topic 02HD firmware update impossible because of pre-production firmware?! (version 0953) in Archive

02HD firmware update impossible because of pre-production firmware?! (version 0953)

idata — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:55:16 GMT

I just tried to update my 160G Postville SSD firmware to version 02HD (latest), and I get the message that my SSD has pre-production firmware installed (version 0953)!

This is a brand-new SSD, just a couple of weeks old.

What worries me is that the label on the SSD itself says that it has FW 02G9, where the updater tool indicates that it has FW 0953.

I found a few links on the net of people having the same problem: http://www.amazon.com/review/R9244YDVV2HAM/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm http://www.amazon.com/review/R9244YDVV2HAM/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

Some info about my SSD:

Model: SSDSA2MH160G2C1

SN: CVPO940001HQ160AGN

Pack date: 29 SEP 09

The drive was bought at a Dutch online shop: http://www.informatique.nl/131585/intel-x25-m-postville-160gb.html http://www.informatique.nl/131585/intel-x25-m-postville-160gb.html

Not only is Intel having a hard time getting good firmware released, even their manufacturing process isn't quite up to spec if you ask me.

Are there any other people having the same problem, especially Dutch/Belgian users who bought this drive at the same shop?

I already contacted Intel Customer Support just some minute ago...

/Charles

Re: 02HD firmware update impossible because of pre-production firmware?! (version 0953)

idata — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:30:13 GMT

That is an issue only Intel can resolve. Perhaps they will exchange your drive or have you exchange it from where it was purchased.

I must say that is very weird. Let us know what Intel tells you about it.

Re: 02HD firmware update impossible because of pre-production firmware?! (version 0953)

idata — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:36:51 GMT

Charlie,

What motherboard do you have? I originally bought two gen1 intel x18 drive, I tried to update the firmware and it gave the pre-production firmware error on both drives. My Read/write speeds were terrible too, so I returned the drives. Now I just received two gen2 intel x25 drives today (from new egg), and tried updating the firmware with the recently released one. Again, it says Pre-Production firmware (0956 version). Same exact version firmware as my other x18's. This seems highly unlikely to me. I then switched the drives to a different SATA port on my motherboard and this time the drives did get updated successfully.

I have an ASUS Formula III maximus board with an embedded GMicron controller. I think the update tool is seeing my motherboard's firmware on the controller and thinking this version is that of the SSD and triggering the preproduction drive error. I spoke to Intel today and they said they aren't aware of any issues like this and that i should send the drive back. I'm pretty sure the drive doesn't really have pre-production firmware though, I think the tool is misreporting it. Intel should really look into this, they are getting a ton of drives returned for this very reason.

Anyways, my problem now is that with my Asus Formula III Maximus board, I can't get my system to RAID 0 them. Everytime I try, it goes back to normal mode. My x18's went into RAID 0 just fine, my raptors also accepted RAID 0 just fine. Intel told me this is likely an ASUS problem, so I currently have an open ticket with them. still waiting for resolution.

Re: 02HD firmware update impossible because of pre-production firmware?! (version 0953)

idata — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:44:33 GMT

WHen you go into Device Manager and rigt click on the Intel SSD to go into Properties what firmware string do you see in the details tab? I'm going to guess 0953 is not listed.

Re: 02HD firmware update impossible because of pre-production firmware?! (version 0953)

idata — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:37:46 GMT

When he goes into Details he has to use the drop-down menu to select Hardware IDs

Re: 02HD firmware update impossible because of pre-production firmware?! (version 0953)

idata — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 03:22:15 GMT

My problem is solved (thanks Angel from Asus support!).

Charlie, if you have a similar Gmicron RAID controller (red SATA plugs) on your motherboard, don't use it. I talked with Asus support and they suggested I use the Intel P55 SATA connectors on the side of my motherboard instead. I tried that and configured the raid with intel storage manager utility, and WOW. Not only did it work, but now my drives are blazzing fast.

