SP3 SSD, possible firmware bug, same as just fixed in another Samsung drive.

Anonymous
2014-10-20T22:49:51+00:00

I've just had to update the firmware in another device that had a Samsung 840EVO SSD because they had a serious firmware bug with it.  Out of curiosity I tested the Samsung drive in my Surface Pro 3 and it looks like it has exactly the same issue (the SP3 drive is closely related to the 840 series I believe, but an OEM version.

The test is simple, just look at the read rate across the drive.  Older data (OS, installed apps) suffered from terrible read performance after a month or so.  Newly written data is fine.

As you can see, much of the drive is down to 50MB/s now.  It should be a fairly level line right the way across at about 350+MB/s.  This test was run with AC power connected and nothing else running.

If this is the same issue as the 840EVO, the good news is it can be corrected with a firmware update and refresh of the data.  Bad news would of course be Microsoft need to look into it first, then get the Samsung engineers looking into it.

Perhaps some other people could run the test too, and post results.  Remember the drive needs to be a month or more old, so that the data can have been sitting there only being read during that time.

Further details of the bug and the fix that Samsung released can be found here:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/8617/samsung-releases-firmware-update-to-fix-the-ssd-840-evo-read-performance-bug

Surface | Surface Pro | Install and update

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Anonymous
2015-09-30T22:01:46+00:00

Hello all

We wanted to let you know that an update to resolve this is still being worked on.  Please continue to post your experiences and technical details.

Mod Edit: Samsung SSD Optimization Utility for Surface Pro 3 now available.

Best regards

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-12-17T17:38:51+00:00

    I do have an SP3 with the Samsung Drive (256GB) but when I run the SSD Optimization Tool it doesn't do a thing. The installation folder does have a log file which contains this:

    17122016/18:52:31:482:    UNKNOWN    PER_RESTORE_GUI    607    CEVOPerformanceCureDlg::OnInitDialog    *************************SSD OPTIMIZATION UTILITY STARTED***********************

    17122016/18:52:31:482:    UNKNOWN    PER_RESTORE_GUI    5785    CEVOPerformanceCureDlg::LogAppFileVersion    SSD Optimization Utility Version: 1.1.0.161

    17122016/18:52:31:639:    ERROR    OVERPROV    223    COverProvWorker::GetPhysicalDiskNumber    GetPhysicalDiskNumber: failed to create file handle with error code 2 on disk 0 with Volume GUID \?\Volume{b87fc230-8255-11e6-8398-600292bbf3ed}.

    17122016/18:52:35:500:    UNKNOWN    PER_RESTORE_GUI    607    CEVOPerformanceCureDlg::OnInitDialog    *************************SSD OPTIMIZATION UTILITY STARTED***********************

    17122016/18:52:35:500:    UNKNOWN    PER_RESTORE_GUI    5785    CEVOPerformanceCureDlg::LogAppFileVersion    SSD Optimization Utility Version: 1.1.0.161

    17122016/18:52:35:656:    ERROR    OVERPROV    223    COverProvWorker::GetPhysicalDiskNumber    GetPhysicalDiskNumber: failed to create file handle with error code 2 on disk 0 with Volume GUID \?\Volume{b87fc230-8255-11e6-8398-600292bbf3ed}.

    Any ideas anyone?

    [SOLVED: You need at least 10% of free disk otherwise the SSD Optimization tool won't run.]

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-07-05T19:21:26+00:00

    Hello all

    We wanted to let you know that an update to resolve this is still being worked on.  Please continue to post your experiences and technical details.

    Mod Edit: Samsung SSD Optimization Utility for Surface Pro 3 now available.

    Best regards 

    It'd be nice if you made more of an effort after all of this time...

    To be more explanatory than just a brief *mod edit* to an ancient post. >.>

    Sure you might think the article's enough, but that says lots about MS's attitude.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-01-27T02:00:06+00:00

    It's been over 3 months since you posted this; where's the update? I'm starting to lose my patience!

    Yeah MS was full of it...

    It had no intention of getting back to us once the situation is resolved, as there was never any plan to resolve it.

    MS incompetence at its finest...

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-01-27T00:21:08+00:00

    Hey John,

    It's been over 3 months since you posted this; where's the update? I'm starting to lose my patience!

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