Note: If you don't trust using this file, the original BIOS can be modified by yourself with the correct program. I would not bother because the file offered below works fine. This simply reveals setting that are already built into the BIOS but not allowed by Dell. I think Dell simply screwed up and never bothered to fix it when they offered updates. SSD speeds did increase but are still pathetic in comparison. This may be due to an inferior chipset. It is Intel and mine is up to date and running as SATA 6GB but disappointing. Still far better than standard hard drive. I will post speed test results later.
(Why do you need original Dell A10? The file below is the extracted and modified A10.exe zipped. You will need Dell's original A10.exe to initiate the process. When run it will extract into the temp folder. You will simply copy these files below into Dell's A10 temp folder. One file will not copy because A10.exe is still open and using that file. It has not been changed and need not be copied. The instructions explain renaming the A10AHCI.bin file to A10.bin so be aware. The process is simple but must be followed. I think the only file that has been changed is the .bin but I copied all of them anyway.)
(Bonus: I think this BIOS also makes dual monitor setting available but I didn't look for it. The board already allows for dual monitors by using existing VGA and HDMI. But if one of those go down you can use an add on card and the motherboard port together. This is probably not a big deal because any card you buy today may likely have two or three ports already.)
I'm explaining way too much and hoped to rely on instructions below. You will seem confused at first because the guy had flashed A10 already and needed to run it again to get the process going for the temp folder/file copy process. A10.exe will refuse to process unless it detects an older version. He tells how to force the process to run. You will not need to force and can simply start the A10.exe file in a normal manner unless you also have already flashed A10.
Someone has already modified the Bios. It is based on A10, which is the most current. Get A10 from Dell. You will need to run A10 but DO NOT push the "update" button yet. Follow the instructions below.
Here is the fix . . .
File download link.
Thread link.
Thread reproduced here in case it disappears . . .
I just downloaded the file. Does not install because I have already unpatched A10 running. Message: "same or older" and I can only choose "quit".
Tried to "downgrade" BIOS by flashing A08 but same message.
Does anyone know a way how to get the A10AHCI installed? A patch to toggle between IDE and AHCI would be great...
Why did Dell disable AHCI in the first place? Angry
Argh wish I had read this before I updated to A10. Silly me, thinking Dell's latest BIOS would have unlocked AHCI.
Now to find a way to downgrade the bios first...
Ok problem fixed! (For a Dell Vostro 260 running Windows 7 64bit)
In Windows 7, I opened a CMD window (run as admin) and traversed to where the MS-A10.exe file was.
Then I typed MS-A10.exe /forceit
BUT DON'T CLICK ANYTHING ELSE YET. Leave the bios updater open.
Go to your temp folder (C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Temp\) and the last folder created should be MS-A10. Either manually edit the MS-A10.BIN [using software like AMIBCP] to your preferences, or just copy the already edited BIN from the dropbox file so graciously provided above by ermax (rename his MS-A10AHCI.BIN to MS-A10.BIN).
Now click Update in the bios updater and reboot when it's done.
On bootup, confirm the BIOS now includes SATA settings but don't change them yet.
I let Windows load and then I used Regedit to change the "Start" value at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlset\Services\msahci to a 0. Rebooted, went back into BIOS and turned on AHCI mode.
Windows automatically loaded new drivers on this boot. I manually updated those drivers to the ones downloaded from Intel here afterwards.