SAMSUNG 256 gb SSD Firmware Update for Windows 7 TRIM?

I have CrystalDisk - what do you look for?  Do you just look for it to be listed in "Supported Features" or something else?

Does firmware VBM9LD1Q support TRIM?

To find out if your SSD supports trim, you can download CrystalDiskInfo.  It's a free software that will show you if your SSD supports trim.  I determined that mine did not because TRIM was grayed out when I ran CrystalDiscInfo.  After Dell sent out the replacement overnight, I cloned the old drive to the new one with DriveClonePro and installed the new one in my XPS 1640.  Everything worked perfectly, and I ran CrystalDiscInfo again - this time with the new drive.  And, at last, trim was showing up as enabled.  So, then I had proof positive that my old drive did not support trim and my new one did.  Dell even sent a prepaid return shipping label, so the whole process did not cost me a dime.  I was disappointed in Dell at first, but am now satisfied because they did replace my drive, and the new trim enabled drive works perfectly.

Do you know if firmware VBM9LD1Q supports TRIM?

If TRIM is supported, should Disk Defrag be enabled?

Worse, my drive has VBM15D1Q firmware, was obsolete even back in the Stone Ages of 2009 when it was shipped to me, and is now about as speedy as a brick.

The firmware update Dell has now finally released [R276513] will not even recognize the existence of an SSD with this version of firmware [SAMSUNG_SSD_PM800_Series_2.5"_256GB_____VBM15D1Q].

Much less actually update it.

 I've totally given up on Dell and will NEVER fork over any more of my cash for another OEM SSD from them, nor buy any system so configured, and will encourage others to do likewise. Don't get burned.

Finally good news. As you may have heard Dell *finally* released an updated firmware for the samsung 256GB SSD drives (except for those with the older VBM15D1Q firmware).

I just went through with the update yesterday and now have firmware version VBM1AD1Q which reports TRIM is supported in CrystalDiskInfo. The update process is a bit of a hassle since it erases all data on the drive and you have to reinstall everything.

Now I just hope it really makes a difference. Do I have to leave the laptop idle within win 7 for TRIM to be activated or how does that work?

Here is the link to the release:

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=22&l=en&s=dfh&releaseid=R276513&SystemID=Alw_M17xR2&servicetag=2TTY4K1&os=W764&osl=en&deviceid=21752&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=1&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=0&libid=41&typeid=-1&dateid=-1&formatid=-1&source=-1&fileid=407959

Am also trying the update process - like you say, fiddly but seems similar to the unofficial one on the Alienware thread.

One Q - the update is not recognising my drive inside an XPS16, so about to try it in another machine. Did you need to relocate your drive to a different machine?

- Rob

No. What I did was make a USB stick bootable with some random software I found from a search (which basically was a format tool that allowed me to choose to create a bootable drive and then transfered DOS to the stick). I then put all the files from Dell on the drive. Next I went to my BIOS and changed the boot priority so it would boot from USB.

Then I went ahead and booted from the USB and followed the instructions in the pdf included in the files from Dell, The update itself only took a few minutes.

After the firmware update you are left with an empty drive and will have to install win again or reinstall from a system backup.

Thanks. Just realised mine has VBM15D1Q hence not being recognised. Darned. Guess I'm going to have to try get a replacement drive.

- R

Hi Guys, I HAVE GOOD NEWS!

I have followed this thread for roughly 7 months, having the identical problem to you guys. Having tried everything, including the guide from Alienware, I was about to purchase a new SSD this month! I did however come across a solution today, WHICH WORKS! Trim support? YES!!!

My SSD was the DELL OEM Samsung 2.5” 256GB MMDOE56G5MXP-0vbD7 with the Firmware version VBM94D1Q.

To update your firmware do the following:

1.       Create a USB bootable drive using the HP USB key utility (available: http://rapidshare.com/files/112382685/SP27608.zip)

a.       Select the usb device you wish to use   

b.      File system: FAT32

c.       Volume label: doesn't matter

d.      Tick create a DOS startup disk

e.      Select “using DOS system files located at”

                                                               i.      And select the folder where you extract this: (http://www.bay-wolf.com/utility/usbkey/win98boot.zip)

f.        Wait for the disk to complete.

2.       Then EXTRACT the NEW DELL FIRMWARE UPDATE to the usb stick (yes Dell have finally done it, no using OCZ, Mushkin etc…) by running the “SAMSUNG_MULTI-DEVICE_A00_R276513.exe” program

a.       The program (containing the FW update) is available here: (http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&ServiceTag=&SystemID=ALW_LP_M17X&os=WV64&osl=en&catid=&impid=)

                                                               i.      To download the file, don’t refine your results, just click on the drop down box labelled “Sata Drives” and select your model (256GB or 128GB)

3.        Now you have a working bootable USB disk along with the copied files.

a.       Your USB drive should now contain

4.       The next step is to configure your BIOS, these are the settings which helped me (ASUS P6TSE w/ i7930)

a.       Configure SATA as AHCI

b.      J-Micron Esata/PATA controller disabled

c.       ACPI 2.0 support enabled

d.      ACPI APIC support disabled

e.      BOOT DEVICE PRIORITY – 1^st boot = USB: generic storage (this is the bootable usb drive you just created)

f.        The rest of the settings I left as they were, it was trial and error though. (See below)

5.       Save BIOS changes and exit.

a.       The usb device should boot straight into DOS.

b.      Type: dosrd1_0.exe

c.       Follow the instructions

d.      Enjoy your newly enabled trim SSD!”

e.      I did get a lot of “dosrd1_0.exe has caused an exception: access violation….” When running the program. The fix is trial and error in your bios. The usb is fine!

6.       Compatibility:

The compatible FW versions range as follow

Enjoy, hope it works, it did for me. Crystal Disk info Reports TRIM. It did not previously.

All the best and good luck. Read all instructions carefully (here and the pdf which is extracted into the usb at step 2. Don’t forget to change your BIOS settings back afterwards!

CrystalDiskInfo Confirmed new firmware (VBM95D1Q) and SATA support! You can see the screenshot I took this morning here: http://rapidshare.com/files/412329940/Trim_now_working.jpg

Rowan

Good news Rowan. The process is quite long, but seems to work for most people.

The only exception seems to be VBM15D1Q - every report I have seen states that this firmware cannot be flashed to an upgraded version.

- R