How to update firmware for SSD

So how are you meant to update the 840 pro SSD?

Install Windows. You can usually get a trial demo, or find a PC.

The PC route requires one to pull out the SSD, upgrade firmware, and put it back in the Mac. This process has to repeated for every firmware update for the SSD. 😢

Using a Windows 7 installation (temporary), I can successfully update FW using the SSD Magician software.

Intel 6 Series Chipset:

Vendor: Intel

Product: 6 Series Chipset

Link Speed: 6 Gigabit

Negotiated Link Speed: 6 Gigabit

Description: AHCI Version 1.30 Supported

Samsung SSD 840 PRO Series:

Capacity: 256.06 GB (256,060,514,304 bytes)

Model: Samsung SSD 840 PRO Series

Revision: DXM04B0Q

I do not plan to keep Windows 7 long-term. 👿

repeat rinse wash.. how many firmware updates to you envision? are SSD vendors that bad?

Using DOSBox (unsuccessful...).

http://imgur.com/fNNM7

http://imgur.com/bQgrp

http://imgur.com/4zfkq

@Hatter... Not very many. Eventually, SAMSUNG will probably have a MAC tool as well, but the early buyers may suffer a bit. I understand your point-of-view.

As a test, I ran SeaTools (Seagate built using FreeDOS) which works on another MAC with a Seagate drive, but have not tried OWC/Crucial/OCZ to see if they may help or not.

May just leave it at this point.

If the drive works, you do NOT need to update the firmware.

sometimes they seem to work or work for x number of days and weeks, but IF there is firmware READ WHAT it addresses in any case and DO check that and online forums before you buy as well (or Google for Mac related issues with the device).

Anyone that has ever been hit knows, such as Seagate 7200.11 1TB model just how bad it can be. Or iMac w/ Seagate SATA as well.

I have owned 5 Seagate 7200.11 drives, all of which are still in use, with ZERO issues.

Using a Windows 7 installation (temporary), I can successfully update FW using the SSD Magician software.

Intel 6 Series Chipset:

Vendor: Intel

Product: 6 Series Chipset

Link Speed: 6 Gigabit

Negotiated Link Speed: 6 Gigabit

Description: AHCI Version 1.30 Supported

Samsung SSD 840 PRO Series:

Capacity: 256.06 GB (256,060,514,304 bytes)

Model: Samsung SSD 840 PRO Series

Revision: DXM04B0Q

I do not plan to keep Windows 7 long-term.

What cable did you use to connect to your windows machine??

LAFANGA wrote:

What cable did you use to connect to your windows machine??

I had to create a bootcamp installation on my MacMini, so it is an internal SATA connection.

@UAofE - Whether it is an 840 Pro or a regular 840 or 830 Samsung, the challenge remains the same. 😉

has anyone tried using the Mac ISO posted here?

http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/samsungssd/downloads.html

OWC uses a similar bootable ISOLinux, under which you run their firmware updater.

Linux is small enough you can boot and run it directly from the ISOLinux DVD, without having to Install a great wad of stuff. In some cases, pre-placing the firmware update files on a Hard Drive may come in handy.

Jeremy Rojas wrote:

has anyone tried using the Mac ISO posted here?

http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/samsungssd/downloads.html

The ISO is identical (at least md5sums match) with the Bootable CD/DVD that SSD Magician 3.2 creates.

@Grant... the challenge is providing a BIOS equivalent to the bootable CD/DVD which allows access to hardware.

One option that I have not explored is running the bootcamp installer with Windows 7 and replacing the W7 DVD with this ISO (using 'option' key followed by alt-eject key) before the boot process actually starts, which may provide a compatible CM-BIOS environment. If someone wants to try this and report on this thread, it would help others.

Here is a UTube video which provides a visual equivalent of what I am referring to (the video refers to installing WXP on a boot-camped ML).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-odj1jbuKj4

the challenge is providing a BIOS equivalent to the bootable CD/DVD which allows access to hardware.

The solution OWC and others provides is to dismiss the GUI and get a Terminal window, then enter:

sudo <firmware_updater_application>

running as essentially Root, although a little risky if you screw up, gives you the needed Hardware access.