Update from Intel's NAND Solutions Group

[Alan_F_Intel]

Dear User of the Intel® SSD Communities:

Thank you very much for your blogs on Intel Support Community related to updating the firmware on your Intel® 34nm High Performance SSDs. Intel is committed to its customers and its products and is taking this issue very seriously.

We have been contacted by users with SSD issues after using the firmware upgrade tool (version 1.3) in a Windows 7* 64bit environment. Intel has replicated the issue on 34nm SSDs (X25-M) and is working on a fix. If users have downloaded 02HA firmware and not upgraded, Intel recommends they don't upgrade until further notice. Intel is pursuing the resolution of this as a high priority. No related issues have been reported by users who have successfully upgraded to 02HA firmware via the firmware upgrade tool (version 1.3)."

You should know that Intel is seeking direct feedback on this issue from members of the Community. In fact, we have communicated with selected users of the blog "Trim Update Hosed my Windows 7 Install", asking them to send their drives directly to Intel to expedite the analysis of the issues. This action will enable us to more quickly generate a resolution for this issue.

We appreciate your patience in this matter. And thank you for participating in the Intel Support Community.

rgds,

Alan

NAND Solutions Group

[idata]

Alan,

I am sure that the community users will be grateful for your clear statement.

It is understandable that many are getting exasperated, but I can also appreciate that it is vital to take the time to ensure that any fix is dependable.

Personally I was 'lucky' enough to miss the firmware release, and as I'm a Win 7 x64 user I am now quietly waiting for the fixed firmware to be released.

One question for Intel about supporting drivers: It is clear that the current release of Intel Matrix Storage Manager v8.9 drivers do not support TRIM.

Can Intel confirm or otherwise that the next iteration of the SATA drivers (Intel Rapid Storage Technology v9.5) will support TRIM, or will you be telling SSD users to remove Intel drivers and use default Windows 7 drivers in order to benefit from TRIM?

When is Rapid Storage Technology v9.5 going to be available for general download?

[idata]

Alan,

Can you please confirm the following?

· Are you really saying this is a Windows 7/ 64 problem? If so will moving to Windows 7/32 solve the problem?

· Why is a firmware update not being issued to allow people to revert back to the old firmware version?

· In what circumstances was Intel able to replicate the problem?

Also please note I am having problems after a successful firmware update and I would appreciate direction in what I am supposed to do. RMA? Install Win 7/32?

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

[idata]

Not sure what is meant by Windows 7 x64 problem since I installed the firmware on two X25-M 160GB drives with Windows 7 x64, one after Windows 7 x64 was installed and the other before Windows 7 x64 was installed.

[idata]

I would love it if someone would explain te problem to me in simpler terms (using the X25-M for windows 7/64)

I've bought an 80 GB X25-M and a Toshiba X500 notebook. (Received the 80 GB, the notebook is on backorder)

The firmware on de X25 is 02G9

Without altering the firmware, can it safely be installed in a Windows7/64 notebook?

What are the problems I can encounter if I would use it unaltered?