Series 9 Owners: Third party mSATA upgrades

So I've searched and can't find the answer anywhere. I'm planning to put in the Sandisk 128 GB SSD back in my Series 9 and getting rid of the machine. Has anyone found a way to securely wipe the drive? I know that I can't use normal programs that write over the drive, but Sandisk hasn't released their own tool either.

 

Did your computer come with a Windows disc? It wouldn't be kind to the next owner to discover that you have securely erased the recovery partition.

Surely all you need to do is the secure erase on the Windows partition then, as a service to the next owner, reinstall Windows using Samsung Recovery Solution (press F4 at the BIOS screen) so, when they start the computer it's behaving like new.

John

 

Hi John,

Thanks for the reply. But how do I actually do a secure erase on the Sandisk drive? My computer did come with a Windows 7.1 DVD but just reinstalling Windows is not enough. I don't want someone to use some data recovery software and recover my financial and personal documents and files. Everything I've read online says it is difficult/impossible to securely wipe a SSD because they don't store data in the same way that mechanical drives do. Some SSDs have software from the manufacturer that allows you to do this, but Sandisk does not.

 

My experience some years ago in trying to recover a deleted partition table means I think the risk of the average user first trying to, and then succeeding in recovering personal data is low once the partition table has been overwritten.

Anyway, we aren't the Sandisk support forum and that may be the best place to present your problem once you have established that the Sandisk Toolkit doesn't meet your requirements.

John

 

"ATA Secure Erase" is a built in mechanism that wipes the disk with the nice side effect to restore its performance to the highest possible level.

Write_amplification#Secure_erase - wikipedia.org
How To Secure Erase SSDs With Parted Magic - corsair.com
Parted Magic also comes with hdparm command line program.

For some reason the secure erase didn't work on a Samsung PM841. Has Samsung disabled that feature?

 

Hi oled. I found the links below about Parted Magic a few days ago and used them to secure erase my drive. However, I haven't reinstalled the OS yet or tried to recover any data to see if the secure erase was successful. I found that if I didn't use NULL during the password step, it would not successfully do the secure erase. At what stage did it fail on your PM841?

How to securely erase an SSD drive | How To - CNET
How to: Secure Erase your Solid State Drive (SSD) with Parted Magic

 

If the execution took a little while and no error was reported I assume your erase was successful.
I can't recall the error message I got. I was using hdparm directly from command line with just a random pw. Not gonna try that any time soon again as I'm not very keen backing up the whole drive.

Alternatively you could also 'dd' the drive with random characters from Parted Magic's terminal. Unless the SSD doesn't reserve any blocks for internal management I believe any data would get wiped:

Code:

dd if=/dev/urandom of=/dev/sdX

sdX would be the device name of your drive, most likely sda. Double check to make sure you select the right drive letter (gparted will give you information about all connected drives)

 

Hi guys. I got myself a Crucial M500 a while back and did a fresh install working my way back through installing Windows 7,8 and then 8.1 due to my available product keys, sorting settings out and what not. Runs a tad hotter than it used to but my main problem is that it does not load every web page. Crucial being one, and Notebookreview another! It may well be Kaspersky which was a new addition with the fresh install, but I think the problem could be with my wireless driver which I believe is currently version 15.5.6.48. I have found 16.5.3.6 in SW update from a X3G and Windows 8.1, will this be OK for my X3C too?

 

It's best to get the latest WiFi driver from the source and use the Intel driver update utility. I can see something newer than 16.5.

John

 

Thanks John, top work as usual

 

Just an FYI for US people. The M500 240GB is down to $140 at amazon, 480GB at $290. I'm hoping that one's in the low $200s by years end.

Amazon.com: Crucial M500 480GB mSATA Internal Solid State Drive CT480M500SSD3: Computers & Accessories

 

FYI, I bought the 480GB M500 (a review is in the pipeline). I got it here which, after allowing for the 20% VAT, is about US$300. It's in my NP900X4C-A01UK.

While it doesn't get anywhere near the 70C temperature that some early purchasers reported, the idle temperature is higher than I would expect suggesting that the idle power consumption is higher than Crucial's advertised 0.1W. It may only spend a short time in that computer. I'm very tempted by the 1TB EVO, now it is available. It will take a little while to fill up.

