P6T BIOS update - AHCI Q

[TVeblen]

I plan to update my P6T bios from v0202 to v0801 prior to a Windows 7
Install (weeks before). I've flashed a bios before, but never when dealing
with the AHCI issue.
When I built this rig I installed XP-SP3 in AHCI Mode with the correct BIOS
setting and the AHCI drivers.
My concern is that when I reset the BIOS to the defaults before flashing the
update, the Storage Configuration will be set to IDE mode before and after
the flash. When you "Exit and Save Changes" in the BIOS it proceeds directly
to loading XP - it does not reboot. What will happen if XP boots while in
IDE mode? It seems to me I want to get back into the BIOS after a successful
flash and immediately configure SATA as AHCI before the system boots into
XP.
I've experimented and CTRL-ALT-DEL does not work to reboot while XP is
loading. So what have others done? Do I just hit the reset button when I see
the XP splash screen? Let XP boot and blue screen and just restart? Will it
blue screen? Or am I over thinking this thing?
Thanks for any advice or comments in advance.

 

[Pen]

I plan to update my P6T bios from v0202 to v0801 prior to a Windows 7
Install (weeks before). I've flashed a bios before, but never when dealing
with the AHCI issue.
When I built this rig I installed XP-SP3 in AHCI Mode with the correct BIOS
setting and the AHCI drivers.
My concern is that when I reset the BIOS to the defaults before flashing the
update, the Storage Configuration will be set to IDE mode before and after
the flash. When you "Exit and Save Changes" in the BIOS it proceeds directly
to loading XP - it does not reboot. What will happen if XP boots while in
IDE mode? It seems to me I want to get back into the BIOS after a successful
flash and immediately configure SATA as AHCI before the system boots into
XP.
I've experimented and CTRL-ALT-DEL does not work to reboot while XP is
loading. So what have others done? Do I just hit the reset button when I see
the XP splash screen? Let XP boot and blue screen and just restart? Will it
blue screen? Or am I over thinking this thing?
Thanks for any advice or comments in advance.

You are over thinking this thing. If your drive is SATA the BIOS will
fail on the
hard drive choice and go looking for a CD. As long as you have no CDs,
external
drives, USB keys or similar it will grind to a halt. Then the 3 finger
salute should
restart the machine. If not then turn it off and restart. In no case
will it get to the
XP boot screen as XP is on the hard drive not the BIOS.
and you can restore your special settings.

 

[TVeblen]

You are over thinking this thing. If your drive is SATA the BIOS will fail
on the
hard drive choice and go looking for a CD. As long as you have no CDs,
external
drives, USB keys or similar it will grind to a halt. Then the 3 finger
salute should
restart the machine. If not then turn it off and restart. In no case will
it get to the
XP boot screen as XP is on the hard drive not the BIOS.
and you can restore your special settings.

The setting I am playing with is under MAIN > "Storage Configuration" >
"Configure SATA As" > "IDE Mode" or "IHCI SATA Mode". Either way it is a
SATA drive.
Does that change anything?
Thanks

 

[Pen]

The setting I am playing with is under MAIN > "Storage Configuration" >
"Configure SATA As" > "IDE Mode" or "IHCI SATA Mode". Either way it is a
SATA drive.
Does that change anything?
Thanks

Relax. Leave it at sata and hope the new bios stays there if
it doesn't don't worry about it. See my first post.

 

[TVeblen]

I plan to update my P6T bios from v0202 to v0801 prior to a Windows 7
Install (weeks before). I've flashed a bios before, but never when dealing
with the AHCI issue.
When I built this rig I installed XP-SP3 in AHCI Mode with the correct
BIOS setting and the AHCI drivers.
My concern is that when I reset the BIOS to the defaults before flashing
the update, the Storage Configuration will be set to IDE mode before and
after the flash. When you "Exit and Save Changes" in the BIOS it proceeds
directly to loading XP - it does not reboot. What will happen if XP boots
while in IDE mode? It seems to me I want to get back into the BIOS after a
successful flash and immediately configure SATA as AHCI before the system
boots into XP.
I've experimented and CTRL-ALT-DEL does not work to reboot while XP is
loading. So what have others done? Do I just hit the reset button when I
see the XP splash screen? Let XP boot and blue screen and just restart?
Will it blue screen? Or am I over thinking this thing?
Thanks for any advice or comments in advance.

For posterity
The flash went fine (nothing to worry about - thanks Pen ;-)
But the Bios did recognized the sata drives after setting defaults and it
did go right on to load the OS on one Save and Exit out of four. I just hit
the reset before the OS loaded - no issues there other than seeing the
Windows startup screen after all the bios work was done.