How to update firmware for SSD

I struggled with this too - I'd hate to think how much time I've spent on it! For various reasons the CD route wasn't an option for me. I've done the process successfully twice.

Firstly - as far as I'm aware the Samsung utility will not work unless the 840SSD is running off the internal SATA connector(s).

Secondly - I had a USB stick work on a 2009 Macbook Pro but not with a 2008 Macbook Pro - this required a small partition to be created on the internal drive (actually quite a quick process now I know how to do it).

Thirdly - Backup before you start messing around (or maybe get some who is comfortable with this stuff to do it for you)

Finally - this is not easy and will take a while the first time you do it.... really do consider using someone if this all seems like it's written in another language. And I take no responsibility for any mess you get yourself into....

I borrow from two threads in particular - there are lots of smart people out there.... so here's my "as built" script. Maybe it will work for you.

Based on this article:

- http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1810841&page=4 (about 1/2 was down by Murri)

If booting from USB stick fails which it did on the 2008 MBP.- I used ideas from this thread.

- https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4863343
comment by bryans63 re: partitioning the internal drive rather than using a USB.

I used Refind (Boot Manager) to allow booting for a NON OS X Disk.

Download http://www.rodsbooks.com/refind/getting.html

USB DMG was sourced below. (Must be renamed to .iso). It was copied to the USB using Unetbootin (see link below). This image already had the Samsung firmware installed which cuts a few steps out.

Samsung SSD 840 EVO Performance Restoration Software DMG

Get Unetbootin here: http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net.

Insert a USB stick and run Unebootin. Choose the Diskimage Option and choose the SYSLINUX.ISO that you downloaded and renamed (above). Assuming its found the USB, click OK. This will create a Bootable USB.

Unzip ReFind (Download folder is good)

Check instructions on the ReFind website regarding Yosemite if that's what you Mac is running - http://www.rodsbooks.com/refind.

I installed refind to the internal EFI Partition so this needs to be mounted. Use Terminal and run the command diskutil list to get the disk name and use the command (diskutil mount /dev/disk2s1 your will probably be a different name). Once it's mounted, you should see it in Finder.

Use Finder to copy refind folder (from Downloads) to the /EFI folder

Drag the ReFind Installer (install.sh) into Terminal and suffix (end) the command with "--esp" (install to the EFI partition)

Once installed...

Go to the refind folder on the EFI partion and find refind.conf

Edit your new refind.conf file - use Finder and open with TextEdit - locate the dont_scan_volumes line, which is commented out with a # symbol at the start of the line by default. Uncomment this line and remove the "Recovery HD" item from the line. Some users report that they need to enter one or two dummy entries, as in dont_scan_volumes foo,bar, to get it to work.

At this point you can restart and after a 30 sec pause you should see the ReFind Boot Menu.

Plug in the USB stick and choose to boot from it. If it doesn't boot see * below.

It should automatcally run PERF.exe and you can then run through the process. Sometimes you need to reboot after the firmware update and run through the process again to restore the performance.

If USB wont boot (maybe older macs??)

- create a 1G partition with a FAT file system for SYSLINUX and image, just make sure that this partition is within the first 3 partitions (so make sure it is a primary partition), or you won’t be able to boot from it. Name it SYSLINUX.

Then run Unetbootin and use the SYSLINUX ISO (created by Murri with the Samsung Tools Pre-installed) to write the bootable image to the partition created above.

Reboot and from ReFind - choose the SysLinux Partition. Sit back and watch the magic happen...

Then Undo everything...

Mount the EFI partition again and remove the Refind and Tools directories to uninstall Refind.

Delete the SYSLYNUX Partition (if you created one).

Reboot

Reset PRAM (CMD OPTION P R). This may in turn cause problems for TRIM Enabler if you are running it... See here for solution.

http://www.cindori.org/trim-enabler-and-yosemite/

DONE! Phew....

