Guide On ExpressCache: "I Want My ExpressCache Back!" Edition

Hey guys, I have one quick question for you. How do you know if Express Cache is working correctly, is there a way to check it?

I opened (Easy) Settings and I saw the tab for Express Cache, but it only lets me turn it on or off. I do not have any other options such as reset or anything. Thanks in advance.

 

@Sonic: In Easy Settings (Win7) the ExpressCache tab shows Usage Information (see attached). That may not be true in Settings (Win8). If so, use ECCmd as described in the Opening Post of this thread.



Update: If you use ExpressCache 1.0.94.0 (as opposed to the older 1.0.86.0) the folder containing ECCmd has changed to C:\Program Files\Condusiv Technologies\ExpressCache.

 

nope this doesnt solve my problem. It is very annoying

 

And you DID delete the EC partition before re-installing EC? There is a reason for the steps I mentioned, AND doing them in that order, AND rebooting in between.

But if you tried that already, I'm afraid I don't know what else to suggest.

I can tell you I suddenly had the issue not long ago after some experimenting with Easy Settings 2.0.0.30 (to fix its messing with Windows' loading of other tasks). I eventually restored an earlier image of my Windows installation, and now my EC works correctly. So it IS a software issue, as far as I can tell. Something in your installation OR on the EC partition triggers EC to re-build its cache on every startup.

 

Yes thats what i did.

Uninstall easy settings
reboot
uninstall EC
reboot
.windows disk management delete partition
reboot
Install ec
reboot
install settings

 

I am sorry; that does suck

It's almost certain that a new install will fix it, but that can be a lot of work. I save multiple images of my Windows partition as I build an installation, so that I can go back in case something like this happens.

There was a representative from Diskeeper/Condusiv who posted here 1-2 months ago (basically saying people should contact Samsung to report problems instead of all these workarounds). So they are real people, not living on Mars. Be great if we could get them to tell us what triggers EC to re-build the cache. That way we might find a solution.

One more thing to try: If you go through these steps again, but without re-installing Easy Settings, does it still flush the cache on reboots? (You can check with ECCmd).

Update: Something else to try: I am sensing that this is a Win8 installation, correct? Back in Nov, Mata_Ratos posted some insight in the thread linked here about converting the iSSD between GPT and MBR if it doesn't work right in Win8. I cannot speak to that myself (my HDD as well as my iSSD are MBR). But clearly some things are different with EC under Win8. Worth a try.

 

Im on windows 8. (everything was fine on W7) Issd is GPT and the hard drives are mbr. EC driver doesnt work when issd is MBR so i keep it GPT

I tried without re-installing easy settings. No luck and i give up because this problem is driving me insane i dont want to deal with it anymore. In fact i want to rip issd out of the motherboard...

 

LOL, I cannot blame you for being frustrated. But please, don't rip the iSSD off the motherboard

I should have been more clear: I meant maybe it was worth a try converting to MBR and back to GPT. (I am puzzled anyway why EC must have a GPT partitioned iSSD in Win8, when MBR works fine in Win7). But maybe you tried that already.

If you have an imaging tool, I'd say it's worth saving your current partition and try a clean install with ONLY Windows, hardware drivers and EC. If that works, you can run Windows updates, add other utilities and apps -- checking along the way what breaks it (if anything) AND making new images along the way.

Your findings would be highly useful information

 

So thats what i am going to do right?

Uninstall easy settings
reboot
uninstall EC
reboot
windows disk management delete partition
reboot
convert mbr
reboot
(convert gpt
reboot)*
Install ec
reboot
install settings

as long as i remember i have tried converting to mbr and using it like that but i couldnt succeed but maybe i did something wrong if it doesnt work i will do these steps again including paranthesis "()"

 

Hats off to your persistence! Yes, try that. Surely some of these reboots won't be necessary (particular between deleting the partition and converting to MBR) but they won't hurt either. Also, I would not re-install Settings until you have verified that EC works correctly (or doesn't).

