8/13 Update on "Bad Context 13x Error" for Intel SSD 320 Series

[idata]

Status:

Intel has reproduced, identified root cause, and developed a firmware update which addresses the Bad Context 13x Error being discussed on the Communities site and elsewhere.

Response plan:

The new firmware update is in final validation testing and is targeted for release on Intel® Communities within the next two weeks. Intel takes firmware updates and issues of reliability very seriously and is taking extra steps to support a smooth release. We appreciate your patience.

What should I do if I have not experienced this issue?

To minimize occurrence, if a system requires a shut down, Intel recommends using that system's standard power shut down sequence. As with any storage device, Intel recommends users frequently back up their data. Download and install the new firmware when it is available. As with our previous firmware updates, a secure erase is not required.

What should I do if I have experienced this issue?

If you have already experienced a drive failure or encounter this problem before the firmware update is released, please contact your Intel representative or Intel customer support (via web: http://www.intel.com/ www.intel.com or phone: http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/contact/phone www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/contact/phone) for an SSD replacement. An alternative option is to use the Intel ® SSD Toolbox or similar tools to perform a secure erase in order to restore the SSD to an operational state; all data will be erased. After secure erase, update your SSD with the upcoming firmware. The pending firmware update will not recover user data.

Background:

For users unfamiliar with the issue, an Intel SSD 320 Series drive may exhibit a drive capacity of 8MB and an electronic serial # field containing a message of "BAD_CTX 0000013x" due to an unexpected power loss under specific conditions. Once this error occurs, no data on the SSD can be accessed and the user cannot write to or read from the SSD.

Rgds,

Scott

Intel Corporation

[JKrev]

Extremely smooth update. Glad it was nondestructive. Thanks!

[idata]

I had no issues prior to the firmware update.

I backed up the SSD to another HDD, just in case.

Ran the firmware update, rebooted and everything seemed to be working fine. After about an hour of use, my laptop froze. Had to hard restart the laptop. It would start to boot and freeze at the "starting windows". Tried to run the win7 repair and it could not find the drive.

I pulled the SSD, installed the HDD and booted to the HDD. The I formatted the SSD with windows and cloned the HDD back to the SSD using the intel cloning tool.

I swapped the drives back. With the SSD back in my laptop, everything seemed to be up and running again until after about an hour, I got a "Windows detected a hard disk problem".... the details state the SSD is reporting a failure. Ran the intel diagnostic scan and it is showing "Failed - contact your reseller or local Intel representative for assistance."

Below are the SMART attributes.... I guess I am going to have to RMA this drive. Really wish I hadn't messed around with the Firmware. Seems to have caused me an issue.

[idata]

Update worked fine. Thanks!

[idata]

Hi,

I updated my 320 120GB with 1.9 and it went smooth and it ran for about 30 min without any problems, then i decided to test it with Intels SSD toolbox full diagnostic scan and after about 80% i got a Blue screen and had to shut it down hard. Then the disk died and all i could see was 8MB. So i dont think the new firmware fixed the problem... What to do?

[idata]

The ISO bootable CD does not find any "attached intel ssd" drives on my macbook pro 2008. I am SO fed up, I have opened, closed inserted and taken out this intel ssd for so many times now - i lost at least 2 days in total (included restoring my old data from backups) - now I was hoping for a smooth firmware upgrade on the rma drive and i can AGAIN take the laptop apart to upgrade the firmware in another machine (which will hopefully work!!).

Thanks intel for burning my time. Seriously, you promised to bring out a osx compatible firmware upgrade. This is not funny anymore !!