Does windows vista come with built in SATA drivers?

Question

Ive heard both yes and no, but can anyone tell me from experience or link to a reliable website (not a forum).

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Answer 1

Yes, Vista has Sata drivers. You must enter the bios before you install the OS and enabled AHCI mode, then install. Vista installs only the disk drivers that match the mode in the bios. If you want to be RAID ready, you will need to deal with the extra drivers during the OS installation. If you forget to set the mode for Sata before OS installation, you can do so afterwards in the registry. Here is a KB article outlining how to do so.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922976

I built my Vista system a few months back, and then realized my hard disk was set at IDE mode. I didn't know I had to install additional drivers during the installation. So, I searched Intel and found this KB article. Now, I performed these steps once, and got a blue screen. Well, first it refused to boot after it left the bios, then when I shut off and rebooted it blue screened. So, I thought that KB instructions didn't work. I was all set to reinstall Vista and manually add the additional drivers off of a floppy, but decided that I would try that KB one more time, which was just a couple days ago,and it did work.

I am unsure what I did wrong the first time, but I am glad I tried again. However, if I wish to have the drive RAID Ready, I will need to reinstall the OS in order to install the RAID drivers.

After I enabled the MSAHCI.SYS driver in the registry, entered the bios and changed the Sata mode from Enhanced, IDE, to Enhanced Sata, rebooted, and all went well, several components installed automatically. So, my drive is now faster, and has all the Sata features enabled.

The best way however, is to add the drivers through the "Add Additional Drivers" page during the Vista installation process. It is not difficult to do, but I didn't want to reinstall because I have my system setup exactly as I like it. lol

Good luck and have a nice day.

Answer 2

check this out: http://www.neowin.net/forum/lofiversion/...

you need to download them first, then before the install starts you can locate the drivers so you can use the HD

Answer 3

Yes... Microsoft provides SATA drivers for common and checked chipset such as Intel and nVidia.  Not all but most will be there.  Your chipset drivers are more likely to have optimized drivers though and if you go to the website of the MBs manufacturer, you can possibly find updated drivers that are even better.

Here's a MS site that describes when the SATA Optical drivers MAY NOT be there:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928253