Here's my new speed:

Windows 7 gives a 7.9 score.

using AS SSD Benchmark:

Seq Read: 482.15 MB/s Seq Write: 136.34MB/s

4k Read: 13.11MB/s 4k Write: 32.71MB/s

4k-64Thrd Read: 273.98MB/s write: 110.92MB/s

Acc Time: read 0.220ms write: 0.129m

Re: 02HD firmware update impossible because of pre-production firmware?! (version 0953)

idata — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:00:49 GMT

My mobo is a Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5, and I indeed tried to do the FW update on one of the JMicron sata-ports.

It is by default connected to the ICH10R ports, but I didn't want to risk switching from the "raid" to "AHCI" mode because I feared that my RAID10 set (4x1Tera) would need to be rebuilt.

I will give it a go tonight on one of the ICH10R ports (after first backing up the 2Tera raid array).

Let's hope that this is solved then... and if it is, another lesson learned! 🙂

Does any of you have experience on the ICH10R with switching from RAID to AHCI and back? Is the raid-set kept in place?

Thanks a million already for the tips, and I will keep you posted tonight on the progress (have to go to work now...).

/Charles

Re: 02HD firmware update impossible because of pre-production firmware?! (version 0953)

idata — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:01:28 GMT

The Intel Firmware Update Tool Users Guideline Doc clearly states that the tool will not update SSD's connected to a RAID controller. http://download.intel.com/support/ssdc/hpssd/sb/sata_ssd_firmware_update_tool_guidelines_322571.pdf http://download.intel.com/support/ssdc/hpssd/sb/sata_ssd_firmware_update_tool_guidelines_322571.pdf

Re: 02HD firmware update impossible because of pre-production firmware?! (version 0953)

idata — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:39:23 GMT

Good news... I just tried to update the firmware with the SSD being connected to the ICH10R controller (after first backing up the data on the raid10-set and then setting AHCI mode instead of RAID), and it worked flawlessly!

After the update I set the ICH10R controller back to RAID instead of AHCI mode, and the RAID10-set was still ok.

Two lessons learned...

The SSD didn't have a pre-production firmware (why did Intel state to the other user who had this problem as well that "0953" was indeed a pre-prod firmware?).Intel's manufacuring process is a-ok then (sorry for the false accusation Intel).
The JMicron controller does indeed fool Intel's updater tool by passing another hardware (the JMicron SATA ports were in IDE mode by the way).

Maybe a last lesson learned as well... sometimes being too careful doesn't pay. I tried to perform the update on the JMicron SATA ports so I wouldn't have to switch the ICH10R set from RAID to AHCI and back (because I feared the RAID set might need to be rebuild).

@veggiem0nster: thanks for the golden tip! 🙂

@BDS73: yes, I know that updating the FW when connected to a RAID set doesn't work. That's why I tried to do the update on the JMicron controller's SATA ports (see above).

/Charles

Re: 02HD firmware update impossible because of pre-production firmware?! (version 0953)

idata — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:16:07 GMT

I got the same problem with the firmware update I just got an Intel X25-E 32 Gb and I get your SSD has pre-production firmware bla bla bla My hardware ID it is 045c my firmware it is 045C8860 I don't know how to have it updated

Re: 02HD firmware update impossible because of pre-production firmware?! (version 0953)

idata — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:49:11 GMT

Same problem here with a brand new X25-E 64GB.

Model: SSDSA2SH064G101

Pack date: 18 NOV 2009

Batch# : M019945

SN: CVEM9470004G064KGN

Firmware version: 047C8855

I have tried the update on all SATA connectors on my motherboard. No luck.

Hope this gets resolved by Intel.

Re: 02HD firmware update impossible because of pre-production firmware?! (version 0953)

idata — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 12:32:23 GMT

Me too 😞 X25-E, 64GB, SSDSA2SH064G1GC, S/N CVEM9213005H064KGN.

Can't upgrade to 8850 (atm 8840) - "your ssd has a pre production firmware". Use this SSD in a Dell notebook, standard config, no RAID's or other exotic things. I've tried with ATA and AHCI mode set in BIOS - no success.

Hope Intel will fix this.

Will x25-e G1 get a TRIM firmware?