diff --git a/kernel/ata.c b/kernel/ata.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..20ddd12
--- /dev/null
+++ b/kernel/ata.c
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+#include "ata.h"
+#include "io.h"
+#include "print.h"
+
+#define ATA_TIMEOUT 100000
+
+static inline void ata_delay(void) {
+    /* 400ns delay by reading alternate status */
+    inb(ATA_PRIMARY_CTRL);
+    inb(ATA_PRIMARY_CTRL);
+    inb(ATA_PRIMARY_CTRL);
+    inb(ATA_PRIMARY_CTRL);
+}
+
+bool ata_wait_ready(void) {
+    for (int i = 0; i < ATA_TIMEOUT; i++) {
+        uint8_t status = inb(ATA_PRIMARY_IO + ATA_REG_STATUS);
+        /* Must NOT be busy AND must be ready */
+        if (!(status & ATA_SR_BSY) && (status & ATA_SR_DRDY))
+            return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
+static bool ata_wait(uint8_t mask) {
+    for (int i = 0; i < ATA_TIMEOUT; i++) {
+        uint8_t status = inb(ATA_PRIMARY_IO + ATA_REG_STATUS);
+        /* If ERR is set, stop waiting and return failure */
+        if (status & ATA_SR_ERR) return false;
+        
+        if (!(status & ATA_SR_BSY) && (status & mask))
+            return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
+bool ata_init(void) {
+    /* Select drive */
+    outb(ATA_PRIMARY_IO + ATA_REG_HDDEVSEL, ATA_MASTER);
+    ata_delay();
+
+    /* Check if drive exists */
+    uint8_t status = inb(ATA_PRIMARY_IO + ATA_REG_STATUS);
+    if (status == 0xFF || status == 0) return false;
+
+    outb(ATA_PRIMARY_IO + ATA_REG_COMMAND, ATA_CMD_IDENTIFY);
+    ata_delay();
+
+    if (!ata_wait(ATA_SR_DRQ))
+        return false;
+
+    uint16_t identify[256];
+    for (int i = 0; i < 256; i++)
+        identify[i] = inw(ATA_PRIMARY_IO);
+
+    print_string("[ATA] Primary master detected\n");
+    return true;
+}
+
+bool ata_read_sector(uint32_t lba, uint8_t* buffer) {
+    if (!buffer) return false;
+
+    /* 1. Wait for drive to be ready for command */
+    if (!ata_wait_ready()) return false;
+
+    /* 2. Setup Task File (LBA28) */
+    outb(ATA_PRIMARY_IO + ATA_REG_HDDEVSEL, 0xE0 | ((lba >> 24) & 0x0F));
+    outb(ATA_PRIMARY_IO + ATA_REG_SECCOUNT0, 1);
+    outb(ATA_PRIMARY_IO + ATA_REG_LBA0, (uint8_t)(lba));
+    outb(ATA_PRIMARY_IO + ATA_REG_LBA1, (uint8_t)(lba >> 8));
+    outb(ATA_PRIMARY_IO + ATA_REG_LBA2, (uint8_t)(lba >> 16));
+    
+    /* 3. Issue Read Command */
+    outb(ATA_PRIMARY_IO + ATA_REG_COMMAND, ATA_CMD_READ_PIO);
+
+    /* 4. Wait for Data Request (DRQ) */
+    if (!ata_wait(ATA_SR_DRQ))
+        return false;
+
+    /* 5. Transfer data */
+    for (int i = 0; i < 256; i++) {
+        uint16_t data = inw(ATA_PRIMARY_IO);
+        buffer[i * 2]     = data & 0xFF;
+        buffer[i * 2 + 1] = (data >> 8) & 0xFF;
+    }
+
+    ata_delay();
+    return true;
+}
+
+bool ata_write_sector(uint32_t lba, const uint8_t* buffer) {
+    if (!buffer) return false;
+
+    /* 1. Wait for drive to be ready for command */
+    if (!ata_wait_ready()) return false;
+
+    /* 2. Setup Task File */
+    outb(ATA_PRIMARY_IO + ATA_REG_HDDEVSEL, 0xE0 | ((lba >> 24) & 0x0F));
+    outb(ATA_PRIMARY_IO + ATA_REG_SECCOUNT0, 1);
+    outb(ATA_PRIMARY_IO + ATA_REG_LBA0, (uint8_t)(lba));
+    outb(ATA_PRIMARY_IO + ATA_REG_LBA1, (uint8_t)(lba >> 8));
+    outb(ATA_PRIMARY_IO + ATA_REG_LBA2, (uint8_t)(lba >> 16));
+    
+    /* 3. Issue Write Command */
+    outb(ATA_PRIMARY_IO + ATA_REG_COMMAND, ATA_CMD_WRITE_PIO);
+
+    /* 4. Wait for drive to request data */
+    if (!ata_wait(ATA_SR_DRQ))
+        return false;
+
+    /* 5. Transfer data */
+    for (int i = 0; i < 256; i++) {
+        uint16_t word = buffer[i * 2] | (buffer[i * 2 + 1] << 8);
+        outw(ATA_PRIMARY_IO, word);
+    }
+
+    ata_delay();
+    return true;
+}
diff --git a/kernel/ata.h b/kernel/ata.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3da5aff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/kernel/ata.h
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+#ifndef ATA_H
+#define ATA_H
+
+#include <stdint.h>
+#include <stdbool.h>
+
+/* ATA I/O ports */
+#define ATA_PRIMARY_IO     0x1F0
+#define ATA_PRIMARY_CTRL   0x3F6
+
+/* ATA registers */
+#define ATA_REG_DATA       0x00
+#define ATA_REG_ERROR      0x01
+#define ATA_REG_FEATURES   0x01
+#define ATA_REG_SECCOUNT0  0x02
+#define ATA_REG_LBA0       0x03
+#define ATA_REG_LBA1       0x04
+#define ATA_REG_LBA2       0x05
+#define ATA_REG_HDDEVSEL   0x06
+#define ATA_REG_COMMAND    0x07
+#define ATA_REG_STATUS     0x07
+
+/* ATA commands */
+#define ATA_CMD_READ_PIO   0x20
+#define ATA_CMD_WRITE_PIO  0x30
+#define ATA_CMD_IDENTIFY   0xEC
+
+/* Status flags */
+#define ATA_SR_BSY         0x80
+#define ATA_SR_DRDY        0x40
+#define ATA_SR_DRQ         0x08
+#define ATA_SR_ERR         0x01
+
+/* Drive select */
+#define ATA_MASTER         0xA0
+#define ATA_SLAVE          0xB0
+
+/* Public API */
+bool ata_init(void);
+bool ata_read_sector(uint32_t lba, uint8_t* buffer);
+bool ata_write_sector(uint32_t lba, const uint8_t* buffer);
+bool ata_wait_ready(void);
+
+#endif