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SSD Disappering on z68 mobo - SOLVED!

D

dmoney1980

Platinum Member
Update 8/4/11

Well it turns out my trusty Micro Center brand SSD was th culprit. I went to MC and bought a Crucial M4 SSD, did everything that I did with the other drive and it worked like a charm! Thanks for all of your guidance!


Mobo - ASrock z68 pro-m
core i5 2500k
SSD - Micro Center brand SF SSD (64GB)

Set up AHCI in BIOS, left all other setting at stock. Installed W7 64bit, everything was working like a charge. Installed all of the drivers and windows updates, including the Intel RST driver (downloaded off their website). I then did a restart and my SSD is no longer seen in BIOS (I get a black screen that says missing boot mgr). So I went into BIOS, changed the storage to "IDE Enchanced", exited BIOS and got a blue screen. I immediately went into BIOS again and changed it back to AHCI, and it worked. So I turned on my PC this morning and the same damn thing happened. This has to be a software issue right? I never had this happen on my X58 setup with the same SSD.

I also intalled an Intel ME driver, plus an Intel INF driver off the ASrock mobo CD. Could this be the culprit?
 
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I've seen people getting BSOD with SandForce SSDs combined with the Intel ME driver. OCZ drives mainly. I'd try updating it to the latest version or simply uninstalling IME to see if it helps.
 
Patrese said:
I've seen people getting BSOD with SandForce SSDs combined with the Intel ME driver. OCZ drives mainly. I'd try updating it to the latest version or simply uninstalling IME to see if it helps.
Click to expand...

thanks Patrese, I will try it out. Question- there's an option in the BIOS called "active power link mangement" (or something close to that), should that be disabled?

any other BIOS settings that I should tweak?
 
dmoney1980 said:
thanks Patrese, I will try it out. Question- there's an option in the BIOS called "active power link mangement" (or something close to that), should that be disabled?

any other BIOS settings that I should tweak?
Click to expand...

Not that I know, really. It's the older versions of IME that act up on SandForce SSDs, AFAIK. Seen it on the thread below, tip given by someone getting BSODs on an AsRock Z68 Extreme4 like mine.

http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/f...gement-Engine-cmos-corruption-and-its-effects

Good luck!
 
also be sure to flash to the latest 2.11 firmware. It's faster and has some power mgmt workarounds implemented to bypass some of the other tweaking requirements to gain stability on these platforms.
 
groberts101 said:
also be sure to flash to the latest 2.11 firmware. It's faster and has some power mgmt workarounds implemented to bypass some of the other tweaking requirements to gain stability on these platforms.
Click to expand...

for the SSD? I dont think I can use the OCZ firmware for that drive
 
Uninstalled IME, shut down same problem. Went to Intel's site, downloaded newest IME driver from there. shut down same f'n problem. Seriously? The SSD worked like a charm on my x58 rig, WTH did I upgrade?

update 10pm
sent a question to ASRock support, have to say I'm impressed with their quick response, took about 30 mins:

"Before you load any application you need to understand what the application is for;since TSR application is to modifed your SSD as cache , you need to reinstall a complete windows .
Another observation is you can not modified the BIOS after you load windows , that can be the reason for the Blue screen ."

What does he mean TSR application? I also let him know that I only had a BSOD once
 
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dmoney1980 said:
What does he mean TSR application?
Click to expand...

Terminate and Stay Resident. Not an active process, but still remains cached in memory (doesn't need to re-load from storage), I think.

edit: Patrese is correct, it's probably a typo and I'm stuck in the 80s.
 
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dmoney1980 said:
Uninstalled IME, shut down same problem. Went to Intel's site, downloaded newest IME driver from there. shut down same f'n problem. Seriously? The SSD worked like a charm on my x58 rig, WTH did I upgrade?

update 10pm
sent a question to ASRock support, have to say I'm impressed with their quick response, took about 30 mins:

"Before you load any application you need to understand what the application is for;since TSR application is to modifed your SSD as cache , you need to reinstall a complete windows .
Another observation is you can not modified the BIOS after you load windows , that can be the reason for the Blue screen ."

What does he mean TSR application? I also let him know that I only had a BSOD once
Click to expand...

I believe the AsRock guy is talking about Intel SRT (Smart Response Technology), as described in the link below.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4329/intel-z68-chipset-smart-response-technology-ssd-caching-review/2

I can't see how it would affect you, to be honest. Take a look at the link above and find if you installed anything related to it. I believe not, but if you did, uninstall it.

For the BIOS part, what he meant is that if you install Windows using AHCI, you can't go to the BIOS and change it to IDE mode, as you'll get BSODs on boot. The opposite is the same, I mean, you can't install in IDE mode then change to AHCI.

Have you updated your board to the latest BIOS? The Extreme4 I have received BIOS updates related to RAID/AHCI compatibility, so the Pro3 may have had it too. Keep us posted, good luck!

