Same here! I have Windows 7 Ultimate x64. Windows asked me to restart and after that it stopped working and serial number is BAD_CTX.
I googled about it and some people got it working with hdderase. I am still hoping there is a way to fix this without loosing all the data.. but that might be too much to hope for.
I tried to update the firmware again, but the tool says it is already updated. Is there a way to "update" it back to the old 2CV102G9 firmware? If that helps..
Where can I get the old firmware?
I hope Intel can answer is my SSD dead for good or is there a way to get it work again?
My computer is not a "brand computer", it is a home build one. Q6600, ASUS P5B etc. Windows is installed with AHCI, I updated the firmware in IDE mode and changed it back to AHCI after update.
Message was edited by: Rohirm
I have the same problem. I have a Asus P5E, The X25-M80G2 is on sata port 2, IDE, legacy mode, After the flash i have a S.M.A.R.T failure. I tried to update the firmware again. But the tool says it is already updated. I have Ubuntu 9.10 and W7 RC installed on the disk.
I can sea the disk on a other system whit W7 on it. I can't create a partition or delete one Is there any solution?
I don't know what you guys did, but I installed the new firmware on Windows 7 64-bit and had to restart but no problem here. I even restarted again on my own after reading this post. I reset the BIOS back to AHCI after the firmware update before going to desktop. I did the firmware update on both X25-M G2 160GB and X25-M G2 80GB drives.
DITTO!
Same problem as the OP!
The updater showed a successful firware update.
The computer re-booted just fine once.
Once within Windows, it installed some drivers and asked for a reboot.
Upon reboot, 50 Disk Errors were reported
Windows marked those file segments as bad
Rebooted
Disk Read Error!
System is now DOA
EVGA x58 Classified
Win 7 64
Intel x25-M SATA: 0
Stinks that some people are having troubles. Hopefully, the reason can be found. Mine went fine. Win7 did ask for a reboot after the upgrade. No errors after.the reboot.
I didn't have a problem either. I don't know what drivers they say were installed, haven't found anything different.
My Dell is a P55 Core i5 system if it matters. I had no special SATA drivers installed, just the ones that Windows 7 installed. It was running in ATA mode, RAID was disabled.
I think this may be an issue with Dell, which I would never buy. Try calling Dell for support, just keep the aspirin bottle handy. 
I installed the firmware in non-AHCI mode, no RAID or AHCI and it went smoothly. I have just the Microsoft drivers in Windows 7 64-bit. I followed the instructions for making the firmware CD.
Don't think it's a Dell issue. There are 2 other reports here of the same problem with different hardware.
I am experiencing the same behavior as the OP. I ran the firmware update and it reported success. I rebooted, Windows7 installed some drivers, and requested to reboot, which I did. When I reboot, the computer will POST, but then I am presented with a screen that reads the following:
A disk read error has occurred. Press CTRL-ALT-DELETE to reboot.
This is an 80GB X25-M G2 on a Gateway laptop (P-6860FX). The drive had been running Windows 7 Professional x64 since last Friday without issue. When I disconnect the SSD, I am at least able to boot into my old Vista drive.
Please advise!
What drivers did it install? I keep reading about drivers being installed but I didn't see any after updating firmware. So why do you say drivers were installed?
I built my own computer so no Dell or Gateway here.
Upon rebooting into Windows 7, Windows began installing new drivers automatically. Don't know what it was installing, but it requested a reboot when it was done and poof! I get SMART errors in the BIOS screen at posting. I tried to reformat and install Windows again, but the Windows installer could recognize the SMART errors and said I couldn't install Windows on a drive that had potential errors. It's not a Dell or Gateway issue. There is a guy with an ASUS MB and one with an EVGA MB with the same problems.
My Windows 7 Install appears to be hosed too. And this is not a Dell issue as I have a custom built PC. Exact same issue as the other people who had the problem: Firmware updates, Windows Reboots and installs something, and then errors or a black screen after reboot. The errors occur when I disable my raid array again, the black screen occurs with the Raid array enabled.
Can anyone who is having the problem get the drive to initialize? When I try to repair or reinstall Windows 7 it just hangs after selecting a language and the option to install or repair. I booted my computer with a Live Linux Disc and it sees the drive, but it can't access it at all. The only thing on the SSD was my OS and program files so I don't have a problem re-installing but that doesn't seem to be an option.
I think Intel may have a few RMAs on their hands in the near future.
All you guys with commercial computers having problems, and me with my home-built computer having all go smoothly. The motherboard isn't likely to be a problem, but BIOS setting might be. I still don't knpw why you say it installed drivers when you don't know what drivers were installed. After the firmware update, my computer rebooted but I don't know why or what transpired. After you updated the firmware, did you reset the BIOS to AHCI before going to desktop? And set your computer to boot from Hard Drive?
