topic Re: 520 SMART problems, help ! in Archive

520 SMART problems, help !

PCali1 — Sat, 12 May 2012 20:59:40 GMT

I have a intel SSD 520 series 120gb, purchased about 5 days ago, and i have some SMART problems. Tested with SSD Life and Intel Toolbox.

Problem is: Every time i shut down my PC, then i power it up again, the SMART parameters:

AE: Unexpected Power Loss, C0: Unsafe Shutdown Count, the numbers increase !! Why ? This is a common problem, or i am the single one with this problem ? What Intel says about this ? Is normal ? Could in 2-3 years my SSD die ? Or sooner ???

And another problem, after i installed my new SSD, i've looked up in SSD Life, and the program told me that the SSD Work Time is 102 years !?!?

Please help me, or give me some advice. I've purchased the Intel SSD, cuz i've heard it's more reliable, i wanted to buy OCZ.

Here are the pictures.

http://i47.tinypic.com/10fx43r.jpg http://i47.tinypic.com/10fx43r.jpg

Re: 520 SMART problems, help !

idata — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:05:42 GMT

Don't worry about the Unsafe/Unexpected counts, this is a known problem with the 520 series, as is the Power-On count.

A new version of SSD Toolbox (3.0.3) is out, it may have corrected these niggles with SMART data. I'm still using 3.0.2 as the firmware itself has not been updated.

Re: 520 SMART problems, help !

plee21 — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:36:37 GMT

Just to echo the already good advice. The unexpected power failure is something most of us are seeing.

The power on hours reported from SMART on these SSD drives isn't a simple number or count of hours, however most software assumes it is and so gets it completely wrong. I'm sure in time they will catch up.

http://crystalmark.info/software/CrystalDiskInfo/index-e.html CrystalDiskInfo - Software - Crystal Dew World appears to correctly work out the on hour count.

Regards

Phil

Re: 520 SMART problems, help !

PCali1 — Tue, 22 May 2012 21:03:53 GMT

Thanks for the help. Now from not known reason the numbers aren't increasing anymore

They remained at 16, both of them.

But one more question. I have the firmware 400i, there is a new firmware ? And how i update to it ?

Re: 520 SMART problems, help !

plee21 — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:38:08 GMT

No new firmware that I'm aware of yet.

Any new firmware is part of the Intel SSD Toolkit, so new firmware is usually delivered in new versions of the toolkit and you just update using that.

Regards

Phil

Re: 520 SMART problems, help !

idata — Fri, 25 May 2012 22:13:59 GMT

Hello I hate to disagree with everybody but this is not a bug or normal please keep looking for a fix and i'm positive Intel will tell you that you no longer have the 5 year warranty for shutting down your ssd the wrong way, I can see those numbers from unsafe shutdown count and unexpected power loss voiding your warranty for not safely taking care of your ssd from power outages.

as you can see my Notebook does not do what you are experiencing look

Direct link http://i50.tinypic.com/2wck1ua.jpg http://i50.tinypic.com/2wck1ua.jpg

the 1 in my picture on both unsafe and unexpected counts is because i removed the battery from my Notebook to see if they would go up and they did.

But i too have the problem you have on my PC but i Fixed it the numbers no longer go up just power cycle count this picture is before i fixed it look

Direct Link http://i45.tinypic.com/15i983k.jpg http://i45.tinypic.com/15i983k.jpg

i have 3 SSD in my PC and they all did as you explained in your post.

i couldn't just leave it alone or forget about it i'm weird like that so i searched for about 5 days and found no help i couldn't join the Intel forums for 3 days (odd) I just finally joined and i would like to share how i fixed my problem.