That said, you've already tried various combinations of these many times, and the problem may be somewhere else entirely. That's why I suggested a fresh install -- as an experiment. If you save an image of your current installation, you can build a new installation step by step and catch it exactly when the train goes off the track. Once you've determined what causes the problem, you can restore your current image and focus on repairing just that one thing.

Something else: Make sure you take a break and get some rest. Seriously. Working feverishly day and night on a problem like this can drive anybody crazy. Taking a break and re-approaching it with a fresh mind can do wonders. You could even uninstall EC for a couple days and run without it while you decompress. Trust me, I've been there many times

 

I tried converting to mbr and without installing settings -didnt work. then i installed settings -didnt work
Then i did the whole process again this time i converted to gpt without installing settings -no luck then i installed settings then BOOM! ....it didnt work either

Sadly i cannot have a fresh install of windows 8

You are right, typing "eccmd -info" hoping that everything will be fine but seeing it flushed again and again and again.....makes me crazy

So, got any ideas left?

 

@vesayreve: Thanks for trying these different suggestions so patiently. Even though it didn't solve it for you, I have a better idea now where to look and where NOT to look.

There are many more things to try. For my part, I always do a clean install if any problem doesn't resolve fairly quickly. It allows me to pin-point where there problem starts and go back and fix my original installation.

If you don't want to do a clean install (which I understand perfectly) and if this is a factory Win8 installation, I would backup everything, boot F4 and do a Restore in Samsung Recovery Solution. If the problem is STILL there after restore to factory, it is time to call Samsung.

But seriously, I suggest you uninstall EC and take a break from this now for a few days. It's not going to affect your performance that much -- and may even be a little faster than EC working to re-populate its cache over and over in the background.

A solution may show up, either from Samsung or from another Win8 user here.

 

Hi all,

I was wondering if someone might be able to give me some advice.

I've just recieved a new 7 series 700G7A and looking to put my 128GB vertex 4 in. The machine currently has 2 x 1TB and this ExpressCache thingy. I will be removing 1 of the 1TB to install the SSD.

My question is, do I need to do/change anything if I want to install the SSD? Do i disable the expresscache in the bios or something or do i leave it running alongside the SSD?

Sorry, im a little new to the SSD/Expresscache.


Kind Regards

Neil

 

I think there is an option to disable the ExpressCache in easy settings.

You don't really need EC with a SSD.

 

@Nella:

ExpressCache is implemented using 3rd party software (called ExpressCache) which uses a small SSD (so-called iSSD) integrated on the motherboard to speed up booting and loading of frequently read files. Without that software, the iSSD is just another small drive you can use however you want.

To second what yknyong says, you don't need EC if you install a "real" SSD because it's typically faster than the iSSD anyway. Just uninstall the ExpressCache software (or skip it if you're doing a clean Windows install).

 

yea i uninstalled EC and i am trying to forget about it but i cant i keep thinking about how to resolve this. -13 seconds is not bad.
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/9452/15520586.png

My laptop came with W7 pre-loaded i upgraded to W8 Pro. It was alright before Win8. Can it be something about Windows 8 itself?

 

LOL

Believe me, I understand fully about not wanting to have loose ends like that -- even if it isn't affecting performance dramatically. And I am not saying to give up, not all all.

Did you talk to Samsung support about this? Since you did NOT do a clean install or otherwise mess with the system (like I and many others do), you were on your factory installed Win7, and you followed Samsung's procedure for upgrading to Win8, I would say they definitely owe you a solution. I would give them a call -- but expect to spend some time on the phone.

Second, I am sure there are many other members here running Win8, who may have insight, but just don't happen to follow this thread. If you create a new thread titled "ExpressCache flushing after each reboot since Win8 upgrade", and explain the problem and the steps you already tried (include a link to your first post in this thread), you may get more responses. Who knows, maybe others have the same problem, but never noticed.

