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]

if it looks fixed for you, great.

It does not for others.

[ZStan]

None got 8mb bug on unsafe poweroff after update, and any malfunction can be manifested by controler panic mode which is shown as 8Mb.... hw failing is not something you can prevent for 100% od users

[idata]

It's not only the 8M hickup after powerdown and restart, the damn thing freezes up and hangs the whole system as well...which causes the cold reboot, even after the update.

[ZStan]

it could be just bad ssd, nothing to do with "Bad Context 13x Error" due unsafe power off

[AKouf]

Hi...even that is not clear to me...I would like to see users who have the 8mb bug AFTER the firmware 0362 to show their ssd serial number!

Intel says the the firmware fixes specific Bad Context 13x Error Serial Number BAD_CTX 0000013x!!!

Plz watch at the end of this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqNmhWL_L54 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqNmhWL_L54 , you should see clearly that this guy has serial number BAD_CTX 000001!

There is a differerce from 0000013x which is related to unxpected power-loss

My personal believe is that every kind of hardware failure of the 320 series ssd starts with BAD_CTX xxxxxx serial number (as this guy has) and results to 8mb of drive's capacity (and that's where the confusion begins) that's why people may think that even after the firmware update their ssd has broken!

I own an 160gb 320 series ssd from April and recently have updated the firmware but I still worry for this kind of failure...

Intel should clarify this and people who had their ssd's bricked after the update must upload their exact serial numbers.

If serial numbers aren't 0000013x then I think we have to deal with normal ssd hardware failures which we all know every company has.

Sorry for my english I hope you understand THX