OCZ Sandforce Drive Firmware Update 1.32/1.33 released

[Airbot]

Firmware 1.32 for OCZ Sandforce drives, ( Vertex 2, Vertex LE, Agility 2) is available.


If you want to see what firmware you're currently running on, go to Device Manager and follow to here:




Changelog is here: Release Notes

Quite extensive changelog this time around. Looks like it's worth updating to. If you update, read all the instructions and warnings.

This is the OCZ toolbox update.
OCZ Technology

There's also a standalone.
Guide Sandforce Firmware update 1.32 for OS/System drives

General Discussion Firmware 1.32 Released at OCZ.com




April 20, 2011

Firmware 1.33 released.

Release Notes

Newest toolbox version from download link above - 2.36

Updated from my other non system Win 7 drive. Went just fine.

 

[sygnus21]

Thank you sir!

Have you done your update yet? Thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[TCG]

Thanks for the heads up! I'd be interested to know how your upgrade went.

 

[Airbot]

Yeah, I did mine with the toolbox, from my other Win 7 image on another drive. Went just fine. I use the Intel RST 9 series drivers on that image. And the 10 series on my main system drive.

But I've read that those using the Intel RST 10 series drivers can run the toolbox in XP compatibility mode, and it picks up the drive.

 

[sygnus21]

But I've read that those using the Intel RST 10 series drivers can run the toolbox in XP compatibility mode, and it picks up the drive.

Good tip. I have the RST drivers on my Win 7 drive, 9 series on my Vista drive so I'll just log into it and do the update from there.

And thanks for the feedback. Notice any performance increase BTW?

 

[Airbot]

"Notice any performance increase BTW?"

No, but I wiped my drive back to factory speeds with HDDerase and restored a complete image, so I wouldn't be able to tell you.

I think if you read the thread at OCZ I posted in the first post at the bottom, some are saying it has a bit of an increase in performance/speed.

 

[sygnus21]

Yeah I just finished reading through the whole thread and some have mentioned slight speed increases. I'm going to update mine as soon as I boot into my Vista drive.

Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Well, it would not work with the SSDs while still in RAID-0 as expected, so I had to create a system image backup, delete the RAID-0, run the OCZ standalone EXE in a command prompt at boot to flash the SSD's, restore the RAID-0, then do a system image recovery.

So far I haven't noticed any difference either.

 

[sygnus21]

I just finished my update. All went well though I'm still in Vista as I've got quite a few updates. Anyway I'll check the performance later.

As as side note man I forgot how slow, and loud my Vista drive is. Still using a spinner for it :huh:

 

[pooch]

Well, it would not work with the SSDs while still in RAID-0 as expected, so I had to create a system image backup, delete the RAID-0, run the OCZ standalone EXE in a command prompt at boot to flash the SSD's, restore the RAID-0, then do a system image recovery.

So far I haven't noticed any difference either.

I also use mine in RAID 0 and it is putting me off the update, but thinking aloud do I really need to break the RAID?
If I was to disconnect the RAID disks boot up with another disc and then connect the RAID discs individually and flash them before putting everything back as it was to start with, this should work or?? as the discs do not need to be formatted to flash

 

[Brink]

Well, it would not work with the SSDs while still in RAID-0 as expected, so I had to create a system image backup, delete the RAID-0, run the OCZ standalone EXE in a command prompt at boot to flash the SSD's, restore the RAID-0, then do a system image recovery.

So far I haven't noticed any difference either.

I also use mine in RAID 0 and it is putting me off the update, but thinking aloud do I really need to break the RAID?
If I was to disconnect the RAID disks boot up with another disc and then connect the RAID discs individually and flash them before putting everything back as it was to start with, this should work or?? as the discs do not need to be formatted to flash

Hello Brian,

I would recommend to create a system image first to be safe before trying it.

It says that BIOS needs to be set as AHCI to run the updater.

 

[Golden]

Hi,

I'm a bit confused by this upgrading process. The flashing guide states:

http://www.ocztechnology.com/files/ssd_tools/OCZ_Sandforce_v132_Guide.pdf
This feature only works when the drive is connected as a spare (not running Windows/OS from the drive itself.

So in my case, having only 1 x Vertex 2 and a single Windows 7 installation, it sounds as if its not possible for me to update my firmware.

This is bizarre since people with a single SSD and a single OS installlation (the majority of us perhaps?) have no access to upgrades in firmware. Or am I misunderstanding?

Regards,
Golden

 

[Airbot]

You can do it from within Windows with the toolbox standalone on the system drive, but it might cause a temporary BSOd or freeze up until a reboot. You'd have to read some of the threads there. Not supposed to do it on the system drive, but it's possible. I've done it before.

They are several other ways to update it. The Linux Updater way, or use the standalone.

Guide Sandforce Firmware update 1.32 for OS/System drives
Guide OCZ-SandForce Linux based firmware update tool
Guide Using The Linux Flasher With Parted Magic

 

[sygnus21]

Hi,

I'm a bit confused by this upgrading process. The flashing guide states:

http://www.ocztechnology.com/files/ssd_tools/OCZ_Sandforce_v132_Guide.pdf
This feature only works when the drive is connected as a spare (not running Windows/OS from the drive itself.

So in my case, having only 1 x Vertex 2 and a single Windows 7 installation, it sounds as if its not possible for me to update my firmware.

This is bizarre since people with a single SSD and a single OS installlation (the majority of us perhaps?) have no access to upgrades in firmware. Or am I misunderstanding?

Regards,
Golden

Maybe I'm not understanding what you're asking but to clarify.... you can't update the drive while it's being used as the OS drive at the same time. In short, if it's currently in use as an OS drive, you'll have to find other means to update the firmware. This is actually been this way since SSD drives came about (i think).

Anyway there is an alternative method listed in that thread. The other way you can do it, ant they I do it, is if you've got another drive in your system with an OS, just log into that OS and update the firmware on the SSD drive from there.

Hope this helps.

Edit - I see Airbot posted something as well.

Good luck.

 

[sygnus21]

@ Airbot....

According to OCZ you can't update the firmware with Toolbox as long as the SSD drive is the OS drive in use.....

Toolbox cannot update the drive Windows is running from. You need to use the Linux updater or the standalone updater.

General Discussion Firmware 1.32 Released at OCZ.com

The link give alternative solutions though.

Sorry If I've misunderstood the post(s)

 

[Airbot]

Ok, well you can with the standalone then.

 

[Golden]

Thanks for the replies guys. It seems as if the Linux parted Magic option might be the way to go. I'll look into it more, but at first glance I'm inclined stick with what I have (1.25 firmware) given that there doesn't appear to be much reported benefit.

Regards,
Golden

 

[sygnus21]

Again, If you have another running OS drive on your system you could log into it and do the update. I logged into my Vista drive and did the update from there without any problems. Of couse the drive is seperate from the SSD drive.

Anyway good luck.

 

[Airbot]

Thanks for the replies guys. It seems as if the Linux parted Magic option might be the way to go. I'll look into it more, but at first glance I'm inclined stick with what I have (1.25 firmware) given that there doesn't appear to be much reported benefit.

Regards,
Golden

I think it's worth the update. There's lots fixed in the changelog, and there was also some stuff fixed in 1.29. So you're way back on 1.25 and skipped the others, there's a lot of fixes since then.

 

[Golden]

OK. Thanks Airbot : I'll check it out, I just need to work out whether I'm using RST10 drivers. Another complication is that I am using a RAID controller from my 2 x Samsung spinners. I guess the SSD is using AHCI mode, but I'll have to work out what to do with the RAID, if anything.

Regards,
Golden