Until your last post I didn't realize this was originally a Win7 system upgraded to Win8. I presume that means your HDD is still MBR (as opposed to GPT) and Win8 running in BIOS mode (as opposed to UEFI). You also found that EC insists on the iSSD being GPT in order for it to even work. I wonder if there is a glitch where EC doesn't work right under Win8 unless the OS is running UEFI and/or on a GPT disk. Pure speculation on my part, but all I can think of -- now that we eliminated (Easy) Settings, EC installation and iSSD partition/format as the issue.

 

I use my expresscache for games. I just install one at a time. I keep copies on the factory HDD that I moved to the drive bay.

 

Hey guys,

Found this on the Asus website on upgrading to win8:

[Important: read before upgrade] IRST (Intel Rapid Start Technology) driver and Express Cache software application
Solution
Please follow the steps below:
Uninstall Express Cache before the upgrade to Windows 8.
Upgrade to Windows 8.
Download and install Intel Rapid Start Technology(IRST) driver.
Download and install Express Cache.
The installation sequence of Intel Rapid Start Technology(IRST) and Express Cache must be in the above order.


Also, being new to the whole iSSD thing, I was wondering whether cleaners (ccleaner for instance) have an effect on the iSSD cache. Could it be that if you run them they just wipe the whole thing?

 

Thanks for the infor in this thread! I own a 530U3C and can after a clean win8 install see the expresscache info i the settings app but only that it is turned on. Besides this I used the commando promt to look at the ECCmd.exe file and chosed "-info" which showed me that the iSSD were starting to build up. Made a reboot and noticed that the amount av "Total used size" gone up with some hundred megabytes. Enough proof for me that it's working =)

 

@Slick: Great, well done. Thanks for the update, it helps show the way for others.

 

@vesayreve: I just had a discussion with John Ratsey about a module called FFSR (Fast Flash Sleep Resume) which seems to run at every login on models that have Intel Rapid Start (NOT the same as Rapid Storage). This module appears to balance ExpressCache and Rapid Start partitions on the (i)SSD. I couldn't help wondering if it could be the one messing with your ExpressCache on every re-start.

Do you have a "C:\Program Files (x86)\Samsung\Fast Flash Sleep Resume" folder on your PC?

It's just a thought, probably nothing

 

Just a quick note: ExpressCache and iRST are designed to coexist on the same machine as two indivisual partitions on the same SSD. Typically iRST is installed first followed by the installation of ExpressCache. This procedure allows ExpressCache to calculate the remaining space on the SSD and create its partition. ExpressCache will use up to a maximum of 32GB for its partition.

 

Thank you Willis.

Yeah, this was merely a suggestion for one more thing vesayreve could check into as a possible (unintentional) trigger of his EC flushing on every reboot. The context was a discussion we had couple weeks ago.

Clearly this FFSR thing (which I don't have on my Series 7) believes that it has a say concerning how the iSSD is used and in the state of EC and iRST. Check John's post (which I linked) and you'll see what I mean.

Thanks again, though.

 

I just wanted to point you guys to a thread I made in the Lenovo forum regarding using big SSDs & ExpressCache. Lenovo uses the same ExpressCache software as Samsung:

[URL="http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo/705681-howto-configure-large-32gb-ssd-work-expresscache.html]HOWTO: Configure a large (> 32GB) SSD to work with ExpressCache[/URL]

 

Wow thanks for your attention

I have given up on my cause but if you have any idea i would gladly try it i havent installed the driver yet but there is no such a folder like that. Should i install the driver and try again or download something else?

 

No, no, don't test anything yet. If you don't have that FFSR thing on your PC, that's not it. It was just a thought, something to check.

I'll keep this in the back of my head; as of now, it's just an unsolved mystery. My best guess is still that it's related to win8 running in BIOS mode (as opposed to UEFI) and/or running off an MBR disk (as opposed to GPT). Samsung probably spent all their testing on GPT/UEFI installations of win8.

 

OK if you have any idea let me know i will try it

 

Hey Guys, I have the NP700G7C-S01US Series 7 Gamer. I replaced the O.S. C: Drive with a Samsung 830 256 Gb SSD. I've botched my user files to the point where I'm going to reinstall using the Samsung recovery disk(the physical cd which came with the notebook). I did not us Samsung recovery solution at all because I like the Windows 7 system backup and I also have Acronis to use once I read the thousand page manual!

