GA-P35-DS3R Intel SATA AHCI controller disables Windows Update

[SiUK]

Hello

GA-P35-DS3R (rev. 1.0) mainboard F13 BIOS

UP until a few weeks ago I ran Windows XP from a Western Digital SATA drive attached to Port 0 on the onboard Intel SATA controller. In fact I had a total of two drives attached (Port 0 and 1) and also two SATA DVDRWs connected (ports 2 and 3) to the Intel ICH9 SATA ports. Never had any problems (trouble free for years) until I switched recently was persuaded to leave Windows XP and move to Windows 7.

Problem: Installing the Intel Matrix Storage Manager for the SATA controller functionality disables Windows Update in Windows 7

Windows 7 automatically installs "Standard AHCI 1.0 Serial ATA Controller" for the onboard Intel SATA controller. The GSATA controller is disabled in the BIOS as I don't need it. But the Standard AHCI 1.0 Serial ATA Controller doesn't really behave as it should. I therefore correctly updated the default Windows 7 SATA driver with the correct driver for my motherboard SATA controller (as always, and from the Gigabyte website) and it works perfectly, as expected. However, after it is installed (either by installing Intel Matrix Storage Manager or by manually updating via device manager) for some very odd reason it completely disables Windows update! This is completely repeatable. After searching I discovered that many other people have the same issue. Reverting to the Windows 7 Standard AHCI 1.0 Serial ATA Controller re-enables Windows update, terrific, but doesn't properly recognize devices attached to the controller. I have a Crucial SSD on Port 0 and a new Western Digital blue 1TB HDD on Port 2, and the SATA DVDRWs are on Ports 4 and 5 respectively. I don't know what do next. Everything works fine except for Windows update with the correct driver installed and with the Windows 7 default SATA driver installed Windows update works but there are problems with devices being properly recognized.

The installed Intel driver version is 8.9.0.1023 (isStor.sys). I cannot find another updated version. Any advice would be very much appreciated.

[autotech]

If you unplug all the USB devices and restart computer does that help. on a 6 year old motherboard it might actually be windows updates fault. Do you have the newest version of windows update installed. Here is a link to it and it caused me problems on a newer motherboard I had to do a clean wipe and reinstall windows before the new windows update  would work for me.


https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/949104

[SiUK]

Hi. Thanks for reply. Unfortunately I've already tried that, but without success.

As soon as the Intel AHCI SATA controller driver is uninstalled Windows Update returns to normal. But that doesn't help me at all as the default Windows 7 "Standard AHCI 1.0 Serial ATA Controller" installs all my blinkin' devices as ATA devices. To add insult to injury Windows 7 even (weirdly) puts my SSD in PIO4 mode using the default W7 AHCI driver. Obviously needs the correct driver, but that means I'm pretty much stuck between a rock and a hard place without any other solution.

I could uninstall and reinstall the Intel driver to update Windows every now but that is going to be a right PITA. Not practical really. On the Gigabyte website the motherboard overview boasted Windows 7 compatibility:

"Qualified for Windows® 7. The motherboard qualified for WHQL (Windows Hardware Quality Labs) certification of Windows 7 from Microsoft®, setting the standard for future Windows 7 certified motherboards"

Seems to be down to the Intel driver doing something it shouldn't, but I can't find a later one that supports the board. Anything 11.x.x.x upwards isn't compatible.

[SiUK]

A solution! I'm posting this in the hope that this information may help all the other poor souls who have been encountering the same odd and tricky problem.

This is a solution for people running Windows 7 and SATA devices in AHCI mode with any of the following controllers:

Intel AHCI Controllers:

Intel(R) ICH7R/DH SATA AHCI Controller
Intel(R) ICH7M/MDH SATA AHCI Controller
Intel(R) ICH9R/DO/DH SATA AHCI Controller <-- MINE
Intel(R) ICH9M-E/M SATA AHCI Controller
Intel(R) ICH10D/DO SATA AHCI Controller
Intel(R) ICH10R SATA AHCI Controller

Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology Drivers tested:

8.0.0.1039 [ORIGINAL CD]  <-- NO
8.9.0.1023 [GIGABYTE WEBSITE]  <-- NO
9.5.0.1037 [DRIVER SITE DOWNLOAD]  <-- NO
9.6.0.1014 [INTEL WEBSITE] <-- THIS FIXES IT
10.6.0.1022 [INTEL WEBSITE] <-- AND THIS ONE FIXES IT TOO!
11.7.0.1013 [INTEL WEBSITE] <-- NO
12.0.0.1083 [INTEL WEBSITE] <-- NO
12.5.0.1066 [INTEL WEBSITE] <-- NO
12.8.0.1016 [INTEL WEBSITE] <-- NO
12.9.0.1001 [INTEL WEBSITE] <-- NO
13.2.4.1000 [INTEL WEBSITE] <-- NO
14.6.0.1029 [INTEL WEBSITE] <-- NO


Tried every available version I could find and two 'fix' the issue! At last!

Download the floppy driver for your OS, go to device manager and open properties for "Standard AHCI 1.0 Serial ATA Controller" . If you've got another driver installed uninstall it first and restart and then do the aforementioned and choose to update the driver. Choose to browse to the folder containing version 10.6.0.1022 driver and let Windows search it. It will install the Intel SATA controller driver. Reboot! Windows Update should work now (it did for me).

Found the Intel drivers by searching via Google NOT searching directly on Intel's website...couldn't find them that way. Curious. Anyhow. 9.6.0.1014 fixed Windows update but I found and tried the later 10.6.0.1022 version and that worked as well:

20/05/2011
10.6.0.1022 [INTEL WEBSITE]
Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility Publisher


Nothing before 9.6.0.1014 or after 10.6.0.1022 in the list fixes the issue of Windows Update not functioning normally (not for me at least). My new Crucial SSD and WD HDD and DVDRWs are all recognised correctly and working as they should.

Blimey!

[autotech]

Glad you found the problem. As soon as I read your above post I was going to recommend an earlier driver but seems you beat me to it yourself.

[SiUK]

Hello again. 

I think it might be very helpful if Gigabyte updated the Intel SATA drivers for motherboards with this controller to a later version on their product support website as the one currently available clearly does not work without significant consequences under Windows 7. Okay, it's not a recent board but it is certified to work with Windows 7 and it's nonetheless still in use and actually still available to buy in some countries. Very popular board at the time and proven longevity.

And to be clear about the solution: you have to install a later driver not available on the Gigabyte site. The solution is not to install an earlier version as this won't fix anything.

Thanks

[obolo4go]

I just want to thank you, good man! I am owner of  GA-P35C-DS3R and had same problems with Windows Update and OX8000FFFF. And now I'm just happy! )))))