News - Intel pulls SSD firmware update amid reports of unbootable drives

[HEXUS]

Intel's TRIM-supporting firmware has been pulled after user complaints of bricked SSDs.

Read more.

[Andi-C]

Gutted, my brand new ssd is sat on my desk waiting for some updated firmware trim support before an install of Win 7...Hope there's a resolve/fix soon ! Do feel sorry for the people with bricked drives, can't be nice ! Firmware seems to be a with Intel

[shaithis]

Luckily I was too busy to apply it last night....phew!!

[sayer]

The thing that really bothered me from Intel, was the lack of acknowledgment on their website that they had a problem. Even if they are confirming that it is user error (which initially it might have sounded like) they should have said they were investigating due to a possible problem.

Took me a while to find some good evidence of other people having problems, and only then did I give up trying to install. Otherwise I would have really tried to find an alternative source for the file, and I may have sealed my fate that way. Glad I didn't in the end - but yeah, I feel sorry for anyone thats bricked their drive, these SSDs are lovely lovely bits of kit...

[spoon_]

No TRIM support I suppose for a little while...

Think about all these people that actually applied the firmware and bricked their SSDs...

Sad....

I'd be gutted!

[dangel]

I'm possibly one of the unlucky ones - updated last night, did one reboot to windows to check if ok (all seemed fine) but haven't used/booted since so i'm probably going to face the same fate when I do. There's a few threads on this now and I will be posting my experiences but yes, Intel need to be very quick off the mark on this one and it's simply not good enough if it turns out to be a firmware error or some interaction with windows 7 RTM (which they've had for months now).

[shaithis]

Hopefully, it isn't everyone that affected. GL.

[Andi-C]

Hopefully, it isn't everyone that affected. GL.

Reading the Intel Support forum last night there seems to be users that have updated successfully & have rebooted fine after the AHCI drivers install, they now have the TRIM enabled within Win7.

There is some confusion as why it has affected some users & not others using the same method of upgrade ! Intel will surely have to come clean with the error & hopefully RMA if Bricked OR is it a user problem related to BIOS setting ?...

*EDIT*

Announcement: Intel® SSD Firmware Update Tool Notice Show Details


After the release of the 02HA firmware, we have been contacted by users with SSD issues after a firmware upgrade to 02HA. If users have downloaded 02HA firmware, Intel recommends they don’t upgrade until further notice. Intel has a task team in place and is pursuing a resolution on this as a high priority. This issue does not affect the Intel® SSD Toolbox which was also launched on Monday, October 26.

[dangel]

I updated using my secondary SATA controller (my primary is an intel RAID controller - see my main rig spec below) - I didn't change any bios settings so i've no idea quite what was setup (more fool me perhaps). I then relinked the drive to the intel controller (along with my mechanical raid drives (2) and 1 other mechanical drive (backup drive) before booting.

[dreemteem]

TRIM support is edging me closer to adopting SSDs in my primary rig. But given the way price/performance ratios are coming down, it may make more sense to wait.

Give me a mass market drive with enough space to install both an OS and plenty of apps and I'll jump right in.

[zoomee]

Jumped to it yesterday night and updated my firmware - or at least attempted to!

Got a MSI P35 Neo2 board with a 80Gb Intel G2 - It refused to see my drive in AHCI mode, so set it to IDE mode and it recognised it - started flashing and sat and waited.....and waited....hang on ain't this supposed to take seconds?...aww poo! - It just sat there saying it was updating

Bit the bullet and rebooted into the firmware updater software again which this time reported it was flashed! - Set PC back to AHCI mode and proceeded to boot W7, and got the stated Errors with driver installation and explorer crashing. Nearly started crying thinking it was borked.

Anyways - Did a complete reinstall of the OS and hey presto - working perfectly fine. Ran some HDD benchies and it reported 260MB/s read speed - all good so far.

Ran Windows experience index and now get the following REALLY wierd stats:
CPU & Mem jumped from 7.3 to 7.9!. Graphics jumped from 5.9 to 7.8 and HDD went from 7.7 to 7.9 - giving me an overall score of 7.8 instead of the 5.9 I was getting before! wtpoop!

Ah well , it seems to be running ok so far so can't complain at the wierd extra stat gains...hmmmmmm

[dangel]

Just as an update: my SSD has gone the way of the dodo too - BSOD when booting today. Arse.

[badass]

Just as an update: my SSD has gone the way of the dodo too - BSOD when booting today. Arse.

Sounds like it's not just a fringe thing then.
One of the reasons for getting an Intel SSD over an Indilinx based one is that the intel ones are more tested!.

[djfarmo]

Is there ever a case for getting an SSD repaired under warranty if it gets bricked by a firmware update? Or do the manufacturers always stick to their guns over "upgrading at your own risk"?

[GheeTsar]

I think in this case Intel are replacing the bricked drives.

[GheeTsar]

Update: Intel have released the following statement on the matter:

To 34nm (G2) Intel® X25-M Solid-State Drive consumers,

• Intel has confirmed an issue with the firmware update process for 34nm (G2) Intel® X25-M SSDs (80GB and 160GB). This predominantly affected Windows* 7 (64bit) users during or immediately after the upgrade process to 02HA firmware using the firmware update tool (version 1.3). Intel plans to release a fix for this issue by the end of November 2009.

• Please see below to decide what you should do:

• If you have not upgraded to 02HA but using 02G2 or 02G9 – then use new tool when available to upgrade to new firmware to get Trim support and better sequential write performance (160GB)

• If you have successfully upgraded to 02HA - then continue using the SSD, there are no known issues.

• If you have received a SSD with 02HA pre installed – then continue using the SSD, there are no known issues.

• If you have unsuccessfully upgraded to 02HA - then contact Intel Customer Support for instructions on how to recover the SSD via secure erase or return SSD to Intel for replacement or refund.


*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.



Alan

NAND Solutions Group

Intel Corporation

Source: http://communities.intel.com/thread/...5COMS?tstart=0