I moved all my SSD via eSata to my Notebook and the numbers no longer went up just the power cycle count so i knew the SSD were rocks working perfect and fast, i was told on another forum that its a faulty video card on this link http://www.overclock.net/t/1255982/intel-ssd-520-series-problem Intel SSD 520 series problem they too have the same problem as you do, but that was not my fix so i kept looking.

get this ever since i changed my PC bios to ACHI i got a safely remove hardware icon like if the ssd were usb devices or something but ACHI allows for hot swap i'm guessing that's why they showed up in the safely remove hardware area, in my Notebook its a HP and the bios is locked no way to get in but in my PC i can change all the settings. if your bios has sata hot plug or somthing related maybe disabling it will help.

but this is what i'm talking about look

and this other picture is from my Notebook it does not suffer from what my PC does

so i came to a conclusion that every time i shutdown my PC i don't safely remove my SSD like you should a normal USB i'm guessing every time i just corrupt them by not safely removing the ssd but it would not allow me to remove them the PC would say something like its being used cant remove.

so i searched for ssd showing in safely remove hardware spot to find this fix link http://www.overclock.net/t/974023/fix-ahci-sata-drives-showing-in-safely-remove-hardware FIX: AHCI/SATA drives showing in "Safely Remove Hardware"

and to my very long search i finally fixed my unsafe shutdown count and unexpected power loss count my PC no longer does this it just works the SSD no longer show up in safely remove hardware area and the smart numbers no longer go up just the power cycle count.

i'm so happy it got fixed as it was bugging me like no other day to the point that i regretted buying 5 Intel SSD for my 2 Notebooks and 3 SSD for my PC and 1 Notebook is running on Windows 8 Consumer preview so i have no idea how that SSD is doing since the Intel Tool box wont install on windows 8.

anyways i just wanted to share my experience maybe it can help someone out a little.

Re: 520 SMART problems, help !

PCali1 — Sat, 26 May 2012 10:04:50 GMT

Hey SuperDeo, i am the same guy from overclock.net

Re: 520 SMART problems, help !

idata — Sat, 26 May 2012 22:02:10 GMT

DOH!!! i guess the no picture threw me off, Glad you fixed your problem too though

Re: 520 SMART problems, help !

PCali1 — Sun, 27 May 2012 08:32:40 GMT

I've forgot to put a picture, and to put my nickname, here is my real name

Re: 520 SMART problems, help !

idata — Sun, 27 May 2012 21:39:08 GMT

Looks like a good "workaround" for this bug, but I have two problems :

1) My internal drives (SSD and HDD) don't appear in the "Safely Remove..." list (which is what you would expect)

2) Although using SATA/AHCI mode (in BIOS), I'm not using MSAHCI but the IRST drivers (AS-SSD detects "iaStor - OK" rather than "msahci - OK"), so doubt if this fix would have any effect.

So every normal shutdown still counts as unexpected/unsafe.

I would be very surprised if Intel tried to wriggle out of their warranty on this basis, as it is widely known and reported that the counters increment after every proper shutdown, and have yet to release a firmware or toolbox fix.

Re: 520 SMART problems, help !

idata — Mon, 28 May 2012 21:06:03 GMT

That's it the red hydra logo, I cant believe i reply'd to your post on 2 sites from the whole internet

Re: 520 SMART problems, help !

idata — Mon, 28 May 2012 21:34:20 GMT

@dennisammenace i still don't think its a ssd bug but im sure its a motherboard bug with its drivers and bios. when i contacted Intel about my ssd and i told them my story they said it sounds like a defective ssd and to send all 3 in for repair but i didn't cause i know they are good from testing them on my Notebook so than i searched on my own but i found a fix

my Notebook is the same as yours, the ssd does not appear in safely remove hardware and ACHI is enabled.

my PC does not have ACHI in the bios ASUS removed the feature with there new bios release for my motherboard (P5KC) leaving only IDE mode, so i got a bios mod that merged both the old and new bios to get ACHI enabled with doing so i got the safely remove hardware icon all the time (bios bug).

Intel stopped supporting the ICH9 controller for my motherboard and so did ASUS they only have Vista drivers so Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver does not install on my PC, my ssd are connected to the 3/4 ICH9 Sata ports and i don't use the 1 JMicron Sata port that Intel says not to use.

both my PC and Notebook have Fresh Windows 7 Service pack 1 with only the video card drivers installed the rest are windows stock drivers and service pack 1 is Super FASTer than a windows without it.

sorry that i cant be much of help to the issue your having with your ssd i know its frustrating

Re: 520 SMART problems, help !

PCali1 — Mon, 28 May 2012 21:47:56 GMT

Yes, it's funny I've opened this thread here, in hope i can get some Intel official reply, but i've fixed the problem.

