested details to make things easier:




To be able to power on / plug in your internal hard drive without shutting down your Windows XP computer:


1. Check to see if file iaStor.sys is in your \Windows\System32\Drivers\ folder. If not, go here and download the Intel Matrix Storage Manager: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=17882

File names change for updated versions but for the example of IATA89ENU.exe file downloaded to C: drive: Start Menu > Run... > C:\IATA89ENU.exe -a -a

Now go to \Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\Driver to find and copy iaStor.sys to your \Windows\System32\Drivers\ folder.


[Note that you can't just double click on IATA89ENU.exe]



2. Figure out which ICH your motherboard uses by looking it up here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_chipsets

If it's ICH8R, ICH9R, or ICH10R, then copy and paste the corresponding lines below into Notepad and Save As a file with a .reg extension. Double click on it > Yes.


3. Reboot into BIOS and switch to AHCI mode.


4. When prompted, select Install from a list or specific location (Advanced) > Next > Don't search. I will choose the driver to install. > Next > Next > Have Disk… button > Browse… to
\Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\winall\Driver

Done and here are the reg files:



For ICH10R:

Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

;
; Important: The File iastor.sys has to be present in the System32\Drivers folder.
;


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_3A22&cc_0106]
"Service"="iaStor"
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor]
"Type"=dword:00000001
"Start"=dword:00000000
"Group"="SCSI miniport"
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
"ImagePath"=hex(2):73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,44,00,\
  52,00,49,00,56,00,45,00,52,00,53,00,5c,00,69,00,61,00,53,00,74,00,6f,00,72,\
  00,2e,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,00,00
"Tag"=dword:00000019
"DisplayName"="Intel AHCI Controller"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor\Parameters]
"queuePriorityEnable"=dword:00000000
"BusType"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor\Enum]
"0"="PCI\\VEN_8086&DEV_3A22&SUBSYS_B0051458&REV_01\\3&13c0b0c5&0&FA"
"Count"=dword:00000001
"NextInstance"=dword:00000001

For ICH9R:


Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_2922&cc_0106]
"Service"="iaStor"
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor]
"Type"=dword:00000001
"Start"=dword:00000000
"Group"="SCSI miniport"
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
"ImagePath"="system32\\drivers\\iaStor.sys"
"tag"=dword:00000019
"DisplayName"="Intel AHCI Controller"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor\Parameters]
"queuePriorityEnable"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor\Enum]
"0"="PCI\\VEN_8086&DEV_2922&SUBSYS_B0051458&REV_02 \\3&13c0b0c5&0&FA"
"Count"=dword:00000001
"NextInstance"=dword:00000001


For ICH8R:


Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_2821&cc_0106]
"Service"="iaStor"
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor]
"Type"=dword:00000001
"Start"=dword:00000000
"Group"="SCSI miniport"
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
"ImagePath"="system32\\drivers\\iaStor.sys"
"tag"=dword:00000019
"DisplayName"="Intel AHCI Controller"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor\Parameters]
"queuePriorityEnable"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStor\Enum]
"0"="PCI\\VEN_8086&DEV_2821&SUBSYS_B0051458&REV_02 \\3&13c0b0c5&0&FA"
"Count"=dword:00000001
"NextInstance"=dword:00000001
 
Last edited:
Of course, for Windows 7/Vista:

Before switching to AHCI, simply change the value of the following registry keys to 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Msahci
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\IastorV
 
Does anyone know if you can hot swap SATA DVD drives this way, just like you can hard drives?
 
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