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How to apply the "Bad Context" firmware fix to a Bitlocker encrypted device?

MRump
New Contributor

I just got hit by the 8MB bug a few days ago.

* SSD 320Series

* Serial Number: BAD_CTX 0000013F

* Firmware: 4PC10302

With version 2.0.10 of the Intel SSD Firmware Update Tool I wanted to install the latest firmware 4PC10362, but I get the following error:

The Intel SATA SSD Firmware Update did not complete. Please try one of the following:

1) Disable the Drive Password protection in your BIOS and retry the update

2) Enable S.M.A.R.T. capability in your BIOS and retry the update

3) Enable Legacy IDE mode in your BIOS and retry the update

The issue with the drive is that there is a Bitlocker encryption applied to it. I do have the Bitlocker recovery key from our IT department, but I could not find a way to disable the drive password in my BIOS.

I Enabled SMART and switched into Legacy IDE mode, but none of this was working.

Could someone please share some light on what I need to do in order to disable the drive password and whether there is a chance to recover any data from the drive.

3 REPLIES 3

Jose_H_Intel1
Valued Contributor II

It seems a difficult scenario but you may take the Intel® SSD to a data recovery service. There are some Intel® Partners that provide this type of service without affecting the warranty of the drive.

https://software.intel.com/partner/search-detail?companyguid=80ade2e2-0a7d-e111-a1da-001a4b33b648 https://software.intel.com/partner/search-detail?companyguid=80ade2e2-0a7d-e111-a1da-001a4b33b648

https://software.intel.com/partner/search-detail?companyguid=1f3707f6-b3bc-e111-ab57-001a4b33b648 https://software.intel.com/partner/search-detail?companyguid=1f3707f6-b3bc-e111-ab57-001a4b33b648

For warranty replacements please contact your nearest http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/contactsupport Intel® support team.

I am truly sorry for the inconvenience.

NOTE: These links are being offered for your convenience and should not be viewed as an endorsement by Intel of the content, products, or services offered there.

Considering what I've read about drive restore after a secure erase, it most likely looks like a problem that can be resolved in software. Why doesn't Intel release one, similar to a firmware upgrade it tried earlier?

Jose_H_Intel1
Valued Contributor II

The 8MB state is a general drive failure state. Additional information on the type of failure is contained in the Bad_CTX 0000013x information: /thread/24205 https://communities.intel.com/thread/24205

Some types of failures that result in the drive showing 8MB allow the drive to be restored to functionality via Secure Erase, but in all cases the logical data mapping structure is damaged and the data is likely to be unrecoverable.