Drivers needed for a Samsung mSATA 512GB SSD (PM841 ??)

alphanumeric · 02 Apr 2017

Looking at the software installation guide, it needs to be run from Windows. And your Windows 10 Recovery DVD was likely created from 64 bit media. It wants a 32 bit Windows environment.

ship69 · 02 Apr 2017

alphanumeric said:

Looking at the software installation guide, it needs to be run from Windows. And your Windows 10 Recovery DVD was likely created from 64 bit media. It wants a 32 bit Windows environment.

Yes my original PC was x64 bit Windows.
OK so if I build a Windows 10 Recovery DVD with 32 bit media, that might be worth a try, yes?

ship69 · 02 Apr 2017

OK I managed to get Samsung's Magician software to run by using a 32 bit version of Windows 10 Recovery on a memory stick. However, although it can see that I have another drive, it is still failing to read the SSD.

It seems I need some sort of driver from Samsung (if not an SSD driver then a "storage controller driver" - whatever that is!). I spoke to Microsoft 2nd level of support and they thought it would have to come from Samsung not Intel. However my problem is that Samsung are refusing to help, I think because the SSD not the original 128GB SSD that came with my PC but was a 512GB SSD which even though it was also made by Samsung, they are washing their hands of it, saying that only the "system manufacturer" (who is that if not Samsung?!) can help.

What also does not help is that Samsung does not appear to offer any downloads at all for my laptop - a Samsung Series 7 Ultra Notebook - (model NP740U3E-S04UK) that I bought in 2013.

Conclusion:
I think I need a storage controller from Samsung(??) but I have no idea how to find it.

It's starting to look like my 512GB SSD may possibly be faulty, but all I'll say is that it was certainly working (albeit corruptions happened) right up to the moment when I tried to re-install Windows 10!

Any suggestions?

Drivers needed for a Samsung mSATA 512GB SSD (PM841 ??)-delme-magician-01.jpg

Drivers needed for a Samsung mSATA 512GB SSD (PM841 ??)-delme-magician-02.jpg

ship69 · 03 Apr 2017

DeclanT said:

Hi ship69,
Please, can you confirm your model number for the laptop?
I have found a firmware update here
I would also recommend a BIOS update, however, I will need the laptop model to locate a link for you.
There may also be an option to disable in the BIOS. Perhaps you could try and restore to optimised defaults?

Apologies I may have skipped over your suggestions.

This is the information I have about my latop:

>>>
Samsung Series 7 Ultra Notebook 128GB SSD 13.3" [laptop]
Model: NP740U3E-S04UK
S/N: JCJN91HD600021Z
Processor: Intel Core i5 - 3337U (1.8GHz up to 2.7GHz, 3MB L3 Cache) GHz: 1.8GHz <== Samsung's Magician software said
Socket: 0 <== Samsung's Magician software said Data width:
64 <== Samsung's Magician software said
BIOS: AMIBIOS Version P07ABW.650.1402... (American Megatrends Inc.) <== Samsung's Magician software said
Serial no: JCJN91HD600021 <== Samsung's Magician software said
Chipset: Intel HM76 Express (motherboard??!)
Motherboard: Serial number: 123490EN400015 <== Samsung's Magician software said

Samsung's Magician software said:
DMI:
Product: 730U3E/740U3E
Version: P07ABW
S/N: JCJN91HD600021

RAM: 6GB DDR3 System Memory at 1600MHz (on BD 2GB + 4GB x 1)

Hard Drive:
- WAS: 128GB Solid-state Drive

- REPLACEMENT SSD:
512GB mSATA Samsung
("PM841 Series MZMTD512HAGL-00000 mSATA 512GB SATA III MLC Internal SSD").
Printed on the SSD label:
P/N: MZMTD512HAGL-00000
S/N: S155NEAD602062
Model: MZ-MTD5120/000 KCC-REM-SEC-MZ-MTD5120
WWN:50025385503B7D35 1313 REV 0 F/W DXT4200Q
Rated: DC+3.3v = 1.9A
Samsung Electronics Co., LTD
Product of Korea
>>>

A couple of things worry me:
A) Is it okay to install a firmware update from DELL rather than from Samsung?
B) My windows was 64 bit. Does it matter if I have to install a firmware update using 32 bit software?

