Samsung SSD 990 Pro 2TB won't update Firmware in Samsung Magician software

You need to update via usb don't it this way, then enable vmd again once updated

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As noted above, the USB option does not see any of the drives.

Have you created a bootable usb with the image?

This worked for me me when I turned off secure boot and turned off VMD

james_uk said:

Have you created a bootable usb with the image?

This worked for me me when I turned off secure boot and turned off VMD

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Yes. But it always says there are no drives are detected.

snerd said:

Yes. But it always says there are no drives are after

snerd said:

Yes. But it always says there are no drives are detected.

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After you disable them options are you going to the boot settings and setting it to boot from usb?

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Is it the image saying no drive detected or your computer?

james_uk said:

Is it the image saying no drive detected or your computer?

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Yes, the bootable USB I made from the image. I boot from it, it says no drives detected.

snerd said:

Yes, the bootable USB I made from the image. I boot from it, it says no drives detected.

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Disable VMD. If you cannot, then the only way to upgrade is use another computer or an M.2 to USB adapter.

After i found out about vmd and secure boot needing to be disabled i followed what was on the instructions on the samsung website under other upgrade methods on this page.


I also used the software they list to create the boot image

Still didn't work? Nevermind, probably your SSD works fine with current firmware. Upgrading won't give you any measurable performance improvement. It's mostly psychological that you "improved" the drive, aka placebo.

The Intel RST controller has a problem with Samsung Magician firmware updates for the Samsung SSD 990 Pro and Linux kernels. I removed the RST controller in bios by disabling the VMD controller and perfoming a clean install on my new laptop. I think a repair install would do the same thing. This forces Microsoft to replace the controller driver with one of it's own. It's old and slower but Linux and Samsung Magician work perfectly. This is the new contoller that I want:
A new native NVMe driver (nvmedisk.sys) offering up to 80% higher IOPS was introduced in Windows Server 2025 and is present, though disabled, in Windows 11 25H2, as noted in reports from Neowin and TechPowerUp. While enthusiasts previously used registry tweaks to activate it early, Microsoft is now restricting access to this feature in newer Insider builds, as indicated in articles by Tom's Hardware and Windows

Note: If you have a newer laptop like my 2025 Asus Rog Strix it does not have Sata/AHCI in it's bios because it doesn't use that technology . It has NVME SSD's. NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) drives are ultra-fast SSDs that connect directly to a computer's motherboard via the PCIe bus, offering significantly higher speeds and lower latency than SATA SSDs. Ideal for gaming, workstations, and OS drives.

I'm planning on getting rid of this drive. I called Western Digital and their firmware updates is only handled though their interface and they do not offer ISO files. They were aware of this Samsung issue and they advised they dont have this problem. Is anyone aware of any other comparable drives that can accept firmware updates easily ?

Asus272 said:

The Intel RST controller has a problem with Samsung Magician firmware updates for the Samsung SSD 990 Pro and Linux kernels. I removed the RST controller in bios by disabling the VMD controller and perfoming a clean install on my new laptop. I think a repair install would do the same thing. This forces Microsoft to replace the controller driver with one of it's own. It's old and slower but Linux and Samsung Magician work perfectly. This is the new contoller that I want:
A new native NVMe driver (nvmedisk.sys) offering up to 80% higher IOPS was introduced in Windows Server 2025 and is present, though disabled, in Windows 11 25H2, as noted in reports from Neowin and TechPowerUp. While enthusiasts previously used registry tweaks to activate it early, Microsoft is now restricting access to this feature in newer Insider builds, as indicated in articles by Tom's Hardware and Windows

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I wanted to verify this way works, but it requires a new install. Turn off the VMD in bios and Windows will use it's drivers which allow updating the firmware.

Yes it worked but it was a new laptop with nothing on it but the OS, Once you remove the RST Controller you won't be able to boot, You need to create a bootable ISO with Media Creation tools before doing anything. I checked your setup are any of your 4 drives in Raid mode? Are you having a problem upgrading your Samsung drives firmware?

Asus272 said:

Yes it worked but it was a new laptop with nothing on it but the OS, Once you remove the RST Controller you won't be able to boot, You need to create a bootable ISO with Media Creation tools before doing anything. I checked your setup are any of your 4 drives in Raid mode? Are you having a problem upgrading your Samsung drives firmware?

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No, I'm not having any problems now. I already had a Windows 11 Pro boot USB, so I turned off VMD in bios and reinstalled Windows then Magician and it updated the firmware fine. I was just testing it. Then I restored the image I had just made and back to normal.

What are you talking about an RST Controller?

snerd said:

What are you talking about an RST Controller?

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Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (RST).

You don't need it since you disabled VMD.

Scott said:

Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (RST).

You don't need it since you disabled VMD.

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Oh, ya. I didn't install any of my myriad drivers, I was just testing it.

james_uk said:

Hi, I have a Asus ProArt StudioBook 16 laptop.
I swapped the SSD myself to a Samsung 990 Pro and the Magician software for it is telling me there is a firmware update.
When I try to update it I get a message that says failed to update fw on selected drive.

Does anyone know how I can fix this?

Thanks
James

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When I update the Samsung firmware I've found that it will not do it if you run Samung Magician from your regular User account by selecting Run as Administrator from the Right click menu. I must first sign in to my actual Administrator account then run Samsung Magician to update the firmware.

Rufus will not work to install the Samsung 990 Pro firmware. It builds its bootable ISO from your system including the ( Intel RST Driver / VMD ) you need to avoid. I found the Samsung Firmware Manual that explains how to do this it includes directions to build a bootable Linux ISO. This will work because it will use the Linux kernel drivers to boot avoiding the Intel RST driver. https://download.semiconductor.sams...manual/Firmware_Update_Utility_UserManual.pdf

New SSD Firmware: Tool & Software Download | Samsung Semiconductor Global

Overnight Samsung has altered the response you get in Magician when you clock the update button. Instead of reporting that there is a firmware update it now reports that you have the latest. I guess so you dont call their tech support and complain.

They are very well aware of the issue and their hands are tied and they can get a little testy abou it. I filed a BBB conplaint about how they handled this and that rep is caught up in her underwear thinking this is a washing machine and a local repair guy can handle it.

My comments posted to the Samsung site -

I installed this is an Intel i7 generation 12 system. Intel enjoys about 65% of the US PC market and the overwhelming majority of this market share uses the Intel RST VMD Controller 467F. I bought it for its speed and 5 year warranty and for what I thought was to be excellent support.

It came with firmware # 5B2QJXD7 and for a while Magician offered me firmware #8B2QJXD7 until last week. It does not allow me to update the firmware. Its very common in NVME PC’s to not be able to change bios settings to AHCI. According to Samsung Support in order for me to get the latest firmware installed on this drive I’d have to remove it from the All-in-One PC I have, create a USB with the new firmware on it and go to another PC and flash the firmware. Or, remove the drive, wipe the data and send it off to Samsung to flash the drive for probably two weeks and then reinstall it and then install a new system image.

Having to dissemble an all-in-one PC, wipe the drive, pack it up, ship it, wait two weeks then reassemble and put a new system image on is not what I call support. Losing the use of a PC is unacceptable and so is suggesting a customer run around and “borrow” another PC just to flash firmware.

While this drive is very fast it has very limited value if you can’t update the firmware.

By contrast, the competition manages to update the firmware entirely within the confines of the manufacturer’s software. It’s deceptive of Samsung to not make the purchaser aware of this limitation in advance as well as their support system being so limited.

Having to expend this much time and effort to update the firmware is evidence of poor support.