Source
r/thinkpad•
error_logic

T450s M.2 Boot - Random crashes while idle?

Update: Seems this might be Transcend-specific issue. Consider yourself warned.

Update2: This seems to fix it: http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/downloads/ds037308

Update 3: Okay, I have no idea how I missed that link's intended hardware, and almost wonder if it changed since I viewed it last, but I stand by it seeming to have fixed the problem...

Update 4: Experiencing issues again after running Windows Update. Good grief.

I upgraded my base model 450s running Win8.1 with more RAM (which tests fine) and http://www.amazon.com/Transcend-MTS400-Solid-State-TS256GMTS400/dp/B00KLTPUG4/

It works really well, and having the 500 GB HDD for internal backup/bulk storage should be helpful, but I'm getting some crashes for some reason. The drive is my first suspect because it seems to partially freeze, and only stop working as processes need to hit the disk and find themselves unable to continue. Other times I'll return to what should be the login screen but is instead a blank, unresponsive color wall, as if the hard drive went to sleep so it can't log in.

I've had some issues with the Intel graphics driver crashing but that seems unrelated for the most part.

Any suggestions for isolating the cause? I'm testing it with the hard drive idle timer turned off now, but that makes the HDD keep spinning and using power, so I'd like to come up with a better solution if there is one!

Edit: Found someone posting a detailed description of the problem. http://preston4tw.blogspot.com/2015/02/transcend-mts400-ssd-power-saving.html

Not sure what I'm going to do at this point, whether returning the drive is an option or if I should see if a fix is available. (I haven't found a firmware update.) Sounds like MyDigitalSSD 256 GB was out of stock on Amazon for good reason! ;)

Posted Apr 17, 2015, 12:55 AM UTC · edited

526
bugelrex•

I'm booting with an 128GB MydigitalSSD M2 only on t450s. No problems so far. I've read Transcend might have power/heat issues but don't know if its really true.

1
HobbesNJ•

Same setup here, with no problems.

1
13ZeroT450s•

Same drive in 64GB, trying to set it up as a cache drive.

What I can tell you is that the drive vanishes from the Windows device manager within minutes of booting. This makes it impossible to get really anything done, including a firmware update on the SSD. I have no clue whether we have dud drives, whether there is something awkward about the T450s that somehow makes the drive incompatible, whether I installed the SSD at an angle that makes it disappear like this, or whether Windows is just this bad with hardware. None at all.

So far I've isolated this much: disabling Intel Rapid Start does nothing to help.

If I come up with anything, I'll let you know. If I don't come up with anything, I'm returning the drive and getting something that hopefully works.

1
error_logicOP•

See edit. Also: Did you do a fresh install of Windows? Did you install http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/downloads/ds037308 ? I'm waiting to see if the issue persists after installing that driver.

1
13ZeroT450s•

I re-installed Windows and added a bunch of drivers, but not that one. I'll check that out. Thanks.

EDIT: Upon downloading, that's the Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver. I installed that last night under a different name (it's what made me realize that the SSD was disappearing, actually; I was trying to set it up as a cache drive under Intel Smart Response, but I'm not sure that the BIOS is properly configured for that).

EDIT again: this appears to be stable while on AC. The question is how I can disable whatever SSD power management Windows is using while on battery. This does kinda kill the point of buying an SSD with dev sleep, doesn't it? I would have bought a MyDigitalSSD drive had I known.

EDIT 3: It's been on battery for like 20 minutes and hasn't disappeared yet. I have no clue what happened. Maybe it was your Intel RST driver; maybe it was the BIOS update; maybe I just had to reboot a bunch of times. I didn't change any power settings.

1
error_logicOP•

Yeah since installing that driver I haven't had any issues either, but I also disabled the page file (since the M.2 is my boot and paging drive in one). I'll re-enable the pagefile and see if it remains stable.

I'm not sure the driver I linked is the same as what you're talking about but don't really know which is what well enough to say for sure. It (my link) seems to have made a difference though.

1
13ZeroT450s•

I disabled paging, but before that, my SSD wasn't doing anything.

I think your driver said that it finished installing Intel Rapid Storage when it was done, but it might be a different version or something. In any case, there's no other explanation for why it's suddenly working, so thank you!

1
functionalredundancy•

This driver that you link to is for the ThinkPad L440 and L540. It worked for your T450s?

1
error_logicOP•

...Odd. I have no idea how that happened. Apparently? Now I'm confused. o_O

It's possible that I overlooked that, but man does it make me question my sanity.

See update 3. >_>

1
user83298•

I am having this issue as well on my T440s, any solutions? I am passed my return period for amazon, so now I am stuck with this drive? I think the only thing I could do is get the exact same drive through warranty which seems like a waste of time..

1
error_logicOP•

This MAY have finally fixed it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH9Fnes2tYw

I'm not sure yet as I haven't had much time to test since using it.

1
user83298•

Hmm I just enabled HIPM and DIPM this morning based on this reddit post. I am going to leave my computer overnight and if no blue screen then it means the hard drive didn't shut off :)

https://www.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comments/33d58x/setting_up_m2_ssd_as_boot_drive_t450s/

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/177819-ahci-link-power-management-enable-hipm-dipm.html

1
error_logicOP•

Let me know how that goes? I thought those were the problem...

1
user83298•

well my solution didn't work... how is your solution (editing the registry manually) working out?

1
user83298•

I wonder how Windows 10 behaves. Probably can apply the same fixes if they do not?

1
error_logicOP•

It will probably behave the same as 8.1.

1
error_logicOP•

So my system is working a bit better now, surviving longer than it has been. I just installed Windows 10. However, I also ran the Lenovo updater just before that and installed the Intel Rapid Storage driver (again?). So I'm not sure what did it.

Also, I haven't done an overnight test. We'll see.

1