No IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers Aurora R4 WIN7 64 BIT

Question

Firstly, I know this is not the first post about this subject so please dont close it. I have read the other posts, however I found no answer that helped me, so I apologise in advance if this may involve some repetiton.

Aurora R4, WIN7 64 BIT

I clean installed win 7 on a samsung 840 series pro SSD, and currently cannot get the full performance out of it, and I believe it is to do with the lack of the IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers appearing in the Device Manager.

Using the Samsung magicion software v4.0.1 under the System Info section I am showing no IDE devices, but i am showing SCSI devices ....

My other half also has identical Aurora R4 which I clean installed WIN7 64 bit onto an identical Samsung SSD 840 Series Pro SSD, and her PC shows the IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers and gets the full SSD performance.

On my PC, under Device Manager, I get a section 'Storage Controllers' which shows 'Intel(R) C600 Series Chipset SATA AHCI Controller'

All help appreciated.

Tesla1856 · Accepted Answer

I did intially install Intel RST, I have uninstalled it, but it still has the Storage controller, rather than IDE ATA/Atapi mention. How do I reinstall the Microsoft driver, and do i need to delete any other drivers?

I have never been able to uninstall Intel-RST cleanly. You can upgrade it, but not un-install it. If you want to do that, I suggest you clean install Win7-64 and Acronis Image right before installing it. Re-Image to get rid of it or back-track. My system works fine without it.

Our machines look similar, but actually pretty different (motherboard and drivers).

Tesla1856 · Answer

I think only 2 of the SATA ports are SATA-600. Others are SATA-300.

Intel Chipset drivers determine what shows up in Device Manager.

I recommend not ever installing Intel-RST, but if you do ... it will also change how SATA ports are identified in DM because the core Microsoft HDD driver gets swapped out.

These are the variables that could be different between the 2 systems. Also, things like SSD firmware. Would have to see the actual benchmark numbers to see if difference is a real problem or normal discrepancy.

Sphinxy · Answer

According to Magician, the SSD is connected to a Sata 6Gb/s connection, so I guess it is in the right drive bay, but I will double check.

If I re-install Windows again, and don't install the Intel RST might this give me back the IDE ATA/ATAPi controller?

Also the fact that we have 2 identical machines, and 1 works as expected, as the other doesnt is kinda weird if you know what I mean :(

Tesla1856 · Answer

Ok I know what you mean, as in conceptually, but I have no idea how you actually do that, partition, dual boot etc on the SSD, to test theory, idiots instructions would be truly appreciated, and sounds like it would save me a lot of time too.

Use these but use your Win7-64 DVDROM instead of Win-8. They came with Win7, right?

http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/p/19473432/20216534.aspx#20216534

Sphinxy · Answer

When I meant the 2 machines are identical, they really are - we ordered 2 at the same time, 1 was replaced as it died after 3 days ... and a new one was delivered about 3 weeks later to replace the dead one. So they are only about 4 weeks apart in terms of build time. The machines were both new end of Jan 2013, Feb 2013.

I am tempted to bring my old XPS 730 up to date, and re-install the R4, then I can see what it actually has with nothing else installed.

I will miss fast booting for a couple of days, but may be worth it ... hopefully:) And if it solves the problem, it will be like getting a new toy all over again:):)

Tesla1856 · Answer

1. Hi, Thank you for your reply, I understood some of it;) As far as benchmarks go, sequential and random read is fine, but sequential and random write is about 230 mb/sec and random iops is about 4000, and should be more like 60000-90000.

2. Also the Magician software is unable to authenticate that the Samsugn SSD is actually authentic, like it has a comunication problem.

1. Ya, those IOPS are way off (even for a Sata-300 port) ... see below.

2. Check BIOS SSD reporting to make sure they hooked the bays up to proper port. Try a new Sata-3(600) cable. Check firmware in a working machine or on Sata-2 port. That is very strange and likely pointing to a problem.

Here's mine on Aurora R1 (x58 with Sata-2 port):

Samsung 830 256gb MLC (Sata-3) SSD

Seq. Read: 265
Seq. Write: 251
IOPS Random Read: 46924
IOPS Random Write: 35784

----------

Western Digital 1000gb 7200rpm (Sata-2) Spinning HDD

Seq. Read: 124
Seq. Write: 119
IOPS Random Read: 282
IOPS Random Write: 237

Tesla1856 · Answer

How do I check Bios SSD reporting to see if correctly hooked up?   SSD should be on one-of-the-two lowest port numbers ... 0,1 or 1,2 .

Sphinxy · Answer

Ok, umm, in Dm, right clicking on the SSD, it says it is in Location Bus 0, is that what you mean? or do I need to go into the BIOS?

Tesla1856 · Answer

Ok, umm, in Dm, right clicking on the SSD, it says it is in Location Bus 0, is that what you mean? or do I need to go into the BIOS?

When troubleshooting HDD, I check the core/basic stuff first (cables, BIOS settings, drive firmware, etc.).

If all that looks good, then I move to Windows.

Sphinxy · Answer

Ok I know what you mean, as in conceptually, but I have no idea how you actually do that, partition, dual boot etc on the SSD, to test theory, idiots instructions would be truly appreciated, and sounds like it would save me a lot of time too.

Sphinxy · Answer

How do I check Bios SSD reporting to see if correctly hooked up?

Sphinxy · Answer

Hi, Thank you for your reply, I understood some of it;) As far as benchmarks go, sequential and random read is fine, but sequential and random write is about 230 mb/sec and random iops is about 4000, and should be more like 60000-90000. Also the Magician software is unable to authenticate that the Samsugn SSD is actually authentic, like it has a comunication problem.

I did intially install Intel RST, I have uninstalled it, but it still has the Storage controller, rather than IDE ATA/Atapi mention. How do I reinstall the Microsoft driver, and do i need to delete any other drivers?

Again, help appreciated.

Tesla1856 · Answer

I am tempted to bring my old XPS 730 up to date, and re-install the R4, then I can see what it actually has with nothing else installed.

It's easy and fast to setup a dual boot and install another copy of Windows on a separate partition on 840-Pro to test your theory.

Tesla1856 · Answer

1. If I re-install Windows again, and don't install the Intel RST might this give me back the IDE ATA/ATAPi controller?

2. Also the fact that we have 2 identical machines, and 1 works as expected, as the other doesnt is kinda weird if you know what I mean :(

1. It will then be using Microsoft HDD driver. I don't have an Aurora-R4 to answer your actual question, sorry.

2. As I said above, there are many things that could be different with the hardware build, software, drivers, firmware, etc. It's only relevant because you now know it can work better on an Aurora R4. You can use the good machine to compare stuff or just fix yours like other doesn't exist.

Sphinxy · Answer

Ok, firmware on SSD is up to date, using Magician v4.0.1, PC is only 6 weeks old, so cables better be ok (if you know what I mean), BIOS settings are the same as other R4, so i think that should be ok. Sequential and random read speeds are fine, circa 550mb/sec and 90000 IOPS, just the write that is not up to par.

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No IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers Aurora R4 WIN7 64 BIT

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