SSD Firmware Update Utility Guide
Crucial m4 2.5” SSD Firmware Revision 040H Firmware Update Guide for Windows 7 + Windows 8
®
(Update from Rev 0001, 0002, 0009, 0309, 000F, 010G to Rev 040H)
Introduction 2. Use AC Power
This document describes the process of updating the firmware on Ensure your mobile PC or desktop PC is plugged in to AC
the Crucial m4 SSD using our Windows update utility. The utility power during the update process. It is not recommended to
is a single executable file that contains all the code necessary to use only battery power during the upgrade. Do not remove
perform the upgrade. The creation of a separate bootable device power at any time during the firmware update process as this
is not necessary. could produce incomplete results and may render your solid
state drive unusable.
This program is to be used for updating the Firmware from
Revisions 0001, 0002, 0009, 0309, 000F or 010G to Revision 3. Disable/Remove Drive Passwords
040H. Password protection, such as OS drive encryption or BIOS-
level passwords can block firmware updates. Drive encryption
PLEASE NOTE: This firmware update is not applicable to any can be disabled in the OS or software tool you use for
Micron SSD which was purchased separately or as original encryption. To disable a BIOS password, you may need to
equipment in a computer system. Any firmware updates for edit your computer’s BIOS settings. Please see your computer’s
such drives, if necessary, will be made available by the computer owner’s manual for details on editing these settings. Enter the
manufacturer or at www.micron.com. This firmware update is BIOS (typically by hitting the “Delete”, “F2” or “F12” key during
not applicable to any Micron RealSSD C300 drive. It should not start-up screen) and disable any passwords that you may have
be used with any Micron RealSSD C400 Self Encrypting Drive set on the SSD.
(SED). This update is for 2.5” m4 drives only and should not be
used to update mSATA m4 drives. 4. Update Microsoft .NET Framework
In order to be compatible with both Windows 7 and Windows
WARNING: As with all firmware updates, it is strongly 8, this firmware update tool is built under Microsoft .NET
recommended that you backup or make copies of all important Framework 4. Some Windows 7 users may need to update
files before performing this update. This firmware update process their .NET Framework version in order to enable this tool. If the
is done entirely at your own risk. If performed correctly, there following error message is noticed when running the firmware
will be no loss of system or user data on the drive. However, if updater, please use the Windows Update utility to update
the firmware process is interrupted for any reason, your solid .NET Framework.
state drive may not function properly. If this update is done on
a notebook computer, it is strongly recommended that power
be supplied by the AC power adapter.
General Instructions
Complete the following steps before starting the firmware
update process:
1. Backup the Solid State Drive
It is highly recommended that full system backup be completed
before starting this firmware upgrade procedure. If the upgrade
is interrupted (by a power loss or hardware failure of some
sort), it is possible that the solid state drive may not function
properly.
Download the Firmware Update 5. Scroll through and read the Software License Agreement.
1. Before beginning the firmware download process, close If you wish to proceed, then click the “Accept” button to
all other programs except for your Internet browser. continue.
2. Find the Firmware Windows Update Utility associated with 6. The utility is ready to start the update process. Before clicking
your Crucial m4 SSD at: http://www.crucial.com/support/ “Continue,” ensure that all other work is saved and that open
firmware.aspx applications are closed. Clicking “Continue” will start the
process by closing Windows and restarting your computer.
3. Click the link for the Firmware Windows Update Utility
and select Save to download the ZIP file containing the 7. Your computer will restart and boot into the update tool. You
firmware update utility to your system. will see the following on your screen:
4. Double-click the ZIP file to extract the files inside. Save
them to your desktop.
Run the Firmware Update
1. If not already done, copy the update utility file to your desktop.
2. Double-click the icon to launch the update utility.
3. A User Account Control box will open:
8. After the update tool has fully loaded, you will see the
following:
It is acceptable to update from versions 0001, 0002, 0009,
Ensure that the Verified Publisher is clearly listed as “Micron
0309, 000F or 010G, so you may see any of these revisions
Technology, Inc.” If this is not the case, select “No” to abort this
in the above display (immediately below your drive’s serial
operation. Click “Yes” to proceed if the file is properly signed.
number). If your m4 drive is not listed in the screen display as
above, please see the “Troubleshooting Tips” section below.
