I am experiencing the same difficulties as well. Hope to see it solved soon. Thx.

Yes I agree with Devilhood

Yeah, it just feels like Dell are trying a little too hard to make their systems newbie proof, cutting any real kind of configurability and functionality. AHCI is a critical feature in my opinion, especially now that SATA-II is completely standardized. They've been through 8 BIOS revisions already and still haven't addressed the issue. It would greatly benefit those working with Audio and Video production if they include this support.. but then again, they did decide to use Ricoh Firewire which is very bad for M-Audio users; Texas Instruments is the standard. I really do feel sorry for M-Audio users and their troubles with getting their hardware to work properly under XP (been there, done that, I think the Macbook has got that whole multimedia side sorted). I'm not out to bash the Inspiron, but there are a few nagging issues that are really starting to make me consider looking for something else.

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@devilhood wrote:
I fail to see why a modern laptop system such as the Inspiron 9400/E1705 does not have the option to specifically enable AHCI (Advanced Host Configuration Interface) when the Intel ICH7-M platform clearly supports it.

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I can only agree on that. Unfortunately also the Inspiron E1505/6400 BIOS is facing the same BIOS-related problems. It shouldn't require a rocket scientist to fix this issue.

I completely agree to this. Lack of AHCI support is driving me completely crazy.

I have just updated my Inspiron 6400 BIOS to A14, but AHCI is still not supported and the ACPI options are very limited compared to what I am used to from other BIOS. :-(

Yeah.

No point in voicing our opinion to the tech support on the phone because they wont listen (or even understand) so I'm running out of ideas :(

I really hope they take note from this thread.

Please DELL! Fix the BIOS for E1705 to give us AHCI support.

I'd say this is now an even more important issue especially when Linux is growing in popularity, more and more people are going away from the old-gen SATA rubbish and prefer to equip themselves with the latest and fastest NCQ compatible drive.

Dell's turn-around for fixing problems and adding support is pretty low from what I can tell, as they still haven't fixed the major Dell 1390/1490/1500 Wireless audio stutter problems with Vista users yet.

*bump* It seems that the Dell still hasn't implemented AHCI mode in the latest BIOS versions for Inspiron 6400/E1505, 9400/E1705. Is there any chance this will be implemented in a future BIOS revision? Any chance that our request is read by a BIOS-developer at Dell?

I have an Inspiron E1505 which has pretty much the same configuration as an E1705. I would also like such an AHCI option in the BIOS to enable this feature. Unless Intel compiles a driver which enable the AHCI itself or via a control panel applet, I do not see another way to enable the feature.

devilhood: are you the same person who wrote a guide to install Mac OS on Inspiron 1[457]05 on the Insanely Mac forum?

Message Edited by AlxMAX on 07-07-2007 05:44 PM

I don't know why either, I really wish that this could be added. If it isn't soon I will for shure be getting rid of my Dell and buying something else with AHCI mode. PLEASE DELL, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I completely agree to this with this, AHCI MUST be enabled.

Well, even though this issue has escalated to their technical department, it would seem Dell have unfortunately ditched support for the 9400 since the release of the new 1520/1720 range.
Both those models have AHCI.

I am absolutely appauled at Dell's attitude with this.

@ AlxMAX: Yes I am the same person :)