And the avatar is from the game called Witcher 2.

Re: 520 SMART problems, help !

idata — Wed, 30 May 2012 19:37:34 GMT

That would be great to have a Intel rep let us know if the smart thing in the tool box is working right or not but just glad those numbers no longer go up

Re: 520 SMART problems, help !

plee21 — Thu, 31 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT

Just noticed that since I moved to the Intel DZ77BH-55K motherboard my Unexpected Power loss and Unsafe Shutdown counts have stopped incrementing.

This makes me think it is a BIOS or chipset issue.

Regards

Phil

Re: 520 SMART problems, help !

bloz — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 10:58:53 GMT

Hello everybody, i have the same problem with this in every way ugly product that i bought just one month ago.

I have had random BSOD on W7 (acer aspire laptop) and i searched for solution and found some solutions on other forums, basically i downloaded some registry adition (Add_AHCI_Link_Power_Management_HIPM-DIPM) and used intel ssd toolbox to perform "system tuning action" that was recommended. I do not know if this fixed the problem but i had no BSOD fo two days now so i keep my fingers crossed.

Now, the intel toolbox shows no action on DIPM required and all diagnostic comes up OK....but then i noticed this The "unexpected power lose" and The "unsafe shutdown count" in toolbox going up over 50 and also "Ucorrectable error count" of over 3596250 of something, and was again very worried and sad about my intel ssd "upgrade" that i payed a lot of money for.

Note i do not have SSD showing up as removable storage so i do not know if this http://www.overclock.net/t/974023/fix-ahci-sata-drives-showing-in-safely-remove-hardware FIX: AHCI/SATA drives showing in "Safely Remove Hardware" registry fix would help but i will try it.

To put it mildly i am highly disappointed about this product and in hindsight i should have bought a samsung model instead but was fooled by intels reputation and longer warranty BIG MISTAKE that i will not make again with any intel product

Basically if someone could comment on this issues it would be greatly appreciated.

Re: 520 SMART problems, help !

bloz — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 13:42:12 GMT

Just as update i have restarted computer several times and did not get "unexpected power lose" or "unsafe shutdown count" going up in intel SSD toolbox 3.2.3 but now i got dramatically higher "Ucorrectable error count" over 200 000 000 WTF Intel!

Still waiting if BSOD will reappear and crash my system which is the main issue with this damn product....

Re: 520 SMART problems, help !

Kevin_M_Intel — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 15:02:31 GMT

Hi croboot,

The situation you are describing is very strange. Can you please try the SSD on a different computer? Is this failing as well?

Can you also run the Full Diagnostic Scan from the toolbox?

Kevin M

Re: 520 SMART problems, help !

bloz — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 20:30:30 GMT

I have run quick and full diagnostic several time and everything else recommended like this "trim" function and all came OK.

I did not have BSOD since registry fix that was few days ago so i hope its fixed (will update on this) ,but i still get crazy toolbox reports every time i start this application once there is no "Ucorrectable error count" at all than i get some 200 000 000 wtf? "Power on hours" also seams false i get 895 008 on brand new SSD and i noticed that "unexpected power lose" and "unsafe shutdown count" go up on my Linux machine so i will not use it on that machine again because i already have 60 "unexpected power lose" and "unsafe shutdown count" so i'm worried about my warranty if i have to take this thing back to store.

You (Intel) really disappointed me and a lot of people with this product just google it if you don't believe.

EDIT : Unbelievable i just got BSOD crash when finished posting this and starting Intel toolbox, i have no idea where to start fixing this anymore looks like i will have to reinstall W7 and then if i get BSODs crashes again i will have to return this damn thing if the store accepts it back.

btw: are both HIPM and DIPM suppose to be active?

I hate Intel so much right now!

Re: 520 SMART problems, help !

bloz — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 01:25:15 GMT

After hours of stress i found this info on some forum...

I heard rumors said that HM55 motherboards are still not compatible with SSD flash drivers. *Lord have mercy...

Since i have this chipset by the intel utility i downloaded...

Intel® Chipset Identification UtilitySystem Information

Mobile Intel® 5 Series Chipset

Intel® HM55 SATA Controller found in AHCI mode

Could drivers be the problem or chipset if self?

What version of driver should i have?