Update: For some rather bizarre reason, AsRock uses RST instead of SRT to refer to Smart Response Technology. Even their download pages repeat the typo. http://www.asrock.com/mb/download.asp?Model=Z68%20Pro3-M&o=BIOS
 
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Patrese said:
I believe the AsRock guy is talking about Intel SRT (Smart Response Technology), as described in the link below.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4329/intel-z68-chipset-smart-response-technology-ssd-caching-review/2

I can't see how it would affect you, to be honest. Take a look at the link above and find if you installed anything related to it. I believe not, but if you did, uninstall it.

For the BIOS part, what he meant is that if you install Windows using AHCI, you can't go to the BIOS and change it to IDE mode, as you'll get BSODs on boot. The opposite is the same, I mean, you can't install in IDE mode then change to AHCI.

Have you updated your board to the latest BIOS? The Extreme4 I have received BIOS updates related to RAID/AHCI compatibility, so the Pro3 may have had it too. Keep us posted, good luck!

Update: For some rather bizarre reason, AsRock uses RST instead of SRT to refer to Smart Response Technology. Even their download pages repeat the typo. http://www.asrock.com/mb/download.asp?Model=Z68 Pro3-M&o=BIOS
Click to expand...

Thanks for looking into it, I appreciate it! Yeah I never messed with the SRT setup (you have to set up storage as RAID which I never did). I did update the BIOS to ver 1.4 after I installed Win7, could that be the issue?
 
dmoney1980 said:
Thanks for looking into it, I appreciate it! Yeah I never messed with the SRT setup (you have to set up storage as RAID which I never did). I did update the BIOS to ver 1.4 after I installed Win7, could that be the issue?
Click to expand...

Whoa, it would be ridiculous if AsRock launched a BIOS update that breaks compatibility instead of improving it. That said, I don't find that impossible... if anything else works, a downgrade to version 1.3 will not hurt.

Before doing it, I'd try checking the BIOS storage configs to see if there's anything odd there. Maybe a new default value on BIOS 1.4 messed up with your setup...

PS: I must admit I have a common interest in troubleshooting your issue. I'm planning to add a SSD to my build before long, so I'm checking threads about SSD issues on Z68 boards (specially AsRock ones) to help deciding which SSD to pick. Unfortunately for you, SandForce and P67/Z68 seem to be a match made in Hell. 🙁
 
Patrese said:
Whoa, it would be ridiculous if AsRock launched a BIOS update that breaks compatibility instead of improving it. That said, I don't find that impossible... if anything else works, a downgrade to version 1.3 will not hurt.

Before doing it, I'd try checking the BIOS storage configs to see if there's anything odd there. Maybe a new default value on BIOS 1.4 messed up with your setup...

PS: I must admit I have a common interest in troubleshooting your issue. I'm planning to add a SSD to my build before long, so I'm checking threads about SSD issues on Z68 boards (specially AsRock ones) to help deciding which SSD to pick. Unfortunately for you, SandForce and P67/Z68 seem to be a match made in Hell. 🙁
Click to expand...

I will definetly update you on what i hear from their support team. I plan on reinstalling Win7 tonight and see where that goes, let it with just the default Win7 storage drivers shutting down the PC to see if the issue happens again. Then maybe install the newest Intel RST. I just want to know if it's a driver issue or if it comes down to me having to sell my SF SSD now because the 2 won't get along.

I looked around for different BIOS settings and found nothing. The only questionable setting there (which was present by default) is the power link management option. i have heard that people running Crucial SSD's were required to turn this off in BIOS and via the registry, I think that might be something I will look into doing as well
 
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RST = Rapid Storage Technology (the new name Intel gave ICH on P67/Z68/H67)
if you're referring to the 10.6.0.1002 drivers on AsRock's site, then these are the SATA AHCI/RAID drivers, although they obviously cover SRT as well.

The latest Intel IME drivers disable HECI, and IMO HECI is the most likely cause of IME issues. These are not restricted to SF2281, I have seen similar problems with an Intel 510 SSD, and Crucial C300.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to find the firmware (when its released) for the Intel 320 8MB bug is a workaround for the same problem. 😉

IMO, all these problems center around LPM (link power management which is part of IME). The bug appears to cause an unsafe shutdown event for the connected SSD. On SF2281 you get a BSOD, on Crucial C300/M4 it just hangs, on Intel 510 it drops off the SATA bus for a few ms, but appears to recover on its own, although you get a stutter when this happens.
 
=Wendy= said:
RST = Rapid Storage Technology (the new name Intel gave ICH on P67/Z68/H67)
if you're referring to the 10.6.0.1002 drivers on AsRock's site, then these are the SATA AHCI/RAID drivers, although they obviously cover SRT as well.

