switching to real SATA mode after the fact?

was so hoping this issue was beneath microsoft by this point: on a common intel mobile 45 chipset platform I am running ok with w8cp x64 emulating ide but would really like to do this the right way. this is the first lab rat I have really trying to polish windows 8 - very annoying

can someone school me on this - i feel like I"m back in xp daze

i downloaded the intel driver package and the first thing it does is install the sata device package - all completed without errors but I figured it was to no avail. I was right. doesn't the intel package copy the files off to a folder somewhere, and if so, where? and if I then get it running again in compatibility mode [it is currently stuck in a repetitive 'repair' loop that I have no clue how to put to death] - can I go to dev mgr and update driver pointing to the file stash, then exit, restart, change to SATA and go?

If you are talking about switching from IDE to AHCI mode in the bios, then you can do this.

In IDE mode in Windows, open a command prompt. Enter cd c:\windows\system32\sysprep\
Now run, sysprep /generalize /oobe /restart

The machine will now do its thing for anywhere from a minute to 15 minutes then reboot. While rebooting enter the bios and change the system from IDE to AHCI mode then save and let it boot. It will take anywhere from 10 to 40 min to boot. You will probably be prompted to go through the set up process all over again, have your key ready. Once back to Windows you will need to reload all your drivers that are not native to windows 8.

What you gain from this: Change from IDE to AHCI mode. Avoid a complete re-install of the OS and all your software. Yes this is a pain but it is usually the fastest and simplest way to make the change and not lose any data.

As always be sure to back up your data before attempting anything like this.