samsung magician manual.v.4.1 (en)

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    MAGICIAN

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    iii

    Table of Contents

    Getting Started .............................................................................................................................................................................. 5

    About Samsung Magician ................................................................................................................................................... 5

    Starting Samsung Magician ................................................................................................................................................... 6Storage Device Scanning ........................................................................................................................................................ 7

    System Information .................................................................................................................................................................... 8

    Magician Info.................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

    Basic Drive Information ........................................................................................................................................................ 10

    Model Number.......................................................................................................................................................................... 10

    Serial Number .......................................................................................................................................................................... 10

    Firmware Version ................................................................................................................................................................. 10

    Capacity ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 10

    Drive Health Status ............................................................................................................................................................. 11

    Total Bytes Written (TBW) ............................................................................................................................................. 11

    Volume Info ............................................................................................................................................................................... 11

    AHCI Mode .................................................................................................................................................................................. 12

    SATA Interface ....................................................................................................................................................................... 12

    SMART Attributes ....................................................................................................................................................................... 13

    Disk Management ....................................................................................................................................................................... 16

    Performance Benchmark ................................................................................................................................................ 16

    Firmware Update ................................................................................................................................................................... 17

    Using Firmware Update .............................................................................................................................................. 17Make Bootable USB Disk ............................................................................................................................................. 17Create a bootable CD/DVD ....................................................................................................................................... 18DOS Firmware Utility .................................................................................................................................................... 18

    System Management ................................................................................................................................................................ 19

    OS Optimization ...................................................................................................................................................................... 19

    Over Provisioning ................................................................................................................................................................. 23

    Data Management ...................................................................................................................................................................... 24

    Secure Erase ........................................................................................................................................................................... 24

    Windows Secure Erase ................................................................................................................................................ 24Using Secure Erase ............................................................................................................................................................. 25

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    Samsung Magician

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    Make Bootable USB ........................................................................................................................................................ 25Burn Bootable CD/DVD ................................................................................................................................................ 26DOS Secure Erase ........................................................................................................................................................... 26

    Troubleshooting .......................................................................................................................................................................... 27

    DOS Limitations ...................................................................................................................................................................... 27

    FAQ ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 28

    Frequently Asked Questions ........................................................................................................................................ 28

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    5

    Getting Started

    About Samsung Magician

    Samsung Magician is a storage management program that allows you to:

    View current drive information for any connected Samsung SSD, including:

    o Drive Health

    o Smart Attributes

    o TBW (Total Bytes Written)

    o AHCI Mode (Enabled/Disabled)

    o

    SATA Interface Compatibility and Status View yourSystem Information PerformFirmware Updates on Samsung SSDs RunSecure Eraseon Samsung SSDs

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    Samsung Magician

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    Starting Samsung Magician

    The Main screen shows all Samsung Solid-State Drives (SSDs), HDDs, and other memory devices(e.g. Memory Cards, USB Flash Storage devices) connected to your system.

    1. Click on the drive you want to manage. If your system contains multiple drives, click thedrop down list to select a drive.

    Drive Summary information appears for the selected drive. (Information varies depending onthe drive selected.)

    Drive Information Volume Information Mode & Interface Information SMART Details

    2.

    Click an option on the left side of the Main Screen to access a particular Magician featurefor the selected drive. (Available features vary depending on the drive selected.) Disk Drive Displays drive information, including drive health status, for the selected

    drive. Performance Benchmark Test the performance of the selected drive. Performance Optimization Optimize the selected Samsung SSD for the best

    performance by using the TRIM command Firmware Update Update the firmware on a Samsung SSD. OS Optimization Optimize the Operating System to work best with your Samsung SSD. Over Provisioning Adjust the amount of unallocated space reserved on a Samsung

    SSD.

    Secure Erase Perform a secure erase on a Samsung SSD

    ClickRefreshtorescanfor drives and refresh the drive information displayed in SamsungMagician.

    ClickSystem Informationto view details about your PC's Operating System and HardwareConfiguration.