My questions are regarding the 8gb SSD and Expresscache. Since I'm re-installing everything, I'd like to do it right and not have to do it again for an Expresscache issue. I've read some of this thread, but not all of it, and another one on another site. I'm just trying to save some time by asking these few simple questions(hopefully):

1- Has a consensus been reached whether to even download and use the expresscache software, keeping in mind that I already have the above mentioned SSD. I know it would be useful if I had no SSD, but I'm not sure since I have one. I see some people here saying to turn it off or uninstall it if you have an SSD.

2- If I don't use the software, is there any use I can get out of the 8Gb SSD? I see it in Disk Management, but not in explorer. Can I store and run programs or games off of it, or store other data on it?

3 - This may sound stupid, but is there an actual physical 8Gb SSD, or is that just a segment of the O.S. drive formatted expressly (pardon the pun!) for Expresscache? When I was installing the SSD, the manual said nothing about where the 8Gb SSD is located.

4 - If your recommendations are to NOT use it for Expresscache, and if I can't use it for anything else, should I uninstall it using Disk Management or Device Manager? If so, should I then physically remove the disk if I find there actually is one?

Thanks in advance for any help. I'd read through all this stuff if I had the time right now, but I've got a lot on the plate for a while!

Thanks,
Ed :thumbsup:

 

@Eddie: Good questions!

ExpressCache is simply a piece of software that caches frequently read hard disk files using a small 8GB SSD (so-called iSSD) soldered on the motherboard. Without that ExpressCache software the iSSD is just another disk (as you saw in Windows Disk Management). You can use it whichever way you want (including for nothing) -- but you cannot remove it.

The reason it doesn't have a drive letter is because ExpressCache created a special partition on it that Windows cannot see. Once you uninstall the ExpressCache software, you can delete that partition and create a regular NTFS partition (again, use Windows Disk Management). The ExpressCache tab in Easy Settings will disappear after that.

And no, you should NOT use ExpressCache with your new SSD, since your SSD is faster than the iSSD anyway. It would be slowing down your system.

In choosing how to use the iSSD, consider the following:

1) Every time you write on the iSSD, it wears down a little. So don't use it for anything that requires constant writing, such as cache or page file.

2) Be aware that it is slower than your SSD, so keep files on your SSD that you want to load very fast.

Using it for hibernation would be ideal, which is exactly what Intel Rapid Start was designed to do. I don't have Rapid Start on my Series 7, but if I didn't use my iSSD for ExpressCache, I would definitely experiment with that. It may not be easy, though. Check John's Rapid Start thread.

Otherwise I would use it to keep install files: I have a multi-GB folder on my HDD where I gather all such files. Not a lot of writing, the files just sit there for months.

Hope this is helpful. Ask away if you have more questions.

 

Dannemand - Thank you for the great explanation. I couldn't ask for a more helpful answer! :thumbsup:

 

Hi Guys, I'm having problems with my express cache installation go the file from samsung website and also tries installing from the link above

that's what i get when i try installing.
i use an NPZ700Z5C.
please help, its so frustrating.
it started after i formatted my PC, unfortunately i lost my recovery partition also

 

have you formatted your issd to hfs? if not try doing it

 

Ok guys, this is an excellent thread but i think i have a unique problem or my english is not good enough to understand others.

I've formatted 24gb ssd partition of my Samsung Series 5 notebook and tried the guide with cmd. When i did "create partition", computer freezed for 2 hours and restarted. Now i can't see my ssd partition on cmd (list disk).

What can i do?

 

nobody wants my express cache back (

 

Send your laptop for repair. The issd seems to be dead.

 

Just wondering are you Turkish?

 

yeap I'm turkish why?

Oh if only i believed i would get my laptop from repair in less then 1 month... Thats how it works in Turkey. Samsung changed my faulty s3 screen in 6 weeks.

