It's not a conclusion, and it's not mine. It's a premise put forth by another poster in the "Windows 7 and bricked drive after upgrade" thread. It'd make sense in that:

- We now see the issue in Vista after a few days

- Which means it's likely related to the freeing of blocks

- Which happens automatically in Win7 through TRIM, so that's where it's been seen first

- TRIM lets the drive know which file system clusters can be reclaimed. On an aligned drive and assuming default 4k NTFS clusters, each cluster corresponds neatly to 1 flash page. On an unaligned drive, it doesn't: Each cluster spans part of two adjacent flash pages. Lots of potential to get the freeing of flash pages in that scenario wrong, as you can imagine.

It's the best premise I've heard so far. Now it's a matter of collecting data. If we get an overwhelming number of people with bad drives reporting that their partitions were unaligned, and an overwhelming number of people with good drives reporting that their partitions are aligned, the premise would be strengthened.

Bios updated to Latest? (YES)

2-What g2 size 80 or 160g? (160)

3-Is the drive partitioned? (NO)

4-other harddrives installed? (YES)

5-What version of 7, (x64)

6-Was windows 7 Installed already or was it clean? (CLEAN)

7-Was it aligned before and after update? (Auto aligned by 7/64)

8-Did you reformat or leave windows on before update?( ERASED )

9-Was Intel optimizer installed before or after update? (AFTER)

10-If optimizer was Installed BEFORE the update did you run it? (N/A)

11-Bios and windows setting before update? (AHCI)

12-Setting during update? (IDE)

13-Setting after update? (AHCI)

14-Did you run the flasher twice before booting or installing Win7? (1x)

15-Was there an error when flashing? (NO)

16-After it flashed and the computer started (Windows was installed before update), did you immediately change the settings back to what it was before booting into windows? (YES )

17-When booted in Windows 7 did it install a driver? (NO)

18-Is the G2 drive bricked or working fine? (GOOD)

ASUS ICH9

QX 6850

6GB DDR3 RAM

G2  80 GB (Data only)

4870x2

Asus Xonar DX2

1-Bios updated to Latest? YES

2-What g2 size 80 or 160g? 160

3-Is the drive partitioned?YES

4-other harddrives installed? YES

5-What version of 7, x86, x64?    7 x64

6-Was windows 7 Installed already or was it clean? INSTALLED

7-Was it aligned before and after update?

8-Did you reformat or leave windows on before update?(INSTALLED

9-Was Intel optimizer installed before or after update? NOT

10-If optimizer was Installed BEFORE the update did you run it?

11-Bios and windows setting before update? AHCI

12-Setting during update? AHCI

13-Setting after update?  AHCI

14-Did you run the flasher twice before booting or installing Win7? 1x

15-Was there an error when flashing?  NO

16-After it flashed and the computer started (Windows was installed before update), did you immediately change the settings back to what it was before booting into windows? (YES or NO)

17-When booted in Windows 7 did it install a driver? YES

18-Is the G2 drive bricked or working fine? BAD

Here is my report:

1-YES

2-160

3-YES

4-NO

5-Win7 x64

6-INSTALLED

7-YES

8-INSTALLED

9-AFTER

10-not applicable

11-RAID

12-IDE

13-RAID

14-2x

15-NO

16-YES

17-NO

18-GOOD

Answers to maybe important additional questions:

19-Which IDE/SATA/RAID driver was running before updating the firmware: Intel RST SATA RAID driver v9.5.0.1037

20-Which IDE/SATA/RAID driver was running after updating the firmware: Intel RST SATA RAID driver v9.5.0.1037

My system:

MB: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R

CPU: Intel Core2Duo E8400 @ 3,00 Ghz

Chipset: Intel ICH10R

HDD's: 2x 160 GB Intel X25-M SSD as RAID0

RAM: 4x2 GB G.Skill PC2-8500

 

1-Bios updated to Latest? (YES or NO) YES

2-What g2 size 80 or 160g? (80 or 160) 80

3-Is the drive partitioned? (YES or NO) YES (Win7 configured it as part of initial on a clean disk)

4-other harddrives installed? (YES or NO) YES (2xWD 1TB in RAID1 as data drives)

5-What version of 7, x86, x64? (using or will be using) Win7 Home x64 RETAIL

6-Was windows 7 Installed already or was it clean? (INSTALLED or CLEAN) Clean: fresh install

7-Was it aligned before and after update? N/A

8-Did you reformat or leave windows on before update?(INSTALLED or ERASED or BRAND NEW) BRAND NEW

9-Was Intel optimizer installed before or after update? (BEFORE or AFTER) BEFORE

10-If optimizer was Installed BEFORE the update did you run it? (YES or NO) YES (and it stated that the drive FW needed updating, but displayed drive data like SMART, etc.)

