Switching from RAID to AHCI

Brief overview:

RAID, AHCI? What? Well, the average computer user need not worry and neither geeky people like me really. All I care about is that I have my computer configured correctly for whichever I need. RAID and AHCI are ways in which the computer access the storage. Most of the time, if you've only got 1 drive (whether is be and SSD, HDD, nvme PCI SSD) ... you're going to need ACHI. 

RAID is a way of turning lots of disks into one big disk by use of a RAID controller. This can be for data backup, increased performance and just ease. For some reason, whatever it is, most new computers today (including my 2 year old desktop) come with Intel Rapid Storage technology configured, which happens to use RAID. I'm not a fan on Intel Rapid Storage technology - I've had more problems with it, then it actually working fine. 

Switching from RAID to AHCI interchangeably. 

To do this, we need to get windows to recognise the change and to configure itself appropriately. The easiest way to do this, is to get windows to start up with the bare minimum, in safe mode. To do this...

1. Hit Start and search for "change advanced startup option":

2. Hit "restart now"

3. "Troubleshoot" 

4. "Advanced options"

5. "startup settings" 

6. FIDDLY BIT: 

On the next screen, hit restart now. Between the computer restarting again, you will need to get into your BIOS. Yours may look different to mine and it's your job to investigate where the setting is as there are so many motherboards! 

My machine is a Dell and my BIOS key on boot is F12

7. Change drive mode from RAID to AHCI

Mine setting is under System Configuration > Sata Operation. Select AHCI and then save and exit. 

8. Select option 4, 5 or 6

If you have reached this screen before changing the BIOS, you need to try the whole process again.

Now, the machine will boot. Log in to the machine for good measure and now restart. Change successful ;)