John

 

I'm planning to buy 900X3C and 840 EVO 250GB mSATA SSD to replace the original 120GB SSD. Can I just change the SSD's straight away before even opening the new laptop and then install Win 7 and all the needed drivers etc or should I take some kind of backup from the laptop first to the external HDD and then install the backup to the new SSD?

900X3C costs 850€. I could also buy 900X3E which costs 999€ and it has 256GB SSD but it also has 1920x1080 resolution and I think it might be too much. 900X3C has 1600x900 and the 13.3" Samsung I'm using now has 1366x768 and this is good resolution imo. 1600x900 could be slightly better maybe, but more is too much I think.

 

I share your reservations about the higher resolution displays but if you use 125% display scaling with FHD you will effectively end up with 1536 x 864 which is between what you have now and 1600 x 900. Would you be able to arrange to try this on the X3E before deciding whether to purchase? If you discover that 1600 x 900 on the X3C is hard on your eyes then 125% display scaling leaves you with a lower resolution than you have now.

If you do opt for the X3C then, if it has Windows 8 and Samsung Recovery Solution 6, it includes a Copy Disk feature. Alternatively, you can download cloning software from the Samsung SSD site. However, I would recommend that you first run the computer and check that everything is working OK before cloning the disk and then taking the base off to do the swap. Keep the old SSD so you can put it back in should you need warranty service.

John

 

Does anyone know what model to search for on SW update to get a copy of Samsung Recovery Solution 6?

 

It looks like any model / version which has Windows 8.1 offered in the SW Update database. For example, the NP900X3D-A02UK. I don't think SRS 6 will install on machines shipped with SRS 5. I suspect one of the factors it checks for is proper UEFI support in the BIOS. The compatible X3 / X4 versions which were shipped from factory with Windows 8 have the P**ABK BIOS while the Windows 7 versions of the X3 / X4 have the P**AAC BIOS. The SRS software also checks for recovery partition (s) and won't install if they are absent.

John

 

But scaling doesn't change the size of the softwares (only software menus when you click menus open). At least I tried with Photoshop and it looked the same with 100% and 125%.

 

I know that display scaling doesn't always work, particularly for older software. Which I why I have some residual reluctance to go down that route.

However, see whether the option to change text size for different items (menus is on the list) will have the required effect in Photoshop.



John

 

Thanks for the suggestions, but it didn't work. I was able to make the text larger using photoshop from photoshops own settings, but then everything else is still small (icons, buttons etc).

I also found NP900X4D-K03SE from online store in my country. It costs 900€ and has same specs as 900X3C but with 8GB ram.

So Maybe that 15" model would work too.. at least I would get double the ram and similar DPI to my current laptop. Only thing that bothers me is that the 15" model seem to have pretty bad display compared to 900X3C.

 

I wouldn't call the 15" display "bad" (I'm using one as I type this) but it isn't as good as the 13.3" PLS panel with the biggest difference being inferior viewing angles. You can see side-by-side photos of my X4C and X3B (same display as the X3C) in my X4C review. I have calibrated the displays of both and the calibrated profiles are available. More relevant to this thread is that I've just put a 1TB EVO mSATA SSD into the X4C because I see nothing else (from Samsung or other manufacturers) that provides the same compact computer with big screen and good battery.

John

 

I read your review earlier today yeah I meant bad display compared to 900X3C. I'm using Samsung NP530U3C currently (I have to give this laptop back since this is on loan) which has same CPU, GPU and 4GB ram as the 900X3C and the 15" model, and one thing I don't like about this is the viewing angles. Can't really watch a movie with a friend. Is the 15" dispaly any better than this? Is the trackpad better on the series 9 models than in my current series 5?

By the way, is there any difference between the greay and black series 9 15" models? The black models seem to have only slightly better specs but costs twice as much as the grey models. They look identical besides the color.

 

I've looked at my X4C's display and I think two people could watch a movie with a decent quality picture, but I haven't tried.

The touchpad isn't perfect but is very usable (the large size helps). You have to find out which driver works best for you.

By "grey" I presume you mean the unpainted magnesium alloy models which are very slightly lighter (about 1.58kg instead of 1.65kg for the black painted aluminium). The internal parts are the same. If you can give links to specific versions then we can check the specifications. Some of the low cost 13.3" X3Ds were shipped with Sandy Bridge chips but I don't remember this happening with the 15" models.