11-Bios and windows setting before update? (IDE, AHCI, RAID, etc) -list both if applicable RAID

12-Setting during update? (IDE, AHCI, RAID, etc) IDE

13-Setting after update? (IDE, AHCI, RAID, etc) RAID

14-Did you run the flasher twice before booting or installing Win7? (1x, 2x, 3x) 1x

15-Was there an error when flashing? (YES or NO) No

16-After it flashed and the computer started (Windows was installed before update), did you immediately change the settings back to what it was before booting into windows? (YES or NO) Yes

17-When booted in Windows 7 did it install a driver? (YES or NO) Yes

18-Is the G2 drive bricked or working fine? (BAD or GOOD) BAD

 

System specs:

DFI LP UT X58-T3eH8 w/ D619 FW

Core i7 920 w/ Zalmon 9000 (not O/C)

3x2GB OCZ 10666

1xIntel 80GB G2 SSD (boot)

2xWD 1TB RAID1 (data)

Sapphire Radeon 5870

Antec 850W Signature PSU

Antec P182 case

1-Bios updated to Latest? YES

2-What g2 size 80 or 160g? 160

3-Is the drive partitioned? YES

4-other harddrives installed? YES

5-What version of 7, x86, x64? x64

6-Was windows 7 Installed already or was it clean? INSTALLED

7-Was it aligned before and after update? YES

8-Did you reformat or leave windows on before update? INSTALLED

9-Was Intel optimizer installed before or after update? wanted to install it AFTERwards

10-If optimizer was Installed BEFORE the update did you run it? -

11-Bios and windows setting before update? AHCI

12-Setting during update? IDE Native Mode

13-Setting after update? AHCI

14-Did you run the flasher twice before booting or installing Win7? 1x

15-Was there an error when flashing? NO BUT DRIVE IS DEAD SINCE REBOOT

16-After it flashed and the computer started (Windows was installed before update), did you immediately change the settings back to what it was before booting into windows? YES

17-When booted in Windows 7 did it install a driver? BOOTING SLOWED DOWN WITH SDD CONNECTED, BIOS CAN'T FIND SSD ANY MORE

18-Is the G2 drive bricked or working fine? BAD

GIGABYTE P35-DS4 2.1 with latest firmware

Intel Core2Quad Q6600 @ 3.00 GHz

2x 2 GB OCZ Platinum DDR2-1066 5-5-5-15

ATI Radeon 4870 512MB

1x Intel X25-M G2 Postville 160GB

1x Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 1500GB (ST31500341AS)

SSD is dead after flashing, see my thread for details.

1-Bios updated to Latest? YES

2-What g2 size 80 or 160g? 80

3-Is the drive partitioned? YES

4-other harddrives installed? YES

5-What version of 7.  x64 Ultimate RTM from Technet

6-Was windows 7 Installed already or was it clean? INSTALLED

7-Was it aligned before and after update? Yes

8-Did you reformat or leave windows on before update? INSTALLED

9-Was Intel optimizer installed before or after update? BEFORE

10-If optimizer was Installed BEFORE the update did you run it? NO

11-Bios and windows setting before update?  AHCI

12-Setting during update? AHCI

13-Setting after update? AHCI

14-Did you run the flasher twice before booting or installing Win7? 1x only

15-Was there an error when flashing? NO

16-After it flashed and the computer started (Windows was installed before update), did you immediately change the settings back to what it was before booting into windows? N/A - no settings changed

17-When booted in Windows 7 did it install a driver? YES - and rebooted after that fine

18-Is the G2 drive bricked or working fine? GOOD

List your system specs too.

Abit IP35-Pro Motherboard

Jmicron controller disabled (always has been since I dont use it)

Drive on port 2 of ICH9R contoller

SATA DVD-RW on port 1, 640GB WD SATA on port 0. BIOS is set to boot from CD first, then SSD.

SDD manufacturing date. I'll check this when I get home this evening and update this post.

1-Bios updated to Latest? (YES)

2-What g2 size 80 or 160g? (160)

3-Is the drive partitioned? (NO)

4-other harddrives installed? (NO)

5-What version of 7   (x64)

6-Was windows 7 Installed already or was it clean? (INSTALLED)

7-Was it aligned before and after update? (DON'T KNOW)

8-Did you reformat or leave windows on before update?(INSTALLED)

9-Was Intel optimizer installed before or after update? (AFTER)

10-If optimizer was Installed BEFORE the update did you run it?

