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]

RMA it, then update the new drive as soon as you get it if it's not already running the latest firmware.

Running Secure Erase on an already affected drive is only a temporary fix and won't eliminate the possibilities of another crash, regardless of firmware version.

The new firmware only seems to prevent Bad Context when it's applied to an SSD that has never had this issue before.

[idata]

>The new firmware only seems to prevent Bad Context when it's applied to an SSD that has never had this issue before.

Utter nonsense and totaly wrong. If you would read the thread, you'd see, that I was one of several cases, where the 13x error hit for the first time after I've already had updated the firmware of the drive. And please stop propagating that the new firmwareupdate prevents the 13x error, it isimply isn't true. The problem isn't fixed, and Intel PR has stepped into silent mode, after they were able to place articles containing the same misinformation in the usual "news" outlets.

Thats all. Just don't buy this product.

[idata]

Chill out, I was trying to help. I was going by my impression of the problem, hence the "seems to" in my post. I must have missed what you said earlier or I just forgot. It's been a while now.

[idata]

Seriously, I think that if the problem could be so easily reproducible with correctly working units, Intel should be having so many RMAs that it couldn't hide the problem. How many 320 SSDs has it sold so far? I don't think they're few.

I think that there WAS a problem with "Bad Context 13x Error" on power loss and that it has been fixed. Whoever is still having similar problems (same error message, but in different conditions) after updating the firmware, he/she must have a defective unit in some way. So, I see the RMA as the only solution in their case.

Considering that Intel does not ask for money (neither for shipping back the unit), I think the inconvenience is limited after all... Everyone would prefer to have no problems at all, but I think that getting a defective device can happen. The quality of the support service makes the difference then.

In my personal experience, I had an Intel X-25M that shown some S.M.A.R.T. errors after some time. I contacted the Intel technical support and it took about a week for my defective SSD to be taken by the express courier, shipped from Italy to Ireland and replaced with a new one one, with no cost at all! Never had a so good experience in the past with other manufacturers (except for Plextor, which was at the same quality level). The new X-25M is still working perfectly and so I even decided to buy another Intel SSD, a 320 80GB. It has been working fine with no problems at all for some months now.

So, consider the case you may have a defective unit.

Mauro.

[Vegan]

I suggest giving the SSD a chance with the SSD tool kit. The new tool ket can upgrade disks, it can also do the secure erase etc.

Makes it a perfect tool.

I still will plug for backups, I use hard disks for backups, they work OK, not so fast but big capacity is a plus