If you want to update the firmware using the Magician software on a Windows computer can you connect the Macbook to the Windows computer using Target Disk Mode or do you have to physically take the SSD out of the Macbook and connect it to the Windows computer with a SATA to USB adapter?

nmanig wrote:

If you want to update the firmware using the Magician software on a Windows computer can you connect the Macbook to the Windows computer using Target Disk Mode or do you have to physically take the SSD out of the Macbook and connect it to the Windows computer with a SATA to USB adapter?

No. TDM exposes a FW/TB HD, the firmware requires a SATA/PCI connection. Macs do not have an eSATA connection either. The USB adapter has the same issue.

The 840Pro firmware can be updated via the CD/ISO route for DXM06B0Q version.

Hello,

I already try the cd route, with an external FW drive, and the MacBook Pro didn't boot!

Because i instaled the ss. drive in the cd drive, it's hard to remove to instal on a pc to make the firmware update!

The TDM route, was my last hope..

😢

I have an 850 Pro SSD with the firmware revision EXM01B6Q. Do you know if there are any firmware updates available for this product? I can't seem to find information on the firmware for this SSD.

Seems there are none. The general Samsung SSD page does not list only for the 85o

http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/minisite/SSD/global/html/su pport/downloads.html

Also, the 850 specific page does not list any either

http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/minisite/SSD/global/html/ss d850pro/downloads.html

same here. got also firmware mismatch after trying to upgrade with .iso freedos bootable dvd to upgrade DXT08B0Q -> DXT09B0Q

system report shows DXT09B0Q aswell, not sure if everything succeeded lets see.

just wanted to report that other ppl have the same issue ;-)

I'm in need of some help...

I have a couple Samsung 840 SSDs Model MZ-7TD500. I created a DVD from the file - Samsung_SSD_840_Series_DXT09B0Q_Win_Mac.iso

I seems that I can boot from it, it does progress through a couple screens, but it hangs at the following screen:

A:\>cd samsung\dsrd

A:\SAMSUNG\DSRD>DSRD1_0.EXE

at this point my keyboard seems unresponsive, "enter" doesn't seem to work or any of the keys and I need to hard restart at this point.

What am I doing wrong? thank you!

Mac Pro 5,1 - 10.11.2

Is this the latest version of the firmware? Can you verify the integrity of the ISO using MD5?

I downloaded the ISO from the Samsung website yesterday and burning included a verify ( not sure if that is MD5?)

I have burned several DVD all have the same response. I am assuming that if loads the OS but doesn't find the firmware updater.

thanks

I downloaded the same file. The MD5 is

openssl md5 Samsung_SSD_840_DXT08B0Q_Mac.iso

MD5(Samsung_SSD_840_DXT08B0Q_Mac.iso)= 829277aeec3e9421440f0b44948fa38e

The firmware is located

the file name is different from what I downloaded:

Samsung_SSD_840_Series_DXT09B0Q_Win_Mac.iso

I don't see the file that you listed "Samsung_SSD_840_DXT08B0Q_Mac.iso"

Is it on this page?

http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/minisite/SSD/global/html/su pport/downloads.html

thanks again,

The Win_Mac.iso and _Mac.iso are two different files. Your file was downloaded from the Windows side. I downloaded using Safari. I get a DXT08B0Q while you have DXT09B0Q firmware versions. The ISO I get has a FDOEM (FreeDOS) implementation, while yours has an isolinux. I suggest you get the version through Safari. Also check what version you are running currently. If you already have Windows installed on the Mac, I suggest you use Samsung Magician rather than the ISO method.

Here are my screen shots.

thank you for the additional info.

I located the file above, burned a dvd and the file names and structure is exactly as your screens show. Unfortunately it hangs at the screen below. I let it go for 30minutes, tried hitting enter or other keys but no go. I think it's stuck. Do you know if this should work with 10.11.2?

Run the following steps, and re-try the Samsung update.

1. Boot into Local Recovery (Command+R).

2. Start Utilities -> Terminal.

3. Type csrutil disable in Terminal and press Enter/Return.

4. Type csrutil status.

5. Boot normally, and type csrutil status to confirm that all individual entries are still disabled.