how to enable or install the SATA AHCI driver in Ubuntu 10.04
 

I need to find out how to enable or install the SATA AHCI driver in Ubuntu 10.04 when I have the BIOS serial ATA setting to the IDE compatibility mode ? This is a multi-boot system from 2009 with a few versions of Windows installed, (all were installed when in the IDE emulation compatibility mode, and now changing it to AHCI mode in the BIOS). It has a ASUS P5QL motherboard with the Intel P43 express IHC10 chip set. My Ubuntu 10.04 has all the updates and works fine.

Can I just search for the sata driver in the synaptic package manager and have it install, so that either the kernel or initial ram disk boot files can load that needed SATA hard drive AHCI device driver. ?

Actually when you add to your post it makes others think it has been answered. Consider using edit.

For a general distro like ubuntu, it comes with a ton of support of devices. It should just work in most cases. If not then you can add in support if available.

I am surprised it doesn't work. What happens when you try to boot? Could it be that grub is just off?

The AHCI drivers should be installed by default, just give it a try. If it doesn't work please post exact error messages.

To enable AHCI, first make sure you have the kernel driver enabled built-in and then go into the BIOS and put the controller in AHCI mode, not IDE mode.

This issue is now all fixed which ended up really only a problem in the Windows XP, since after I changed the SATA mode in the BIOS from the IDE to the AHCI, which was after I completed the steps in my XP to have the sata driver, then when I booted the Ubuntu 10.04 it loaded up just fine with no issues, so it must have both PATA IDE and SATA drivers installed by default. Most newer Linux versions must now come with both hard drive controller drivers. And thanks for the help.