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

[idata]

Watercool: what did you do to get back to 120 GB? did you lose data? I am on a brand new, updated drive on osx, too. Scared though

[idata]

as long as you have a time machine backup.. don't be scared 🙂

I installed Windows 7 on Bootcamp, then installed the SSD Toolbox. In MacOS i formatted the 8MB SSD Drive to FAT32. Afterwards it is recognized in Windows by the SSD Toolbox. There I did a secure erase several times (had to power cycle the SSD one time, which is not quite easy in a macbook ), afterwards I saw a 120GB SSD in MacOS (not in Windows.. it was still 8MB there).

[idata]

Hello,

I have two 320 SSD drives, 120 gb and 160gb in my mac mini and Macbook Pro. I did not have any problems with them. I applied new firmware 1.9 on both of them without any problem. Both of them are working fine for now with Lion 10.7.1.

However I have to say I am very concerned reading this post. If new firmware did not fix 8mb problem we really have to be "very loud". Since SSDs are still pretty expensive "toys" we should not give up on insisting from Intel to fix a problem or maybe even recognize a hardware error and recall all those drives. I primarily bought Intel drives because of reliability and I have to say that I am very sick of all this "half finished" products to maximize profit.

Anyhow - BACKUP, BACKUP BACKUP (but not on Intel 320 SSD series drives ofcourse)

[idata]

Oh wow. Nice Job - I'll make sure to do my best to assure that you'll see a hefty media backlash. Unbelieveable... Get your response to the latest developments out asap regardless, to assure that at least PR is up to its job in this company.

Regards.

[idata]

I see now why you call yourself harlekin, the board would be boring without you.