OCZ SSD drives and BSOD

Streeteh · 13 Nov 2011 at 10:52

Hi guys, i'm currently experiencing this issue:

http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/f...BSOD-(0xF4)-(not-related-to-sleep-hybernation)

Now, OCZ employees on the forum have just stated 'not a fault of the hardware, must be incompatibility', but my system has run fine for months now. It did happen again in the past and somehow i managed to get it up an running again but i can't for the life of me remember how that was. At present my SSD is unusable, i've formatted it but i'm still unable to resintall windows. The firmware is up to date, so i can't try that, generally i'm out of options.

Anyone else experienced these issues?

Blackbadger · 13 Nov 2011 at 23:08

I also had bsod issues with ocz drives. (not the exact same issue as you)

After testing multiple drives in various systems, it turns out that the sandforce controller works on some systems and not others. It is frustratingly intermittent however making life very difficult to diagnose.
To "fix" some laptops after a hdd related bsod, removal of the battery & drive. then power up without them connected. Then turn off, plug all in again. Allowed the bios to re-detect the vertex drives.
Various tweaks, bios's, Intel drivers etc can assist with making the problems less or more prevalent.

So in regards 'not a fault of the hardware, must be incompatibility'. It's a bit of a weak response, as it's a fault of the hardware (sandforce firmware/controller) that makes it incompatible.

OCZ were running a unofficial refund program where you can send your drive back regardless of where you purchased it from for a full refund. I understand that they have now moved to a different controller, so maybe a replacement may not have the issues.
A unstable HDD regardless of how fast it is, is useless. A PC should never BSOD.

skyripper · 14 Nov 2011 at 17:40

The Vertex 3's issues with BSOD, OCZ are blaming Intel and Sandforce... all I know is that since I've switched to Intels enterprise drivers (rather than the desktop ones) I havent had a single BSOD. I'd already tried all the other OCZ suggestions with no joy.

As for your Vertex 2LE - is it Bricked (PC cant see it in the BIOS or in Windows) - or is it that the install DVD cant find it to get on with the install of Windows?

fozzy · 15 Nov 2011 at 03:28

I've had the exact same issues as described in the thread over at the OCZ forums. My vertex 2 has just started with BSOD. I've done an RMA request, I'll let you know how it goes.

Streeteh · 18 Nov 2011 at 16:58

Sorry for the slow reply guys. I remembered how i fixed the issue last time; a secure erase. After doing that the drive then works as if nothing had ever happened. It's so strange, the drive appears utterly dead, often BIOS doesn't see it, formatting it takes ages and any sort of data transfer will fail very quickly. As soon as its secure erased it's back to normal, obviously without my data on it anymore.

Not sure whether an RMA will solve anything at all, seems more like an incompatibility issue to me than a hardware failure.

fozzy · 3 Mar 2012 at 16:34

Holy thread revival batman etc, etc.

I Rma'd my first drive and was pleasantly surprised at how painless it was (apart from the postage costs) I received a shiny new vertex 2 and reinstalled windows again as well as all my programs. This was around the end of November beginning of December, so less than 4 months ago. My Rma replacement has just died on me this morning, no warning, no bsod, nothing. It has a Green light and a red light both displayed at the same time. I've tried the possible fix on a thread over at the OCZ forums but that's a no go, so time for Rma number 2.

Has anybody Rma'd more than 1 drive before? Will they just send me a Vertex 2 again? It's seriously getting on my wick now, I'd rather they just refund me the money and then I can buy a drive that isn't made of fluff.