11-Bios and windows setting before update? (AHCI)

12-Setting during update? (AHCI)

13-Setting after update? (AHCI)

14-Did you run the flasher twice before booting or installing Win7? (1x)

15-Was there an error when flashing? (NO)

16-After it flashed and the computer started (Windows was installed before update), did you immediately change the settings back to what it was before booting into windows?

17-When booted in Windows 7 did it install a driver? (NO)

18-Is the G2 drive bricked or working fine? (BAD)

ACER 6935G

1-Bios updated to Latest? = Yes
2-What g2 size 80 or 160g? = 160
3-Is the drive partitioned? = YES 60/100 (approx)
4-other harddrives installed? = NO
5-What version of 7, x86, x64? = Win 7 X64
6-Was windows 7 Installed already or was it clean? = It was a new and unused G2 drive.
7-Was it aligned before and after update? = N/A - Brand new G2 drive
8-Did you reformat or leave windows on before update? = N/A - Brand new G2 drive
9-Was Intel optimizer installed before or after update? = N/A - Brand new G2 drive
10-If optimizer was Installed BEFORE the update did you run it? = N/A - Brand new G2 drive
11-Bios and windows setting before update? (IDE, AHCI, RAID, etc) = Laptop only has two BIOS options (SATA / AHCI) - I kept the default AHCI setting.
12-Setting during update? (IDE, AHCI, RAID, etc) = AHCI
13-Setting after update? (IDE, AHCI, RAID, etc) = AHCI
14-Did you run the flasher twice before booting or installing Win7? = 1x (all worked perfectly first time)
15-Was there an error when flashing? (YES or NO) = NO
16-After it flashed and the computer started (Windows was installed before update), did you immediately change the settings back to what it was before booting into windows? (YES or NO) = N/A did not make any changes and W7 was not installed.
17-When booted in Windows 7 did it install a driver? (YES or NO) = N/A W7 was not previously installed.
18-Is the G2 drive bricked or working fine? (BAD or GOOD) = GOOD at moment.


List your system specs too.
DELL XPS M1330 - Not sure the drive manufacture date but its packaging date was 22/09/09 with batch CNCV99K802.

1-Bios updated to Latest? YES

2-What g2 size 80 or 160g? 80G

3-Is the drive partitioned? YES

4-other harddrives installed? NO

5-What version of 7, x86, x64? Gentoo Linux 2.6.31-gentoo-r4 #1 SMP PREEMPT

6-Was windows 7 Installed already or was it clean? Gentoo Linux 2.6.31-gentoo-r4 INSTALLED

7-Was it aligned before and after update? what do you mean by "aligned"?

8-Did you reformat or leave windows on before update? fresh install

9-Was Intel optimizer installed before or after update? NO, using linux

10-If optimizer was Installed BEFORE the update did you run it? NO, using linux

11-Bios and windows setting before update? AHCI / libata/ahci compiled into kernel

12-Setting during update? SATA

13-Setting after update? AHCI

14-Did you run the flasher twice before booting or installing Win7? 2x

15-Was there an error when flashing? NO

16-After it flashed and the computer started (Windows was installed before update), did you immediately change the settings back to what it was before booting into windows? YES

17-When booted in Windows 7 did it install a driver? NO, using Linux

18-Is the G2 drive bricked or working fine? BAD

hw specs:

- asus AT3N7A-I

- Corsair XMS2 DHX Series DIMM Kit 4GB PC2-6400U CL4-4-4-12

- LG GH-22NS

sw specs:
- Linux 2.6.31-gentoo-r4 #1 SMP PREEMPT i686 Intel(R) Atom(TM) CPU 230 @ 1.60GHz GenuineIntel GNU/Linux

- grub kernel parameter: elevator=noop

- mounting with noatime

partitions:

sda1  -> ext2 (primary)

sda2  ->  swap (primary)

sda3  -> ext4 (primary)

sda4  -> ext4 (primary)

notes:

after the fw update i was able to boot normally. but after about 10min. the system didn't respond anymore, altough webservices were still available. i had to do a hard reset. afterwards i recognized the smart error reported by the bios. nevertheless i tried to boot the system. mbr was accessed and grub was trying to access the kernel. so i was able to see the fbsplash but nothing more and a msgs that states the kernel would boot. so obviously the boot partition (ext2) was accessed succesfully, but not / (ext4). after rebooting with a livecd i tried to mount the drive manually. that didn't work, also when specifying the filesystem type. i only got a error message about a wrong superblock etc. so i tried to check partitions with cfdisk. while cfdisk tries to access the drive it puts out a lot of i/o error msgs, but showing the partition table finally. the overview couldn't recognize the fs types of the former ext4 partitions but only the ext2 partition. -> end of the story.

