topic Re: Why stopped Intel offering the SSD Toolbox? in Archive

Why stopped Intel offering the SSD Toolbox?

DZand — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:34:58 GMT

Since I have successfully flashed the meanwhile withdrawn Trim supporting SSD Firmware into my 2 Intel X25-M 2G SSD's, I would like to know, if it is safe to use the SSD Toolbox.

Is there something wrong with that tools too? What may happen?

If it should be safe for all Intel X25-M 2G users, which did not ran into problems after flashing the TRIM Firmware, why stopped Intel offering the SSD Toolbox?

Regards

Fernando

Re: Why stopped Intel offering the SSD Toolbox?

idata — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:46:41 GMT

My understanding of this is sketchy but I don't think we know if the hardware, the firmware or the tools are broken. Or all 3 of them. I have one on order from Amazon that's supposed to be sent in a week and I'm thinking of canceling it.

Re: Why stopped Intel offering the SSD Toolbox?

DZand — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:36:33 GMT

@ MacNab:

Thanks for the reply.

It seems impossible for me, that the TRIM Firmware and the SSD Toolbox are broken simultaneously. The only possible explanation for me is, that users with a broken SSD (after a bad flash of the Firmware) might get it even worse, if they try to run the Optimizer of the Toolbox.

I don't have any idea why users, who successfully have flashed the Firmware, should not use the SSD Toolbox.

@ Intel employees:

Please give us an information regarding the SSD Toolbox. If the use is safe for owners of an Intel X25-M G2 with updated TRIM Firmware, you should offer it again within your Download Center.

Re: Why stopped Intel offering the SSD Toolbox?

idata — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:36:38 GMT

I updated the TRIM firmware and installed the Toolbox. I have not had any problems using the Toolbox. If you have Windows 7 and the Microsoft AHCI driver installed from Windows 7 installation while BIOS set to AHCI, you do not need to run the Optimizer. I used the Toolbox to check SMART, Drive information, and Diagnostic scans. I did run the optimizer once just as an experiment.

Re: Why stopped Intel offering the SSD Toolbox?

idata — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:40:54 GMT

Again....there are no needs to activate AHCI, Windows 7 TRIM functions are integrated in Windows AHCI driver and IDE driver...

Re: Why stopped Intel offering the SSD Toolbox?

idata — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:18:21 GMT

Is it true, Intel are going to recall all G2 SSDs. I was reading this in another blog

Re: Why stopped Intel offering the SSD Toolbox?

idata — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:38:56 GMT

So? I did not say you must have AHCI for TRIM to work, I did say you do not need to run Optimizer if you have AHCI set in BIOS with Microsoft AHCI driver installed--and that is from the Intel White paper:

"When using the latest Microsoft Windows* 7 operating system with Microsoft AHCI storage drivers the OS will contain native support to execute the Intel® SSD Optimizer on an Intel SSD without requiring any user interaction."

"Microsoft Windows* 7

Microsoft* AHCINative OS support (Intel® SSD Toolbox not required)"

You cannot have Microsoft AHCI driver installed if you do not have BIOS set to AHCI.

Re: Why stopped Intel offering the SSD Toolbox?

idata — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:41:28 GMT

You have a link to that blog? I find it hard to believe they would have even those of us who updated the firmware successfully send back our SSD's, of which I have 3!

Re: Why stopped Intel offering the SSD Toolbox?

DZand — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:55:01 GMT

@ ambizytl:

I didn't ask, if and why any owner of an Intel X25-M G2 SSD used Intel's SSD Toolbox, my question was: "Why stopped Intel offering it?"

There are a lot of reasons why Intel SSD users want to take benefit of the Toolbox options, but

a) only those users are able to do it, who had downloaded the Toolbox before it was withdrawn by Intel and

b) those users, who got it, may be afraid to use it, because nobody knows what may be wrong with these special SSD tools.

Regards

Fernando

Re: Why stopped Intel offering the SSD Toolbox?

idata — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:03:34 GMT

I don't know why Intel took down the Toolbox, but I have used it without any issues.

Re: Why stopped Intel offering the SSD Toolbox?

idata — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:14:54 GMT

DCS:

I bet it's old news regarding the initial g2 recall, when the drive was launched, sites reported that intel made a recall, because of the bios password bug.

If not pls. post the link.

Re: Why stopped Intel offering the SSD Toolbox?

DZand — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:19:27 GMT

Now we know the answer to my question - the tool is buggy. The use of the SSD Optimizer erases the system restore points created by the OS.

Look here: /message/73995# 73995 http://communities.intel.com/message/73995# 73995

Re: Why stopped Intel offering the SSD Toolbox?

idata — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:01:17 GMT

Interesting! I turned off System Restore immediately after installing Windows 7, so I don't have any problem there. Still, Intel has really screwed up in many ways with regard to firmware and Toolbox. What else have they screwed up?