Converting from IDE to AHCI in Windows Vista

When you do a fresh install on Vista
First select to boot in IDE mode by selecting IDE in BIOS
After completing the install
Do the following

1. Click Start, type regedit in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
2. If you receive the User Account Control dialog box, click Continue.
3. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Msahci
4. In the right pane, right-click Start in the Name column, and then click Modify.
5. In the Value data box, type 0, and then click OK.
6. On the File menu, click Exit to close Registry Editor.

Restart and select AHCI in BIOS

This only applies when you are reformatting your computer from scratch from a Vista Install CD
If you are doing image recovery the above is already completed


From Microsoft Help & Support