1-Bios updated to Latest? NO, approximately 3-year old BIOS

2-What g2 size 80 or 160g? Two 80 GB drives, ICH8 RAID 0 array (128K stripe)

3-Is the drive partitioned? NO

4-other harddrives installed? YES, 4 rotational SATA drives

5-What version of 7, x86, x64? Win 7 Professional x64 RTM

6-Was windows 7 Installed already or was it clean? INSTALLED

7-Was it aligned before and after update? YES

8-Did you reformat or leave windows on before update? INSTALLED

9-Was Intel optimizer installed before or after update? AFTER

10-If optimizer was Installed BEFORE the update did you run it? N/A

11-Bios and windows setting before update? BIOS = RAID, Windows = Intel MSM RAID

12-Setting during update? IDE

13-Setting after update? RAID

14-Did you run the flasher twice before booting or installing Win7? 1x (flashed both drives)

15-Was there an error when flashing? NO

16-After it flashed and the computer started (Windows was installed before update), did you immediately change the settings back to what it was before booting into windows? YES

17-When booted in Windows 7 did it install a driver? NO

18-Is the G2 drive bricked or working fine? Both drives are GOOD

List your system specs too.

Asus P5B Deluxe, BIOS 0910

4 GB memory

Core 2 Duo E6400

I Believe the SDD has Manufacturing date  can post it too. Pack dates = 8/15/09 and 9/12/09

1-Bios updated to Latest? (YES)

2-What g2 size 80 or 160g? (160)

3-Is the drive partitioned? (NO)

4-other harddrives installed? (YES)

5-What version of 7, x86, x64? (x64)

6-Was windows 7 Installed already or was it clean? (ALREADY INSTALLED)

7-Was it aligned before and after update? (YES)

8-Did you reformat or leave windows on before update?(LEFT WINDOWS INSTALLED AS-IS)

9-Was Intel optimizer installed before or after update? (AFTER)

10-If optimizer was Installed BEFORE the update did you run it? (N/A)

11-Bios and windows setting before update? (AHCI)

12-Setting during update? (AHCI -- BUT DIDN'T WORK, AND ONLY OTHER OPTIONS IS RAID ... HAD TO TAKE DRIVE TO ANOTHER COMPUTER WITH IDE)

13-Setting after update? (AHCI)

14-Did you run the flasher twice before booting or installing Win7? (2x, but 1st couldn't find drive, 2nd was on other computer where it took)

15-Was there an error when flashing? (NO (SEE ABOVE--SIMPLY COULDN'T FIND DRIVE ON 1ST COMPUTER)

16-After it flashed and the computer started (Windows was installed before update), did you immediately change the settings back to what it was before booting into windows? (N/A)

17-When booted in Windows 7 did it install a driver? (YES, APPARENTLY -- IT SAID IT NEEDED TO RESTART)

18-Is the G2 drive bricked or working fine? (GOOD SO FAR)

Intel i7 920 (Dell XPS-435T, BIOS A13)

6GB RAM

Intel X-25M 160GB & WD Black Caviars

1-Bios updated to Latest? YES

2-What g2 size 80 or 160g? 160

3-Is the drive partitioned? YES

4-other harddrives installed? YES

5-What version of 7? Win 7 x64 RC build 7100

6-Was windows 7 Installed already or was it clean? Already installed

7-Was it aligned before and after update? After: yes Before: don't know, but I assume yes.

8-Did you reformat or leave windows on before update? Left windows on

9-Was Intel optimizer installed before or after update? After

10-If optimizer was Installed BEFORE the update did you run it? n/a

11-Bios and windows setting before update? Mac Pro - Can't change it

12-Setting during update? Don't know - Mac Pro

13-Setting after update? Don't know - Mac Pro

14-Did you run the flasher twice before booting or installing Win7? 1x

15-Was there an error when flashing? No

16-After it flashed and the computer started (Windows was installed before update), did you immediately change the settings back to what it was before booting into windows? NO

17-When booted in Windows 7 did it install a driver? YES

18-Is the G2 drive bricked or working fine? GOOD

Mac Pro (Early 2008)

Windows 7 RC build 7100 in boot camp, using Snow Leopard's bootcamp drivers