Windows 10: Should I Be Concerned and Extra Cautious

I'm sorry, but I'm a little confused. You said the boot sequence did not complete. So, how did you start the firmware install before you aborted it?

 

I inadvertently launched the application with all the drives running. It wanted to install it here:

C:\Program Files\Crucial\Crucial Storage Executive

Perhaps this just installs a program that then installs the new firmware on a selected drive. I was reading an anadtech review of the software when you reply arrived:

A Look at Storage Executive - Crucial 1TB) SSD Review

It rapidly begins talking in acronyms. Have you time to look?

thanks

 

No I haven't looked in depth, but I will now if you can give me a little time.

 

It says:

The ability to easily upgrade the firmware is probably the most important feature in a toolbox and the Storage Executive is pretty straightforward with that. It automatically checks for updates and also features the release notes, so the end-user will know what has been changed in the newer firmware.

One image reads that it will "update the firmware on all drives in the system" so somehow I need to get the program to run from the thumb drive. Perhaps it is not bootable?

thanks

 

Also, the last paragraph in that image discusses a manual firmware update.

I thought I'd downloaded that.

I have a bootable rescue disk from Macrium. Would that work to get me up and running so that I could switch to the thumb drive?

I could copy the installed exe, but I can't see anything in the new Crucial folder under Programs.

thanks

 

I made a folder on the 16GB thumb and I'm installing Crucial Storage Executive on it as I write.

I think it caused the install on C: to abort. I hope this does not create a messy uninstall project. The Wizard ran a long time with lots of description flashing by at the bottom.

Can I shut down, disconnect all but the empty thumb drive, boot from the Macrium recovery CD, and navigate to the thumb drive?

My guess is that this will all be in a WinPE command prompt where I will need drive designations and navigation skills I doubt I can summon up.

thanks

 

This is what Crucial says about the firmware upgrade

SOURCE

As I understand it, you are unable to make a Macrium image that will verify. If that is the case, just to be safe, I would transfer the Operating system first to another drive, then do the firmware update. It says it is a non destructive update if done correctly. However, knowing computers, it is advisable to make certain you don't lose your OS.

Let me give you 2 options.
1.) you could clone your current OS to the blank drive, remove your current OS drive and run the update tool to upgrade your firmware, thus saving your current OS drive in case of an accident.

2.) Do a clean install on the new drive, with all other drives disconnected. Don't worry about updates, activation or anything else. Install the Crucial Storage Executive software from Crucial and do the firmware update. Once the firmware is updated, the drive can be wiped clean easily and you can proceed with the plans you and @simrick made. If the firmware update destroys the data on the drive, no harm, no foul. It won't matter.

Whichever option you choose, once you start the Firmware upgrade, Do Not Stop it. It can brick your drive.

 

Also, be aware that the Anandtech article is about version 1.0 of the Storage Executive software. The current version is 3.30. So, there have been a lot of changes and upgrades to the Storage Executive software since that article was written in April of last year.

 

Just so I understand.

In option 1, I try using Macrium Reflect to clone C: to the new drive, then boot from that as the only drive connected and update the firmware.

If that works then I can:

a) use the updater that I keep getting nagged about, or

b) do a clean install.

I gather that my idea of using Macrium rescue disk to boot, then the Crucial software on the thumb is too complex?

thanks

 

No sir, I don't believe the Macrium Recovery CD will help at all in updating the Firmware.

 

Yes sir, that is the first option, although I am not sure what you mean about being nagged *Smile

I don't recall whether you and simrick were wanting to do a clean install or just upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10. If you were wanting to transfer the OS and then upgrade it, but wanted the Firmware update first, then this option would put you where you would like to be, would it not?

 

I think I just 'blew' the clean install option.

I forgot I had the Win10 ISO on the new disk.

I did the Macrium Reflect clone to the disk and it warned me I would loose the file. My bad.

So I guess I update the firmware on the clone and try to use the MS update on it. If it works, good. If it does not, there's always Win7.

thanks

 

If I am understanding you correctly, you lost the Windows 10 ISO but the clone went well? Is that correct? If so, it is no big deal, you can download it again. All is not lost.

 

Sorry, your replies came as I composed, ships passing in the night.

I just went back to Macrium Reflect and it was still waiting for approval to proceed so I gave the go ahead. The Win10 ISO is on a CD. I just saw the new name on the unused disk (Win 10 x64 System Disk) and panicked.

Is there a verify feature for this cloning procedure? I hope it does not give the same result as the failed imaging efforts.

In typical fashion, MS chose the word 'until' 7/29/16. Does the upgrade not work tomorrow?

thanks

 

As of right now you have 1 day 11 Hours 43 minutes 36 seconds