Switch RAID to AHCI without reinstalling Windows 10

Question

My Dell XPS 9560 uses RAID as a SATA controller mode.

After I change it to AHCI, the Windows 10 will not boot.

What should I do if I don't want to reinstall Windows 10?

_{RAID = Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks, wikipedia link.

AHCI = Advanced Host Controller Interface, wikipedia link.}

Vlastimil Burián · Answer 1 · 2021-02-28T08:30:48.733

71

There is actually another way around this. Before you begin, make sure you remember your PC password (not PIN), or else you would be stuck in safe mode forever (with this way of entering safe mode). Also, I advise you to disable BitLocker before entering safe mode, or else you would probably need to provide a very long code to unlock your computer (not tested).

Booting into Safe Mode will work even though the storage mode has been changed... Windows will notice the change and load the correct driver on the next normal boot. Basically that means, you can do this:

Run cmd as administrator (not PowerShell, you would have to escape {...})
Copy-paste this command, which will start Windows in Safe Mode the next time you reboot:
```
bcdedit /set {current} safeboot minimal
```
Restart the computer and enter UEFI/BIOS setup.
Change the SATA operation mode from RAID to AHCI.
Save changes and exit Setup and Windows will automatically boot to Safe Mode.
Launch cmd again, as in step #1.
Copy-paste this command, which will start Windows in Normal Mode the next time you reboot:
```
bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safeboot
```
Reboot and Windows will automatically start with AHCI drivers enabled.

Note: Switching to AHCI is essential if you want to install any Linux as RAID mode is to my knowledge not supported, so you would not see your drive(s) in the installation menu.

edited Feb 28 '21 at 08:30

answered Sep 19 '18 at 07:54

Vlastimil Burián

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Thanks, this was the solution in my case. I installed Fedora along side my Windows installation on an XPS laptop, but to do so, I had to switch to AHCI so Fedora could see my storage drives. After doing so, Windows wouldn't boot. This allowed me to use Windows in AHCI. Thanks again. – root Mar 02 '19 at 15:29
5

This worked for me on a Dell Precision laptop. However, instead of using command prompt I just set Windows 10 to boot once to safe mode by going to Change advanced startup options -> Adanced startup ->Troubleshoot -> Advanced options ->Startup Settings -> Restart. Then change SATA to AHCI before booting to safe mode and the SATA driver updates automatically once safe mode boot completes. – Teddy Ort May 31 '20 at 00:59
3

@TeddyOrt You are correct, that is also an option, but a bit cumbersome for me, so I'll leave the original command in place. Thanks for the info still, cheers! – Vlastimil Burián May 31 '20 at 07:00
Thanks! I just swapped my Alienware's SSD for a Samsung 970 Evo Plus and wasn't able to install the NVME Express drivers due to the RAID setup; thanks to this I was able to change it to AHCI painlessly and now my SSD runs like a demon. – alejandrormz Jun 19 '20 at 16:15
Thx - worked for me on a (rather old) Acer Veriton. – AcK Jan 11 '21 at 23:08
this solution worked for me with Asus VivoBook 15 – Nasik Ahd Sep 30 '21 at 16:21
2

This just worked for me on a Latitude 5420 with Win10 21H1, although there are various posts from Dell techies on Dell's fora saying it's impossible and you must reinstall. Afterwards I could confirm that Ubuntu Unity 21.10 was able to see and read/write my NVMe SSD. – Liam Proven Nov 08 '21 at 11:06
1

@LiamProven Yeah, everyone _recommends_ clean install in spite there is this very simple solution. – Vlastimil Burián Nov 08 '21 at 12:56
amazing, thank you very much :) – DevDonkey Nov 21 '21 at 18:24
@DevDonkey My pleasure ;) – Vlastimil Burián Nov 21 '21 at 18:51
1

This worked for me, except I just used the Windows 10 settings way of booting into safe mode on next reboot. Before going into safe mode I disabled RST. – Constructor Dec 19 '21 at 21:59
1

@Constructor Glad it worked for you. Just to point out, it's unnecessary to disable Intel Rapid Storage Technology before doing this. – Vlastimil Burián Dec 19 '21 at 22:51
1

Tried and worked perfectly. Installed Ubuntu on Dell XPS desktop that previously had Windows 11 installed with RAID On in BIOS. Now both Windows and Ubuntu appear in boot and work fine. – Mohamed Abdelhamid Dec 22 '22 at 19:32
1

@MohamedAbdelhamid You are most welcome, mate! ️ – Vlastimil Burián Dec 22 '22 at 21:24
1

Worked on my xps17. Had been following Ubuntu's notes on how to change from RST to get Ubuntu installed. – pa1983 Aug 28 '23 at 22:12
@pa1983 Glad it's still working and helping people! Cheers – Vlastimil Burián Aug 29 '23 at 19:05

score 11 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 03 '21 at 07:11

11

Warning: If you have bitlocker enabled, save your recovery key elsewhere (or write it on paper) before attempting to change to AHCI. You will need it for safe mode boot.

If windows fails to boot three times, it lets you boot into safe mode. When it shows the Choose an option screen, get to safe mode: Troubleshoot -> Advanced Options -> Advanced Startup Options -> Startup Settings -> Restart. Once restarted, choose 4 (safe mode).

Once the computer has booted into safe mode (and automatically installed the AHCI driver), you are free to restart normally.

answered Feb 03 '21 at 07:11

jnnnnn

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This is enough for me. No need to type commands. – criticabug Dec 21 '21 at 03:55
This is the much better solution. No risk of getting stuck in safe mode, no admin password required, no commands needed. – Raoul Steffen Jan 30 '22 at 14:54

I say Reinstate Monica · Accepted Answer · 2018-09-19T10:54:43.943

8

You need to install the correct driver for your AHCI storage controller before changing the mode in the BIOS.

If you don't do so, after switching the mode Windows cannot load the storage controller driver needed to access the boot volume. Because this driver is loaded before the Plug and Play Manager, Windows can't automatically detect or otherwise search for the correct driver.

Pre-installing the driver should solve this.

That said, you don't mention the reason you want to do this, but if it's for reason of performance, in my experience there's no difference between the two modes on Dell XPS machines.

edited Sep 19 '18 at 10:54

answered Dec 26 '17 at 13:27

I say Reinstate Monica

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This information is wrong and misleading, and should *not* be the top answer. It is not necessary to reinstall storage drivers. Windows will do this itself if started in Safe Mode. – Liam Proven Jul 22 '22 at 12:35

Switch RAID to AHCI without reinstalling Windows 10

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