Is my Intel 160GB SSD borked?

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Following on from this thread I re-installed Windows last night. I eventually got the RST service running in W7 but I had lots of problems. Programs wouldn't run properly, Media Monkey for example 'loaded' but I couldn't see any interface, all that showed was the Media Monkey tray logo.

Windows Update took a suspiciously long time. Some updates just sat there for ages doing nothing, examples included big Microsoft patches, Silverlight, Microsoft's Intellitype Pro software. Lots and lots of things just didn't run right at all.

I then found in the Event Log several thousand (6 thousand and more) occurences of Event 51 relating to Disk 2. I realised it could either be my iPod or my external hard drive so I did some chkdsk's and my iPod wouldn't respond, but then again neither did my SSD. However I was fairly sure that the SSD was OK as the Intel software said it was all OK.

I rebooted after one failed Windows Update round and got told that BOOTMGR was missing so I booted into Windows install to fix it. It didn't work so I went back into the install to re-format the disk. It was then that I noticed a 100MB partition on my SSD so, being quite peeved and tired, I formatted that as well. I think this is what has knackered the SSD. My BIOS can see the HDD but the Windows installer can't/won't install W7 to it or set up a partition on it to install W7 to.

I then realised that formatting that 100MB partition probably wasn't too clever so I got my Intel SSD firmware CD out to try and fix it. Turns out my SSD is running pre-production firmware. Googled that and some Intel community threads suggest the SSD is in the wrong SATA port. Turned PC off and plugged SSD into a different set of SATA ports. No go, BIOS won't see it now. So plugged SSD to original SATA ports and BIOS can see it again.

I think there was another problem with my PC but in trying to fix it I believe I have broken my SSD by removing the hidden partition. Is it worth trying to contact Intel or the shop I bought the SSD from to get a warranty repair/replacement or should I just give up and buy a Crucial M4 SSD? I see that, convieniently, both the 64 and 128GB models are on offer this week on OcUK. Shall I just buy one and forget about the Intel SSD completely?

Sorry for the long thread on a cold Monday morning. :p Personally I think it'd be quicker an easier to get a Crucial M4. As I had the 160GB Intel SSD I was thinking of getting the 128GB but if I keep my Steam games on another drive and drastically cut down on files/games etc I keep on my SSD and just use the SSD for Windows/Office/general programs I think I can get away with the 64GB version. Does anyone else agree with the give up on the Intel SSD and get a new Crucial M4 plan?

TL;DR? PC borked. Deleted 100MB hidden partition on Intel SSD. Worth warranty claim? Or just buy Crucial M4 64GB or 128GB?
 
I thought the hidden partition was created by windows during setup? I have it too on my M4. By deleting it youve probably borked your windows install. A quick reinstall should fix it. Mske sure you delete any existing partions on it, then reformat/partition using the Win7 setup.

 
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Hi MeatLoaf. Cheers for replying. :) I'd already formatted the Windows partition on my SSD so there was no Windows install to bork. Windows setup just refuses to install to my SSD. I've re-formatted and deleted the partition and tried to create a new partition to no avail. W7 setup just refuses to work with the SSD.
 
I had a similar experience with my crucial, after restoring a corrupted backup image.
Formatting, partitioning etc would not get the drive seen by an OS.

The way I sorted it was to blank the entire drive by writing zero's to it using a dos program.

Think I used G-Parted live or one of the utils off of hiren's ultimate boot disk.
Sorry I cant be more specific, but hopefully has pointed you in the right direction.
 
Hi MeatLoaf. Cheers for replying. :) I'd already formatted the Windows partition on my SSD so there was no Windows install to bork. Windows setup just refuses to install to my SSD. I've re-formatted and deleted the partition and tried to create a new partition to no avail. W7 setup just refuses to work with the SSD.

Have you got any other HDDs/USB drives plugged in when installing? I've had grief before, had to back everything off to one drive and one DVD drive and go from there.

Actually, it did it the other day as well on a mate's machine come to think of it.
 
I had a similar experience with my crucial, after restoring a corrupted backup image.
Formatting, partitioning etc would not get the drive seen by an OS.

The way I sorted it was to blank the entire drive by writing zero's to it using a dos program.

Think I used G-Parted live or one of the utils off of hiren's ultimate boot disk.
Sorry I cant be more specific, but hopefully has pointed you in the right direction.
OK, so completely wipe the disk. I'll try that in a bit. :)

Have you got any other HDDs/USB drives plugged in when installing? I've had grief before, had to back everything off to one drive and one DVD drive and go from there.

Actually, it did it the other day as well on a mate's machine come to think of it.
I did have a USB HDD and an onboard HDD plugged in. I've got the USB HDD off but I'll disable the onboard HDD and see if that helps.

Edit: Just turned my PC on and Windows is currently installing. :) I'll see how it goes, it's currently expanding the Windows files (0%). I'll post back here when I get any news.
 
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My first priority would be to get the firmware updated on the SSD drive - it sounds pretty flakey, at best.
I agree. That was the first thing I tried this evening when I got home. The firmware CD was still in the PC. It still claims the SSD is running pre-production firmware and then gives up on that before scanning for other Intel SSDs to update.

Found some Intel community threads hinting that the SSD is plugged into the wrong SATA port. It's in the same port its always been in and when I tried the other SATA ports last night, I couldn't even see the SSD in the BIOS.

I really don't understand what's happened here. I've got the latest firmware on CD and I've updated the SSD to that but it seems to have regressed quite spectacularly to a very early firmware. How, I've no idea. How I can persuade the firmware disc to update the SSD, again, I've no idea. :( The firmware issue is the last major problem I seem to have picked up recently that I haven't yet fixed.
 
Borked BIOS somehow? if it cant see a number of the ports. Maybe you missed a setting in the BIOS (that got defaulted) that turns off unused SATA ports.
I know I can do that on the one I was working on yesterday in an effort to get it to boot quicker.
only 1 SATA drive on port 0, so I turned of 2,3 and 4 and the other four ports were RAID / SATA so disabled all of those. :D
 
Hmm don't think so Scubascorpion. I turned the Marvell RAID off this evening but its been on ever since I got the board so it was on earlier when I tried to run the firmware update. The Marvell RAID ports were on when I tried the SSD on them last night.

Just installed Intel SSD Toolbox v3.0.1 and its telling me that the selected Intel SSD has the latest firmware. The firmware is 2CV103M3 which, according to http://downloadmirror.intel.com/18363/eng/Release Notes.pdf, is the latest firmware version from August 2011. :confused:

Realised last night that if the SSD has the latest firmware and if I used a firmware disk that doesn't have the latest firmware, the tool would think the firmware on the SSD is old because its running a newer firmware than the disk has. :p
 
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