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HELP with Firmware Update on 150GB Velociraptors

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  • #1

    HELP with Firmware Update on 150GB Velociraptors

    I've never done a firmware update on HDD's - Could I get someone to walk me through the process? I read you could do it w/floppy (which I don't have) or CD - Is their a way to do it with a flash drive ??? Here's what I have:

    2/WDC WD1500HLFS-01G6U0 in raid0
    Current Firmware: 04.04V01
    Firmware Update: 04.04V06

    Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks wibujo
    THRASHER: Liquid Cooled
    Cooler Master XB EVO<>G1 Sniper 5 v1.0 F10<>4770k vid 1.022<>Batch#3332B365
    OC 4.4GHz 1.25v<>G.Skill F3-2400C10Q-32GTX 10-12-12-31 1.65v 2400MHz 32GB's
    2/Gigabyte R9 290X CrossFireX<>Corsair AX1200I<>2/Samsung 840 Pro 256GB raid0
    Windows 7 Ultimate<>idle 28c

    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: HELP with Firmware Update on 150GB Velociraptors

    The first thing I would do is be 100% sure that you need to update your firmware. Does the latest version improve performance in any way or does it have features/bug fixes you need/want? If not, I'd leave it personally. If it does, then start by making at least a thorough backup of your data. Ideally use a disk imaging program like Ghost or Acronis to make image(s) of the drive(s). Both these programs ask if you wish to create bootable recovery media. Choose yes and create a bootable CD/DVD. This will be used later to restore your whole RAID array's data in minutes to the exact same state as when you imaged it.

    You can flash your drives using a bootable USB key with MSDOS boot files. Follow the guide in this link to aquire both the formatting program and the needed Win98 DOS boot disk files: How to format a USB memory key

    Once you have your bootable USB key, using explorer, drag and drop the firmware update utility onto the drive.

    Depending on the utility used to flash the firmware, there might be some requirements. It's likely that RAID needs to be disabled in the BIOS, or the controller set to IDE mode. If there is a legacy vs native mode selection, then select legacy too. It's also possible that the disk that is to be flashed will need to be on port 0 of the Intel ICH controller. This isn't always the case, but if you get a failure when flashing the second drive, try hooking it up to port 0.

    If it were me doing this, I'd image the drives, tear down the RAID array, set legacy IDE mode in the BIOS, then disconnect all drives except the first to be flashed. I'd then boot from USB, flash the first drive and shut down the PC. From there I'd disconnect the flashed drive and replace it with the next drive to be flashed, boot from USB again, flash, then shut down. After that, hook all your drives back up how they were before, go into the BIOS and change the relevant settings for enabling RAID. Go into the ICH option ROM and re-do your RAID array (select the Raptors, those RAID0, set the stripe size etc) then shut down again.

    When all that's done,boot from your image program's recovery disc, select the backup image (stored where ever you put it, ideally a backup HDD) and tell it to restore the image to the RAID array. For a bare(ish) bones OS and Programs drive of ~35GB it should take no more than 4-5 minutes to restore. This climbs with more data but is always quicker than installing the OS (~30 min) Your drivers (10-15min) and all your programs (30 min-1hr).

    Above all, be careful. If you're skeptical of the imaging software and the whole process odf creating an image, by all means manually backup your data too. If you don't want to bother imaging and opt for trying to preserve the existing array, remember exactly what drive was connected to what port. Also, do not try and boot the syatem from HDD without having RAID set back up in the BIOS, you will likely break your array.
    Coolermaster CM 690 II advance Case
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    P55A-UD4 v2.0 @ F14
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    Intel X25-M Boot Drive (OS and Programs) 200MB/s Read & 90MB/s Write
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    • #3
      Re: HELP with Firmware Update on 150GB Velociraptors

      I'm cleaning WC componets on main RIG - will be down for 2 weeks. I was going to devote a little time on Backup RIG. The only problem I've had with the HDD"s (Raptors) - when trying to run @ 500 FSB - I've had 2 HDD failures. Once about a year ago and last night. Each time I was trying to OC 4.5 GHz (9X500) and on reboot a notice came up on screen - It had something to do with the NTFS and Checksum ??? It scanned HDD's and removed files ??? Anyway, I went back to my 24/7 stable settings 4.27 GHz (9.5X450) and alls good. Do you think this is a firmware problem or just a BIOS issue ? By the way - You did a good job explaining how to update firmware on my raptors - I'm pretty sure I can do it - if you think that may help. Thanks wibujo
      THRASHER: Liquid Cooled
      Cooler Master XB EVO<>G1 Sniper 5 v1.0 F10<>4770k vid 1.022<>Batch#3332B365
      OC 4.4GHz 1.25v<>G.Skill F3-2400C10Q-32GTX 10-12-12-31 1.65v 2400MHz 32GB's
      2/Gigabyte R9 290X CrossFireX<>Corsair AX1200I<>2/Samsung 840 Pro 256GB raid0
      Windows 7 Ultimate<>idle 28c

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      • #4
        Re: HELP with Firmware Update on 150GB Velociraptors

        NTFS checksum errors can be caused by RAM instability.

        It's morse likely that at 9*500 you weren't stable and corrupt data was written to the HDD. Sometimes it can just be user data and other times it can be meta-data and file system specific information that gets corrupted.

        A HDD firmware update would be unlikely to help.
        Coolermaster CM 690 II advance Case
        Corsair HX750 (CWT, 91%(80+ Gold rated @230V) single 62A 12V rail
        P55A-UD4 v2.0 @ F14
        Core i5 760 @ 20 x 201, 4.02GHz
        TRUE Black with a single Noctua NF-P12 pumping out 55 CFM @ 19db .
        2 x 2GB Mushkin Ridgeback (996902), @ 7-10-8-27, 2010-DDR, 1.66v
        2 x Gigabyte GTX 460 1024MB in SLI (Pre OC'd to 715MHz core and 1800MHz VRAM) @ 850 Core / 4100 Mem.
        Intel X25-M Boot Drive (OS and Programs) 200MB/s Read & 90MB/s Write
        Corsair X32 200MB/s Read & 100MB/s Write
        WD Caviar Blue 640GB C (Steam, Games, Storage, Temp Files & Folders, etc)
        Samsung F3 500GB Backup/Images
        Noctua 1300RPM 19dB case fan (rear extraction)
        3 x 140 MM Coolermaster LED fans (one front intake, one top extraction, one side intake)
        Dell Ultra Sharp 2209WAf E-IPS @ 1680x1050

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: HELP with Firmware Update on 150GB Velociraptors

          Psycho101, Thanks for the info. I never could get this RIG to run on the 2.00D strap. Even with my G.Skill 8500 RAM. Since you guy's helped me get this RIG 24/7 stable @ 4.27GHz - I'm going to post a thread over in the Gigabyte Forum - I would really like to get to 500 FSB. Thanks wibujo
          THRASHER: Liquid Cooled
          Cooler Master XB EVO<>G1 Sniper 5 v1.0 F10<>4770k vid 1.022<>Batch#3332B365
          OC 4.4GHz 1.25v<>G.Skill F3-2400C10Q-32GTX 10-12-12-31 1.65v 2400MHz 32GB's
          2/Gigabyte R9 290X CrossFireX<>Corsair AX1200I<>2/Samsung 840 Pro 256GB raid0
          Windows 7 Ultimate<>idle 28c

          Comment

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