Samsung 840 EVO slow firmware update eSATA cable

There should be a way to update the firmware via a Mac. It's one of the downloads on the line "SATA SSD-840 EVO Firmware for Mac".

https://www.samsung.com/semiconductor/minisite/ssd/download/tools/

This article provides two different methods of burning an .iso image to a CD/DVD.

https://www.online-tech-tips.com/mac-os-x/burn-an-iso-file-using-mac-os-x/

Unfortunately It looks like the Samsung .iso image is for legacy MBR booting only since I don't see the necessary EFI bootloader on the image, so "burning" the .iso image to a USB drive is not an easy option. It is possible to use Linux to create a UEFI bootloader for the Samsung firmware updater so it can boot from a USB drive, but it would take some work. I really cannot believe a company like Samsung cannot be bothered to provide a UEFI booting image for their updaters. Not every computer has an optical drive these days and many systems only boot using UEFI mode (such as the Mac).

Sjfipad wrote:

That download consists of the ISO file that, when burned to a DVD, unfortunately does not work to boot an early 2011 MBP. The DVD appears as a boot disk, but selecting it only results in a blank screen with a blinking underscore character in the top left corner of the screen.

Thanks for the updated information. I doubt it would matter, but I wonder if it would have worked if burned to a CD instead.

It is also a good reminder for others to choose an SSD carefully and make sure the manufacturer provides a UEFI bootable USB firmware updater option as an .iso or .img file. I'm sure the Samsung .iso updater could be "burned" to a USB drive with a little effort using Linux tools, but I also realize this is beyond most user's abilities. It is a shame and very frustrating that a company like Samsung cannot provide a proper OS independent firmware updater.

As an after thought, I wonder if a bootable rEFInd USB drive would recognize and boot the Samsung firmware updater.