SSD Drive (second one...) still only booting every now and then

[Skyline]

I had an upgrade a few months back and an SSD fitted for the C: drive. It kept failing to boot. I understand there was a manufacturers fault with them. I had a new one substituted (OCZ Sata 111). This one has never worked fully either. Every other boot fails, the other day I had to turn off and restart six times before Windows would launch. Sometimes it will go for a couple of days and be fine, booting every time. Others it will play up, either needing one or two powerups, or as I said, sometimes up to six. What can be done to reslve this once and for all?

[technodean]

Which ocz model is it? i.e vertex 3 or 4, agility 3 or 4, octane? etc.

[IronWarrior]

Sandforce controller?

If so, it's because of that. I have the damn same problem with my crap Kingston drive, has caused me so many problems. Now... sometimes it gets stuck on the BIOS screen...

[Agent]

OCZ + Sandforce are well known to have had / have booting issues since release. You got the latest firmware?

[IronWarrior]

OCZ + Sandforce are well known to have had / have booting issues since release. You got the latest firmware?

Nope am not, I did look a few times but everytime I looked, the site didn't have any drivers for my SSD, seems they do now or I was looking in the wrong place.

Is it safe to update the firmwire without it breaking the OS or losing data?

[Agent]

Nope am not, I did look a few times but everytime I looked, the site didn't have any drivers for my SSD, seems they do now or I was looking in the wrong place.

Is it safe to update the firmwire without it breaking the OS or losing data?

It depends on the drive and the firmware. You'll need to check - is it Sandforce based or another controller?
Does the drive get detected, or is it a booting issue even when the BIOS sees it?

I've just had a friend return his Agility 3 for booting issues. Not sure what he has now, but they changed it for him.

[Ben @ Scan]

Hi

Please update the SSD firmware using the Linux based tool you can do this without losing any data

http://www.ocztechnology.com/ssd_tools/SandForce_Based/

If you have access to another PC you can put the SSD in that and use the OCZ Toolbox if you prefer

Regards

Ben

[Skyline]

Which ocz model is it? i.e vertex 3 or 4, agility 3 or 4, octane? etc.

'My Computer' says it's a 'VERTEX3'.

What's a Sandforce controller?

Ben, was your above post on updating firmware a response to original my post?

[pctech2012]

Sandforce is a company that makes controllers for SSD drives.

An SSD controller is a microprocessor that runs software (firmware) that manages the memory in the SSD drive and communication with the host system and so sits between the memory components and the interface to the host system.

Some people have reported issues which they seem to put down to Sandforce controllers.

[spoons33]

Hi skyline, I had a vertex 3 that kept giving me blue screens then after a restart the drive would not be detected in the BIOS until I had shut down and restarted, I exchanged it for a corsair force GT which also gave me blue screens but not as often, I then discovered that the corsair drive also used the same sandforce controller, corsair then released some new firmware which I upgraded to and I have never had a problem since, it is very likely that as has already been recommended a firmware update stands a good chance curing your problem, its certainly the first thing to try.

[Skyline]

Many thanks guys.

What I'm worried about is that I don't feel technically confident enough to accomplish the update.
The SSD is my C: drive on a PC I use for home recording and I have all my vital software on it as well as the OS (W7). My data is elsewhere. I do have a spare PC that I can use in any update manoevres but I'm not an expert and don't feel I should be attempting this.

Ben, this component has a 3 year warranty. I feel I should be able to return to you for its contents to be cloned onto a new one - which is what Scan did a few months ago. I don't think it's adequate service to simply say 'update the firmware'. If my TV doesn't work John Lewis doesn't tell me 'change the PCB'. Answer please!

[Ben @ Scan]

Hi Skyline

We are sorry to hear of the issues with the SSD

If you are not confident to download the image and burn to a CD we are more than happy to burn a disk and post to you if you email your address to systemsupport@scan.co.uk

We wont swap an SSD without a firmware update being done on it as 9 out of 10 issues are firmware related and this is across the whold range of SSDs from all manufacturers not just the ones with the Sandforce controllers

If a device ie a TV needs a firmware update this is carried out by the end user so comparing changing a PCB to updating firmware is not a realistic comparison

If you are still not comfortable doing the firmware update please arrange an RMA with the 3XS Support Team by email and ship the SSD back to Scan and we will update the firmware and ship the SSD back to you

Regards

Ben

[KeyboardDemon]

There a few video tutorials on YouTube for updating SSD firmware.

Linus Tech tips have this one

The important thing to note is that there are two types of firmware update, destructive and non-destructive. A destructive firmware update will reset all of the drive losing all of the contents, the non-destructive will keep all data and installed software intact. Before running any updates check to see which of these options you are going to be using and then take any necessary precautions. Updating firmware is not a difficult task and people only get scared of doing it because they have read horror stories that are usually from other people that couldn't follow simple instructions.

[IronWarrior]

I found out that updating the firmware on the SSD that has the OS on it makes the computer hang... forcing you to reset, switching to an other drive with an OS and updating it and it doesn't hang or freeze.

Also... seems updating my firmware has... fixed my booting issues, but the revision number hasn't changed, it's still the same as before, but the booting issues are gone.

Maybe... maybe I might get an other drive even if it has Sandforce on it.

[Skyline]

I haven't taken up Ben's offer above because I'm worried about flogging a dead horse also, i.e. I totally don't trust the products of ocz and I don't want to lurch from one supposed solution to another with my audio PC.

I'd rather buy a non-OCZ 'best' SSD and see if Scan would clone my OS and C: drive onto it from my (second) duff Vertex.
Ben, what would you recommend in terms of a non-buggy, fit for purpose, high-end SSD, and could you do that cloning operation for me if I bought one?
Thanks.

John

[Ben @ Scan]

Hi John

If you buy a new SSD and get that passed to us and send your drive in we will see if we can clone it for you
but in the off chance that data is lost we are not responsible for any customers data

We will need to give you an RMA number to return the drive on so please email through your query so we can access your details

You are best going for the Samsung ones and to make it easier get one the same size as the current SSD

Regards

Ben