9. The utility will immediately update your drive, indicated by
the following:
10. On most systems, this process will take between 30 to
60 seconds. Some systems may require a longer time to
complete.
11. Upon completion, the following message will display:
12. After several seconds, the system will reboot again, restarting
Windows.
13. When Windows successfully restarts, the firmware update
4. You must accept the License Agreement to proceed. When process is complete.
you see the following window, click on the “License” button.
Troubleshooting Tips Validating the Current Firmware
• Although efforts have been made to test the compatibility of Revision
this software with various system and chipset configurations, Windows 7 allows the user to check the current firmware
it is not possible to test every available system. Therefore, revision of the drive by following these steps:
certain systems (e.g., older systems) may experience
compatibility problems. • Click the Windows “Start” button, and select “Computer.”
• If you experience issues after the tool reboots, verify that • On the disk icon which represents your drive, right-click
you have disabled any drive passwords BIOS. and select “Properties.”
• If your m4 drive is not recognized in Step 8 of the “Run • In the window that pops up, select the “Hardware” tab.
the Firmware Update” section above, it may be necessary • In the All Disk Drives list, highlight your m4 drive, and click
to run this update in IDE mode instead of AHCI mode, the “Properties” button.
on some older systems. When it is necessary to change
the system to IDE or AHCI mode, it may be necessary to • In the next window that opens, select the “Details” page.
reboot the system using external media, such as a bootable • Under the Property pull-down menu, select “Hardware Ids,”
CD-ROM. Instructions for running the 040H update from and you will see the following display:
bootable media are available on the SSD Support page at
http://www.crucial.com/support/firmware.aspx
• Some systems prevent firmware updates when in RAID
mode. In this case, changing to AHCI or IDE mode may help
to complete the update process. Any RAID configurations
should be preserved after the update, when the system is
put back into RAID mode, but check with your system’s
user manual before proceeding.
• Peripheral RAID cards will not pass the necessary
commands to perform firmware updates. You may need
to move the target drive onto a SATA host bus adapter or
SATA connector on the motherboard that facilitates these
commands.
• This firmware update tool may not properly operate in
PCs, notebooks or tablets with UEFI-based BIOS. We will
make an update tool available separately, which will support
firmware updates under UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware
Interface).
• The current firmware revision is circled in red above. If
the firmware revision says “040H,” no further action is
necessary.
Firmware Release Notes Revision History
Firmware for the m4 SSD is being updated from version 010G Rev. A………………………………………………………… 4 December 2012
to 040H.
• Initial release
Firmware 040H is recommended for anyone currently running
010G or previous firmware releases. It includes incremental
improvements and refinements over these versions which
may improve the overall user experience.
Like firmware version 010G, version 040H has improvements
over versions 000F and earlier which are specific for
Windows 8 and new UltraBook systems, although systems
running Windows 7 and other operating systems may also
see improvements. Any m4 firmware version will function
normally in Windows 8, even without these performance
improvements.
The following is a summary of changes between 010G and
040H, which are independent of operating system:
• Improved robustness in the event of an unexpected
power loss.* Significantly reduces the incidence of long
reboot times after an unexpected power loss.
• Corrected minor status reporting error during SMART
Drive Self Test execution (does not affect SMART
attribute data).
• Streamlined firmware update command for smoother
operation in Windows 8.
• Improved wear leveling algorithms to improve data
throughput when foreground wear leveling is required.
* An “unexpected power loss” is an event where a power
loss occurs and is not preceded by an ATA STANDBY
IMMEDIATE or similar command. STANDBY IMMEDIATE is
a system-level command which alerts the storage device
to an impending loss of power, or entry into low power
modes like SLEEP and HIBERNATE. STANDBY IMMEDIATE
is frequently not sent in a power loss event such as an
unexpected loss of power connection, an expired battery,
or holding down the power button for 4 seconds or longer.
Although the new firmware significantly reduces the risk,
unexpected power loss events such as these could result
in a longer than normal reboot on the next power up. On
the other hand, a standard shutdown in a Windows or Mac
OS system will send the STANDBY IMMEDIATE command
before shutting off power, allowing a clean start up when
power is restored.
©2012 Micron Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Information is subject to change without notice. Crucial,
and the Crucial logo are trademarks and service marks of Micron Technology, Inc. All other trademarks and
service marks are property of their respective owners. REVISION: 12/4/12 FW040H
