Flashing Vertex 4 SSD

Pherule

Distinguished
Aug 26, 2010
591
0
19,010
I'm getting a 256GB Vertex 4 SSD soon. Already bought it, just waiting to get a hold of it. Just wondering - how important is flashing the drive to the latest firmware once I get it? Then the most important question: is there any chance the SSD could be destroyed? For instance, what if there is a power failure halfway through the flashing process, or any other means that could destroy the SSD?

Other system specs which may be relevant:
Mobo: Asus P8Z68-M Pro
Old HDD: 1TB WD Green
OS on old HDD: XP SP3

My XP drive currently BSOD's on bootup. I have a temporary 250GB drive with Windows 8 installed, and I want to backup the XP drive before I attempt a repair (there's nothing wrong with the drive, already checked, I'm pretty sure that XP just got a little corrupted.)

However my XP drive may be able to boot into safe mode (haven't tried yet). Will I be able to flash the SSD from XP's safe mode? I need to copy my personal files (under 100GB) to the SSD and will attempt to do so in safe mode, but I can't do it until the SSD has Windows installed on it, and I can't install Windows until I flash it, and I may not be able to flash it until I get XP working in normal mode, and I can't get XP working in normal mode until I make a backup to the SSD. Catch 22.

I suppose I could use the temporary 250GB drive to flash the SSD. What are the best steps in this situation?
 

Pherule

Distinguished
Aug 26, 2010
591
0
19,010
Of course I'm going to use Windows 7 or 8. Where did I say that I was planning on using XP?!

Thanks for the link - though I've already read that. Good to hear confirmation that flashing is necessary. However you didn't mention whether there's a chance of bricking the SSD due to power failure or whatever during the flashing process.