 

Hi guys,

My 700z7c failures to boot with error INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE after I turned off ExpressCache loading via SysInternals Autoruns program (I know it wasn't right).
Owners of 700z7c with Windows 8 and working cache, please, send following exported registry branches:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\excfs
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\excsd
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\ExpressCache

Export can be done via console with administrator's privileges:

Code:

reg EXPORT HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\excfs excfs.reg
reg EXPORT HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\excsd excsd.reg
reg EXPORT HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\ExpressCache ExpressCache.reg

It will create 3 files: excfs.reg, excsd.reg, ExpressCache.reg. Please attach them here or send me somehow.
Also %SystemRoot%\System32\regedt32.exe utility can be used.

Thanks in advance.

Upd. Problem was solved, guys from ixbt.com sent files. Always backup registry branch before editing. It looked so simple yesterday but I spent 15 hours to successfully login in Windows after that changes.

 

Yeah, ExpressCache overlays the disk driver - that's how it can load files from iSSD when Windows or apps try loading from the HDD.

So you don't want to disable loading it that way. Your experience clearly demonstrated that.

Thanks for sharing!

 

Just purchased the new series 7 chronos (15 inch), the 2013 model that is only available at Best Buy. Can'f find any evidence of ExpressCache or an iSSD. Looked in the bios for evidence, searched the machine for something called ExpressCache. Am I missing something or did they drop the cache on the newer machines? Thanks.

 

I'm fairly sure it was dropped -- I had assumed RAMaccelerator was supposed to fill in for it. The ExpressCache app also doesn't show up on SW Update for the Z5E, though I did spot Condusiv's Intellimemory, which seems to be annoying some users.

-Matt

 

@Stow: As Matt says -- that's my impression too.

Different ways to see if you have ExpressCache:

1) Look in Windows Disk Manager for a small disk. 8-24GB have been reported on older series 7 models.

2) Look in Windows Programs and Features Control Panel for an ExpressCache entry.

3) Look for a folder C:\Program Files\Condusiv Technologies\ExpressCache.

Please let us know what you find

 

That's actually surprising that they'd drop ExpressCache on the newer models especially since they still come with HDDs. Then again, Windows 8's boot time is dramatically faster than 7's, so maybe it's not as necessary.

 

ExpressCache helps with more than just boot times, such as loading frequently used programs. It speeds up Win8 quite significantly as well. Maybe Samsung just wanted to save a bit by cutting ExpressCache.

Personally I think they just had too many problems with it, causing too much support. SSDs wear down with prolonged use (writing), and this one is soldered onto the motherboard...

 

Hi guys just a quick question, do you need to have an SSD installed into the computer to use express cache? (If it makes a difference I have the Series 7 chronos NP780Z5E) Thanks!

 

No.

ExpressCache uses a small (and relatively slow) SSD integrated on the motherboard to boost performance of systems using an HDD. If you have an SSD then there's no need to use the ExpressCache.

John

 

Thanks for the quick answer John! So I used the installer that was posted by yknyong1 in the last post on the first page, and at one point the installer says "ExpressCache setup could not determine an SSD to be used. Please create a ExpressCache partition manually on an SSD in order to speed up you computer performance." When I press the next button, it says the ExpressCache has installed successfully. But how could it have installed if I didn't have an SSD. Is it talking about the one on the motherboard like you were talking about? How do I make it so it finds it? Thanks for you help!

 

I'm pretty sure that ExpressCache needs to have a partition on an SSD drive in order to work at all, let alone effectively. You could probably create the right kind of cache partition (set id=73 override) on any hard drive but what would be the point?

If it's installed at the factory, I think a 16GB mSATA drive is included. If you install an SSD aftermarket, you would need to create a partition manually for the cache to find. Nonetheless, ExpressCache assumes an SSD of some kind is installed. After all, the point of ExpressCache is to leverage the speed of the SSD as the cache for a HDD.

 

Would you mind telling me how I can create the partition for ExpressCache to find or could you please provide a link that will tell me how to do so? Thanks for your help