possible problem: sb750 + 12.1 ahci driver bsod (and 11.12 revert workaround)

[AlleyViper]

Hi, I'm just warning about the installation of the latest 12.1 ahci driver on older SB750 MBs and w7 x64.
After updating from the previous 11.12 ahci driver (1.2.001.0317), the newer 1.2.001.0321 present on the newer 12.1 sb package can't boot a windows OS drive resulting on a STOP: 0x0000007B BSOD. This hasn't been the case in many consecutive months of newer ahci packages.

edit 3/14/12: Go to post #2 for fix
edit 25/4/14: Go to post #2 for W8/W8B fix

long version:

Booting in Native IDE mode could get me into windows, but the problem is that even uninstalling the "AMD Sata Controller" and removing it's 1.2.001.0321 driver (only visible by show hidden devices + list non present devices reg fix) the system will fail to boot with the same BSOD. In this case Windows auto reverts* to the previous 1.2.001.0317 which shouldn't BSOD, but it still does. Also, the AMD setups can't uninstall ahci drivers, only overwrite them if the controller is found which isn't the case in this IDE Native mode.
It's probable that by manually removing every and each previous amd ahci driver that windows has a backup, it'll boot when it finally resorts to msahci. I didn't test it as I have too many previous amd versions to bother, but it should work provided it's START reg value is set to "0" (which already had been in my case).

I googled around, and most seem to take care of this by using System Restore, but I avoid using it like the plague (more so, my latest checkpoint was a month old).
*My workaround was booting into AHCI in combined mode, with only the OS drive connected to one of the last IDE ports (and my secondary hdd disconnected). I could confirm that windows was now using 1.2.001.0317 (as the previous .0321 driver had been removed manually), but probably it wasn't well auto-installed or never properly installed before finishing boot. Still, the 11.12 package couldn't find this same driver as previously installed by running a "custom" setup to list present stuff.
For *bananas* n' giggles, I've installed the 12.1 ahci again with my secondary hdd on an ahci port to see what happened (but keeping OS drive on IDE to boot), but it wasn't even detected. So, there must really be a problem with SB750 and 1.2.001.0321 which should be avoided.
By removing it again from the device manager (after rebooting, windows will revert again to a non working 1.2.001.0317) and installing the 11.12 ahci package, this secondary was now successfully detected. Finally, the OS drive was returned to an ahci port and windows is finally booting.


short version:

1 use system restore if it works and doesn't bother you, then skip to 3; else go to next step
2 set ahci to Combined Mode, place your OS drive in either SATA 5 or 6 (last two ports which will be IDE, don't forget to change boot order in bios), and then remove the current ahci driver from device manager and reinstall the latest working one (ex. 11.12 here) either manually by *.inf or setup package.
3 win win and don't update until it sets

[AlleyViper]

Updating this thread, as there seems to be a solution posted at forums.amd.com:

This problem seems to be related with a PM value that's been modified in newer amd_sata.inf files. The driver by itself is OK, so it can be easily corrected either by changing its *.inf file before installation, or later via registry if you can boot your system via Native IDE.

AHCI driver 1.2.1.327 and 1.2.1.321 resulted in blue screen for me (Stop 0x0000007b), 1.2.1.301 did work so checked the inf files and there is only a change in power-management. Changed the value for

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\servic es\amd_sata\Parameters\Device\AmdSataPMDisabled"=d word:000000ff

from 0 to 0xff and I could boot again

(Asus M3A78-T, SB 770)

original thread

Confirm this bug. Try this step to fix:
1- run sb driver package to extract, but don't install.
2- find the location your file amd_sata.inf, example my mobo sb750 with win7 is: x:\AMD\support\12-2_vista_win7_32-64_sb\Packages\Drivers\SBDrv\SB7xx\AHCI\W764A
3- Edit amd_sata.inf, find the line "HKR, "Parameters\Device","AmdSataPMDisabled",%REG_DWORD %, 0" and change 0 to 0xFF

cheers.

original thread

Edit@25/05/2014:

Fix for W8/W8B:

1) Uncompress drivers by running setup, exit it after.

2) Locate the amd_sata.inf at C:\AMD\Support\13-12_win7_win8_32-64_sb\Packages\Drivers\SBDrv\SB7xx\AHCI\W864A (or \W8 for x86).
Open the *.inf and look the line ";HKR, "Parameters\Device","AmdSataPMDisabled",%REG_DWORD %, 0xFF" and remove the first ";" to enable it.
This line should then read "HKR, "Parameters\Device","AmdSataPMDisabled",%REG_DWORD %, 0xFF" (without quotes).
Apparently the fix has been there since long ago, albeit inactive.

3) Due to a modified *.inf file, windows 8.1 should refuse to install the driver by normal means. So, you'll need to make an advanced startup restart and press F7 when prompted to "Disable driver signature enforcement". Then after loading windows, you'll be able to install it manually via device manager by pointing to the amd_sata.inf.

[Panther_Seraphi]

Agree with this.

Have an M3A79 and now as soon as i touch the ACHI driver i can forget booting into windows next restart :S