John

 

Model I'm using now: Multitronic Webshop

Models I'm interested in:

900X3C: Samsung 9 Series 900X3C 13,3"/i5-3317U/4 GB/128 GB SSD/Windows 7 Professional -kannettava tietokone, musta. | 13" laajakuvanäytöllä | Kannettavat | Verkkokauppa.com
NP900X4D-K03SE (the grey one): Samsung - NP900X4D-K03SE kannettava tietokone - Expert.fi

Black model which costs twice as musch as the NP900X4D-K03SE:

NP900X4C-K03SE: Multitronic Webshop

I like the touchpad of my current Samsung, so I'm interested if the touchpad of these other models is worse, as good or better.

 

Thanks for the links. I would comment:

(i) The X4C-K03SE has the i7-3537U CPU, Windows 8 Pro and a 256GB SSD. At the time the model was released those factors would have combined to give premium pricing as almost the best spec available for the 15" Series 9 (I say almost because the X4C-A02IN has the i7-3537U CPU, Windows 8 Pro and a 512GB SSD). Perhaps they have left the price high expecting business customers who want Windows Pro often don't look so hard at the price. In my experience, this i7 CPU runs hotter and causes more fan activity than the i5 CPU. The speed boost isn't noticeable in everyday usage but the extra fan noise is.

(ii) Hence the X4D-K03SE with the i5 CPU, normal Windows and 128GB SSD represents much better value for money (I suspect it has been discounted from the original price) even if you replace the SSD (probably the Sandisk U100 with something (I would recommend the EVO mSATA) of more capacity. You are unlikely to need Windows Pro while the i5 CPU runs slower (but notnoticeably).

(iii) The X3C also looks to have a discounted price (perhaps because the X3G is arriving). You would also have to allow for upgrading the SSD.

(iv) Regarding the pixel size, the X4C/X4D have almost the same pixel size (122 pixels per inch) as your current U3C while the X3C has 138 ppi.

(v) Other factors in favour of the 15" Series 9 are (a) the higher capacity battery and (b) the set of dedicated navigation keys on the right side of the keyboard. (The disadvantages are the higher weight and less good display than the 13.3" Series 9).

All the Series 9 use the Elan touchpad. I suspect that is the same as you Series 5 but will leave you to check.

John

 

See this review for my latest thinking on the mSATA SSD upgrade options.

John

 

What an excellent review. Lots of great detail there, I learned a lot. That difference in power and temps is quite significant.

 

I had first got, and tested, the M500 and thought the power consumption was a little more than the spec. Then the EVO came along and showed how power usage should be done. And I was swapping SSDs (I didn't bother to screw the base back on) until I was comfortable that my measurements were consistent.

The M500 needs a new home in a computer where the additional power usage is not significant.

John

 

Of course most mSATA models are ultrabooks where power usage is somewhat significant. If only Samsung had dual mSATA + HDD in the larger Series 7 /AB8 models (like some vendors do) the Crucial would be perfect in a machine like that.

 

Don't you also own a 512GB Samsung PM841 Series? How does its power consumption compare to the ones in your review?

 

Yes, but it's in another X4C with i7 CPU running Windows 8 so any testing wouldn't be on an identical platform. However, I think it is also quite frugal with power. The computer has been on all day but the current SSD temperature is 31C. In fact, at the moment both X4Cs have the same SSD temperature and the CPU temperature is 1C different.

The X4C with the 512GB SSD is due to be phased out once I find time to migrate everything to the 1TB SSD. My fingers don't like the US keyboard.

John

 

Is it possible to disable those blue lights under wifi etc keys?

Is it possible to do right click with one finger or is it done with two fingers?

 

Thanks

Isn't that the one from India? I had expected it to have UK layout rather than US.
I too appreciate the UK (extended) layout. Too bad tech is so expensive in the UK, which makes this a quite unreasonable undertaking.

 

In my 8-9 years of living in the US (and extensive work and travel here for 20 years before) I never could get used to that small Enter key on US keyboards. Too many mistakes between it and the Shift key.

