Firmware update now available - Addresses Bad Context 13x Error

[Alan_F_Intel]

Status:

Intel has posted a firmware update for the Intel® SSD 320 Series (firmware 4PC10362) which addresses the Bad Context 13x Error being discussed on the Communities site and elsewhere. You can download the new firmware here:

http://www.intel.com/go/ssdfirmware www.intel.com/go/ssdfirmware

Also posted at this link are Read Me, Release Notes, and SSD Firmware Update Tool Guidelines which provide detailed firmware update instructions and other relevant information such as the most current firmware revision available.

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

In order to provide the best user experience, Intel always recommends users download and install the latest firmware. As with any storage device, Intel recommends users frequently back up their data and periodically check for firmware updates. The http://www.intel.com/go/ssdtoolbox Intel® SSD Toolbox provides a host of utilities to monitor your SSD, including displaying detailed information such as the currently installed firmware revision.

What should I do if I have already experienced this issue?

If you have already experienced a drive failure or encounter this problem before the firmware update was 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 new firmware. The 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" caused by 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,

Alan

NVM Solutions Group

[idata]

IT DOES NOT WORK TO UPGRADE THIS DAMN FIRMWARE.....

Ive spend the whole weekend trying to fix this.. And Im stuck at the stage:

The intel SATA SSD Firmware Update did not complete.

Please try the following

1) Disable the drive pasword protection ,>>>>>>>> I dont have anything like this in my bios.. I have no password anywhere. ??

2) Enable S.M.A.R.T capabilites...>>>>>>>>>> Have done this.. Still not working.

3) Enable legacy IDE miode in bios..>>>>>>>> Done.. Still not working same error all the time..

Can some1 post me a step by step guide how to do a secure erase ???? Ive heard some rumor about this.. Why is it so hard to post a graphical STEP BY STep GUIDE or even a video how to SOLVE this problem / update firmware.. I quess you dont want to show that you actually have a firmware bug in your drives...

PICTURE of my problem

http://data.fuskbugg.se/skalman02/4e62c1ec27cd0_2011-09-04%2000.43.23.jpg http://data.fuskbugg.se/skalman02/4e62c1ec27cd0_2011-09-04%2000.43.23.jpg

[idata]

A step by step update guide is the "SATA SSD Firmware Update Tool Guidelines.pdf" available at:

http://www.intel.com/go/ssdfirmware http://www.intel.com/go/ssdfirmware

Make sure to use the latest firmware update tool (version 1.92, released on September, 1st), also downloadable from that page.

Also, make sure the CD where you burnt the ISO image has no read problems.

If you don't succeed to update the firmware in this way, try connecting the SSD to another system and repeat the procedure there.

If you still don't succeed, contact the Intel technical support.

Mauro.

[idata]

Thx for your tips.. But what is this Drive password that people are talking about. I have never entered a drive password.. And In my bios.. I cant find ANYTHING that says anything about a drive-password. ???

Im using a gigabyte p35-ds4 Motherboard. rev 2.0

[idata]

Ok now I have done the following:

Booted and done a secure erase... Now the drive is showing 8 GB instead of 8 MB... So I now try to flash the new firmware.. But when I start it up.. It asks for a password????

PLease help me... what should I do next to get past this..

[idata]

I've never set up a drive password, so I can't be of help. However, I think you may find something about it in your motherboard BIOS settings...

This is what Intel says in their guide:

Turn Off Drive Password Protection

Some systems provide the ability to password-protect their drives. If your system has password protection enabled, the Intel SSD may reject any requests from the host to update the firmware. You may need to turn off the drive password protection prior to beginning the firmware update process.Although it varies from system to system, you can usually find the Drive Password Protection feature located in the BIOS. Consult your system documentation for the BIOS settings and passwords.If you need help disabling the drive password protection feature, contact Intel Customer Support: http://www.intel.com/go/ssdsupport http://www.intel.com/go/ssdsupport

Mauro.