Users report bricked Samsung 850 Pro after latest firmware update

by Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 02/26/2015 11:15 AM | source: | 57 comment(s)

Reports have been coming in for a while not that people end up with dead Samsung 850 Pro SSDs. The problem seems to originate from a firmware update issued using samsung's Magician Software. Once users update the firmware to the latest build people run into black screens and an unrecognizable SSD in the BIOS.

Basically some users report that the Samsungs most expensive consumer SSD gets bricked after the firmware update. Here is an example of such a user experience -- read after the update gets bricked:

I just upgraded the firmware today(just released) on my Samsung 850 Pro SSD using samsung's Magician Software and everything went fine and the PC automatically shutdown. I waited a few seconds after the PC shut down and now I only get a black screen with a movable cursor. I'm currently using parted magic 2013 build to research how to fix this and I don't have another PC at the moment.

Things I've tried.
1. safe mode doesn't work
2. startup repair didn't fix anything.
3. Low res start up didn't fix the problem.
4. in parted magic it looks like all my files are still there.

I need this fixed fast as I don't have another PC and I would have to transfer my files to another drive and do a clean install on my samsung SSD.

Now it should be mentioned that lost of people have no issue after the update, but there certainly is a group that does. It seems that the root cause of the issue for a number of people is the EXM02B6Q firmware for the 850 Pro series. It should be noted that we just noticed that Samsung seems to have removed the 850 Pro firmware upgrade from their web site and won't be back available until it's verified to be usable.

For the time being we strongly advise you to NOT install new firmware upgrades onto your 850 Pro SSD. You can find some more information on this facebook group page which is run by a number of people who ran into this massive problem.

And guys, my old saying comes into play, if it ain't broke then do not try to fix it. Quick firmware updates have become way to user-friendly anno 2015 we say.

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fantaskarsef
Senior Member

Posts: 14328
Joined: 2014-07-21

#5019962 Posted on: 02/25/2015 02:14 PM

First thing I thought when I read the headline: 'You've got to be sh*tting me.'

Samsung has a problem with it's drive's firmware as it seems, which obviously doesn't work well on the 840 evo, and now the 850 pro... this only makes me think I should better go with something else when I buy the next SSDs, probably Cruicial.

bigfutus
Senior Member

Posts: 533
Joined: 2003-11-22

#5019963 Posted on: 02/25/2015 02:14 PM

I updated my 850 Pro on monday, and no issues here. At first i hesitated, if i should update, but after quick Googling i updated. But good to know, next time i wait at least a week.

Mugsy
Senior Member

Posts: 287
Joined: 2013-06-13

#5019964 Posted on: 02/25/2015 02:17 PM

I saw the update notification on sunday night, but was playing l4d2 with friends and i said "eh...some other time"...so glad i did. Don't want to risk my data.

Odellot
Senior Member

Posts: 712
Joined: 2011-02-18

#5019969 Posted on: 02/25/2015 02:21 PM

Damn..Hope my Samsung 840 Pro doesn't have these issues..

fantaskarsef
Senior Member

Posts: 14328
Joined: 2014-07-21

#5019971 Posted on: 02/25/2015 02:25 PM

Damn..Hope my Samsung 840 Pro doesn't have these issues..

Most likely not, since it uses a different hardware and firmware.

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