To get clear, I don't yet know how to install this firmware update but in order to get Samsung's "Magician" software to run, (which didn't help but at least I got it to run!) I had to create a 32 bit Windows 10 Recovery drive and boot from it, rather then 64 bit Windows.

Many thanks

J

EDIT:
I have been in touch with Digicare her in the UK who are authorised by Samsung and who installed the 512GB SSD for me.
They are now saying "As Samsung do not advise installing Windows 10 due to compatible issues with drivers" and that they are unable to help with this issue.

What a nightmare. I don't really want to go back to Windows 8.1...

I don't really know what I am doing but I am going to try to upgrade the firmware on my SSD. My memory stick is no longer working correctly so I shall re-install the 32 bit version of Windows 10 Recovery on it in order to get a O/S for Samsung's firmware updater "DSRD" to run.

Then I guess I also need to fund a way to update the BIOS of the computer, but I can't work out how to do that...

alphanumeric · 03 Apr 2017

The Samsung site is basically useless. I couldn't figure out how you get to any driver downloads. If I was you, I'd get a screwdriver out and swap drives. Is there an access panel you can remove without having to take the whole bottom off?

ship69 · 03 Apr 2017

alphanumeric said:

The Samsung site is basically useless. I couldn't figure out how you get to any driver downloads. If I was you, I'd get a screwdriver out and swap drives. Is there an access panel you can remove without having to take the whole bottom off?

Yes I had the bottom off yesterday.

Are you saying I should buy a different SSD? That's not going to be cheap - like £175 to £200 ?

[ASIDE: It really is SERIOUSLY irritating how unhelpful Samsung support has been. It seems to me that they are getting more and more like their arch enemies Apple every day. They make nice kit but dumb things down, patronise everyone, and fail to support users adequately. Frankly it's pretty disgusting. I don't think I want to buy Samsung again.]

alphanumeric · 03 Apr 2017

Just put the original drive back in. Then have another go at installing Windows from your "thumb drive". If the 128 gig shows up normally you know the other drive is broken and it was the issue all along. If the 128 gig drive also shows up as 0 gig, something else is going on and its not the drive that's at fault.

ship69 · 03 Apr 2017

alphanumeric said:

Just put the original drive back in. Then have another go at installing Windows from your "thumb drive". If the 128 gig shows up normally you know the other drive is broken and it was the issue all along. If the 128 gig drive also shows up as 0 gig, something else is going on and its not the drive that's at fault.

OK that makes sense. I was worried that Digicare may have wiped the 128GB SSD whilst transferring everything onto the 512GB SSD, but maybe that won't matter.

OK I'll try. "Watch this space".

f14tomcat · 03 Apr 2017

ship69 said:

OK that makes sense. I was worried that Digicare may have wiped the 128GB SSD whilst transferring everything onto the 512GB SSD, but maybe that won't matter.

OK I'll try. "Watch this space".

@ship69

Did you try re-seating the 512 new drive yet, as suggested in the original thread?

ship69 · 03 Apr 2017

f14tomcat said:

@ship69
Did you try re-seating the 512 new drive yet, as suggested in the original thread?

Yes I tried that.

OK I've put the 128GB SSD in.

The bad news is that F4 failed to offer any sort of Recovery. But the good news is that Windows 10 x64 *can* see my 128GB SSD, so I guess that means that my computer isn't broken. The problem is that 128GB is hopelessly small, (in fact I don't know why Samsung only offered such a small device at the time of purchase!). I am now letting Windows 10 install itself onto the 128GB SSD from my external (USB) DVD drive.

So it now looks increasingly like the 512GB drive is actually broken. However the reason I am still questioning this is simply because it was still working until I tried to re-install Windows!

Also is it not possible that whatever drivers are required to read the 128GB SSD, may well not work on the 512GB SSD?!

That said I am confused where any such drivers would live, if not on the SSD itself? Would they live in firmware in the BIOS or firmware in the SSD itself or what?

Do you think I might find the driver(s) that I need for the 512GB SSD on the 128GB drive after Windows has finished installing?