How to REALLY update Intel SSD firmware (02HD) from USB flash drive

[idata]

As /message/71345# 71345 http://communities.intel.com/message/71345# 71345 didn't work I found a better way update to the new firmware from a USB-drive:

Before we start you'll have to Open "My Computer". Either from Start Menu or by hitting the Windows Button + E. Now in the new window, press ALT button. Select Tools, then Folder Options. Under View select "Show hidden files, folders, and drives". Also uncheck "Hide protected operating files". Select "Ok".

A) Download the latest firmware, as we speak it's 02HD. http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18363 http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18363

B) Now you need a program like PowerISO or UltraISO to extract the content from the ISO file to a temporary folder of your choice.

C) One of the extracted files is config.sys. Open the file with notepad and make sure to remove the two "A:\". The file should look like like this afterwards:

DEVICE=HIMEM.EXELASTDRIVE=ZBUFFERS=20 FILES=40DOS=HIGH,UMBDOSDATA=UMBSHELLHIGH=command.com /P

D) Now navigate to http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/191416-dos-usb-boot-drive.html http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/191416-dos-usb-boot-drive.html and download the two zip files, win98boot.zip and HPUSBformattool.zip.

E) Unzip the win98boot.zip to a temporary folder of your choice.

F) Insert you USB-drive.

G) Extract the HPUSBFW.EXE from the downloaded HPUSBformattool.zip, and run the program.

H) Make sure the tool has selected the correct device. Pick FAT32. Check quick format. Check create a DOS startup disk and browse to the folder with the unzipped win98boot.zip files. Click start, yes and ok. Close the tool.

I) Now navigate to the extracted ISO files (the files we extracted in 2.) and copy them all EXCEPT command.com and paste them to the drive you just prepared with the HP tool.

J) Restart and enter BIOS to select your USB-drive as your primary boot device. Save and exit.

K) Now it should boot from your USB-drive and auto start the update proces.

[idata]

I would also like to use this update method. I prepared an USB stick for this. However, In BIOS, I have no idea what to choose as a boot device. I have USB FDD, USB HDD, USB ZIP. I have tried them all, but I don't see the computer booting from it.

Any ideas?How can I check if the the USB drive is bootable or not?

Update: During the boot sequence, I do see something like "USB Flash Drive" coming by, but that's it....no booting. I'm on Windows 7 (x86) by the way.

[idata]

The easiset way to do this is to use Unetbootin http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/ that can be used on both windows and Linux. Download and install Unetbootin for your windows/ linux computer. Download the Intel firmware ISO image form intel. Extract he file ISSDFUT.EXE from the iso image - this can be done with 7-7ip http://www.7-zip.org/. Start Unetbootin, Choose " Free DOS " from the distrubuitoins menu and follow the instructions to create your bootable USB stick. When this is finished, copy ISSDFUT.EXE to the root of your USB stick.

Once booted, hit enter and then select "Safe Mode". At the FreeDOS prompt (a:) go to the b: drive (i.e. type "b:", without quotes, and hit enter) and run the the ISSDFUT.EXE script (i.e. type " ISSDFUT.EXE ", without the quotes, and hit enter). this will start the flash process, Enjoy

[idata]

This UNetbootin method above does not work folks. I tried it. The author also loses credibility when he instructs one to select B:\ as the root of the USB drive where iSSDFUT.exe should reside, when in fact it is rather C:\

[idata]

How to run SATA Solid-State Drive Firmware Update Tool from USB drive / stick when you don't have a CD-ROM drive available and you're running Linux.

Using Ubuntu/ Debian Linux with GNOME desktop.

1. Format your USB drive with FAT filesystem using System -> Adminstration -> Disk Utility program

2. Whilst connect to the Internet, run UNetbootin program found in menu (once installed on your system) Applications -> System Tools -> UNetbootin

3. In the UNetbootin program, select the distribution to install on your USB drive "Free Dos". It will commence to download the image and install it to your usb.

4. Next download the Intel SATA Solid-State Drive Firmware Update Tool iso from Intel's website.

5. Once download, we need to mount the iso image to get the files off it... change to the directory where you downloaded the file. Then...

sudo mount -o loop intel_iso_image_file_name.iso /mnt

6. Now mounted, copy the all the files from the iso disk image to the root of the USB drive.

Umount your USB drive and we're done here. Now for the firmware update.

1. Boot your USB drive by hitting F12 on your keyboard whilst your computer is booting. Your computer BIOS will hence present you with a menu to select your USB drive to use as the boot drive.

2. UNetbootin will then present a blue screen with the word Default and a countdown from 10 seconds. Once the countdown reaches zero, you will then be presented with a black and white screen with a menu. VERY IMPORTANT. Select item 2 only - "FreeDOS Safe Mode (don't load any drivers)". Note, menu item 5, "FreeDOS Live CD only", will not work with intel ssd updater program.

3. You will then be presented with a A:\ prompt. Enter "C:" (without quotation marks, of course) to navigate to the root of your USB drive.

4. At the C:\ prompt, enter "command.com" (without quotation marks) and press your enter key. This will excute the command script.

5. Now at the C:\ prompt you can enter "issdfut.exe" and the update program will begin. Follow the prompts and the instructions and you'll be finished in a jiffy.

[idata]

wow. this is amazing. will try this... soon. thanks.