The latest Intel IME drivers disable HECI, and IMO HECI is the most likely cause of IME issues. These are not restricted to SF2281, I have seen similar problems with an Intel 510 SSD, and Crucial C300.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to find the firmware (when its released) for the Intel 320 8MB bug is a workaround for the same problem. 😉

IMO, all these problems center around LPM (link power management which is part of IME). The bug appears to cause an unsafe shutdown event for the connected SSD. On SF2281 you get a BSOD, on Crucial C300/M4 it just hangs, on Intel 510 it drops off the SATA bus for a few ms, but appears to recover on its own, although you get a stutter when this happens.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. Do you think I should start by enabling LPM in BIOS and in the registry?
 
dmoney1980 said:
Thanks for the info. Do you think I should start by enabling LPM in BIOS and in the registry?
Click to expand...
Before doing anything.
Go into your UEFI
On the Advanced tab select storage configuration.
From this list of drives, select your SSD then hit enter.
Enable the eSATA option (external drive support) then save the UEFI.
The eSATA option turns on "hot plugging" which has the effect of switching off low power states anyway on the SATA channel your SSD is connected to.

Regarding Aggressive LPM. My board works equally well with it enabled or disabled.
 
=Wendy= said:
Before doing anything.
Go into your UEFI
On the Advanced tab select storage configuration.
From this list of drives, select your SSD then hit enter.
Enable the eSATA option (external drive support) then save the UEFI.
The eSATA option turns on "hot plugging" which has the effect of switching off low power states anyway on the SATA channel your SSD is connected to.

Regarding Aggressive LPM. My board works equally well with it enabled or disabled.
Click to expand...

thank you, I will give it a shot tonight
 
dmoney1980 said:
Thanks for looking into it, I appreciate it! Yeah I never messed with the SRT setup (you have to set up storage as RAID which I never did). I did update the BIOS to ver 1.4 after I installed Win7, could that be the issue?
Click to expand...

In your initial post you mentioned installing the Intel SRT software, that is what enable the SSD caching functionality by default, I believe. Uninstall that software and the drive should function properly.

Jim
 
jstern01 said:
In your initial post you mentioned installing the Intel SRT software, that is what enable the SSD caching functionality by default, I believe. Uninstall that software and the drive should function properly.

Jim
Click to expand...

I was refering to the Rapid Storage Technology (link below) not the Smart Response feature. There is no way I could have initiated that because that requires me to go into BIOS and select "RAID" as the SATA mode.

I installed this:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...ersion=Windows%207, 64-bit*&DownloadType=

Never did this:
http://www.asrock.com/microsite/IntelZ68/index.asp?c=SRT
 
=Wendy= said:
Before doing anything.
Go into your UEFI
On the Advanced tab select storage configuration.
From this list of drives, select your SSD then hit enter.
Enable the eSATA option (external drive support) then save the UEFI.
The eSATA option turns on "hot plugging" which has the effect of switching off low power states anyway on the SATA channel your SSD is connected to.

Regarding Aggressive LPM. My board works equally well with it enabled or disabled.
Click to expand...

Did exactly that, then booted into windows. Shut down powered up same problem, no SSD!
I'm starting to miss my X58 system.....

Edit: by the way I have the SSD plugged into the SAT 3g port not the 6g port since thats what the SSD is, not sure if that makes a difference?
 
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I'm reinstalling win7 now and will see where I get from there. Tech support told me to return the board if I still have issues, but I doubt that its a mobo issue

Update: installed win7, installed latest drivers from Intel- rapid storage technology, inf, and ME drivers. Nothing else, no win updates. Worked fine if I restarted. As soon ad I powered down and up again I have the same issue. As a last ditch effort, I will reinstall win 7 without any Intel drivers and power down to see what happens.

Yet another update Installed Win7, did not install any intel drivers or updates. powered down and I'm getting the same issue. Wondering if my SSD is the issue here or the mob. Should I take the mobo back to exchange it for another? Do I now need to buy a different (non SandForce) SSD? The issue with the MC brand SSD is that the firmware updates are few and far between.

any advice for me?
 
Last edited:
dmoney1980 said:
for the SSD? I dont think I can use the OCZ firmware for that drive
Click to expand...

groberts101 is into ssd and knows more about them then most people.
Believe he helps a ssd company or sells ssd big time.
I am using a mc ssd now.
Both mc and ocz use the same controller.
Last resort I would flash
I got a firmware from mc online and been using firmware 3.4.3 for the last year.
There were problems with the adata MC ssd that had to be corrected before using.
When you buy check for updates first
 
Updates were list here by larry forgot the name
The firmware is on 1 of 7 hard drives

from forms
Upgraded my MicroCenter 64GB G2 SSD firmware 3.4.3 to 3.4.6 but sometimes when boot up, it can't detect the drive and a restart would fix that.
 
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john3850 said:
groberts101 is into ssd and knows more about them then most people.
Believe he helps a ssd company or sells ssd big time.
I am using a mc ssd now.
Both mc and ocz use the same controller.
Last resort I would flash
I got a firmware from mc online and been using firmware 3.4.3 for the last year.
There were problems with the adata MC ssd that had to be corrected before using.
When you buy check for updates first
Click to expand...

I'm on the same firmware,I've had this ssd for over 6 months and never had an issue on my x58 setup
 
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