I brought Danish keyboards for my desktop PCs, but that's not feasible with laptops - the savings here are too great, as you said.

 

Can I restore Series 9 laptops to "factory state" so that it acts like a new when you opem it. I would like to see how the viewing angles are, how the wifi works etc, but I've been told that if I open the laptop I can't return it anymore.

 

There are no seals so Samsung won't know if you carefully opened the computer without causing any damage.

If you want to restore the system to the as-supplied condition then tap the F4 key a few times immediately after pressing the power button to start the computer. This will get you into Samsung Recovery Solution (unless the recovery partition has been moved or deleted) from where you can restore the factory image.

John

 

With the first use the "Purchase Date" gets written into the BIOS. See "Advanced" tab. I have no information if Recovery overwrites this date.

The are several Series / Ativ Book 9 threads which are more suitable for this kind of questions.

 

Factory restore (in Recovery) does not change the Purchase Date. Admin Tool (created in Recovery Management Mode) has a feature to reset the date, though.

 

I ordered the 900x3c and 250gb Samsung mSATA drive. Can I just repalce the old SSD with the new one and do clean install for Win7 from USB stick, then install all drivers and Samsung software from their site? I read that for cloning the original SSD I would need some kind of USB case for the mSATA which I don't have so clean install is my only option I guess.

 

Yeah, just do a fresh install if you don't have to migrate a bunch of software, much cleaner. Download the Samsung update software to get only the needed drivers/easy settings. If you wanted to clone, you could use clonezilla (or other backup solution) provided you have an external usb hard drive (save original image, swap msata's, restore).

 

I have USB HDD's, but I've always done clean install on my desktop PC's so I though that it would be better for laptop too.

 

If doing a clean install then use SW Update to download all the drivers and software and put them on a flash drive before you change the SSD. You can then do the hardware configuration before needing to connect to the internet (and possibility discovering that Win 7 doesn't support the network or WiFi devices out of the box). Once you are connected you can look forward to 100+ windows update downloads.

If you want to use Intel Rapid Start technology then read http://forum.notebookreview.com/sam...3b-np900x4b-intel-rapid-start-technology.html. I recently did a clean install of Win 7 on my X4C - see what is currently the last post in that thread for how to get IRST running.

John

 

Thanks for the info.

After using the 900x3c for about one hour I got a bit of pain to my eyes and they got little dry. I guess it's because of the higher DPI that I've gotten used to. But I think it will not be a problem when my eyes get used to the current DPI.

By the way. There is no "purchase date" on the 900x3c BIOS. I have "purchase date" on the BIOS of my old np530u3c.

 

Strange about the lack of date in the BIOS. It's there on my X3B and X4C.

Is your X3C brand new (it would have been sitting on a shelf for a long time) or refurbished? If the latter, someone might have deleted the date as being no longer relevant.

John

 

My x3c is brand new, at least it should be. There was still 10 of these in stock in the online store I bought it. They had over 25 a week ago so I don't think this is used, but you never know.

 

Here's picture: http://i.imgur.com/T18o9ra.jpg

 

I scooped a crucial m500 240gb for my 900x3c in the recent promotion. Will take my chances with higher power drain and heat for the price paid. Want to clean install win 8.1 on it, I have a valid win 8 pro licence. Is there a simple and easy 8.1 iso download out there that doesn't require all manner of craziness to usb install and activate?

 

Sounds like your in the same boat as I was. If your X3C came with 7 you'll have to install 7 first (Windows rules apparently), then you have to install 8 as that's the product key you have, then you can finally install 8.1. Sadly there is no way around this as I tried to go straight to both 8 and 8.1 iso first and it does not work. Its a pretty long process and will take the best part of a day to do

 

The purchase date should be on the Sysinfo page.

By the way, you should normally enable the Fast BIOS mode. It shortens the boot time by skipping the check for bootable devices other than the main SSD.

If the computer is new then the BIOS is probably out of date (what is the manufacture date on the bottom?). I recommending using the stand-alone BIOS update program (link in first post here).

John

 

I have no manufacture date either. BIOS version is P04AAC.

 

A month and year should be somewhere in the white print on the bottom.

BIOS P05AAC was issued on 26 November 2012 so, sensibly, the notebook was made before then. The current BIOS is P07AAC.

John