    ClickMagician Infoto view details about the Samsung Magician application.

    Click the Languagebutton to change the language of the Samsung Magician application.

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    Disk Management

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    Storage Device Scanning

    During initialization, Samsung Magician scans for all available storage devices connected tothe system, including Samsung SSDs, non-SAMSUNG SSDs, Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) and Flash

    Memory devices (e.g. USB Storage devices, Memory Cards). All detected drives appear on themain screen.

    If multiple storage devices are connected to your system, click the drop down list to select oneof them.

    To rescan the system for disks, click Refreshon the main screen or exit Magician and start theprogram again.

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    System Information

    The System Information screen shows details about your computer's operating system andhardware configuration, including information about the microprocessor, chipset, main

    memory, storage devices, firmware version of Samsung SSDs, etc.

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    Disk Management

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    Magician Info

    The current Magician application version is displayed.

    If updates are recommended for the Magician application, an icon appears next to the Updatebutton on the Magician Info screen.

    Details about Magician are shown:

    Current Software Version Newest Software Version (if applicable)

    To download software or user manuals, click the Downloadbutton and you will be automaticallyconnected towww.samsung.com/samsungssd

    http://www.samsung.com/samsungssdhttp://www.samsung.com/samsungssdhttp://www.samsung.com/samsungssdhttp://www.samsung.com/samsungssd
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    Samsung Magician

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    Basic Drive Information

    Model Number

    The Model number of the selected storage device is displayed on the Main Screen.

    Serial Number

    The Serial number of the selected storage device is displayed on the Main Screen.

    Firmware Version

    The current Firmware Version of the selected storage device is displayed on the Main Screen.

    Some storage devices may not have firmware information or may not be supported by Magician.

    Capacity

    The total capacity of the selected storage device is displayed on the Main Screen.The actual usable capacity of the drive may be less than the physical capacity after you formatthe drive.

    Note: Samsung SSDs conform to the International Disk Drive Equipment and Materials (IDEMA) standard,which classifies approximately 93 percent of their actual physical memory capacity as usable space forstorage. To make calculations easier for consumers, manufactures rate drive capacity based on the

    assumption that 1 GB is equal to 1,000 Megabytes (MB) rather than 1,024 MB. When calculating capacity,the OS uses the more accurate 1,024MB, resulting in the discrepancy you notice when looking at thereported capacity versus the actual capacity.

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    Disk Management

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    Drive Health Status

    A status Icon representing disk health for the selected Samsung SSD is displayed on the MainScreen. This feature is only for certain Samsung SSD Models.

    Good (Green color) Indicates that your Samsung SSD is in very good condition.All SMART attributes are in good condition

    Normal (Yellow color) Indicates that your Samsung SSD is in normal condition.

    Some Reserved Blocks may be used, but it is within the normal range.

    Warning (Red color) Indicates that your Samsung SSD may need to be replaced with a new

    one. You should back up all data stored on your SSD to another storage device and replacethe drive as soon as possible.

    Note: This warning message will show when over 95% of Reserved Blocks are used.

    Total Bytes Written TBW)

    Total Bytes Written (TBW) reports the total data written by the host system to the selectedSamsung SSD. TBW is based on SMART attribute 241, Total LBAs Written. TB stands for Terabyte,or 1,024GB

    Volume Info

    Information on the allocated drive capacity and the amount of used space and available freespace is reported for any volumes on the selected storage device. This feature does not reportany partitions without drive letters, (e.g. OEM recovery partitions, unallocated partitions, etc.).

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    Disk Management

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    SMART Attributes

    S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) uses a set of attributes tomonitor the selected drive and analyze its reliability.

    Each attribute has a raw value and a threshold value defined by the manufacturer. To learn moreabout SMART attributes, see the ATA specifications available online.Samsung SMART attributes are reported in decimal format. ID numbers may differ from otherstorage manufacturers. Please note that if you are using 3rdparty software to monitor SMARTattributes, the ID may be shown in hexadecimal format.

    Details shown for each SMART attribute include:

    ID

    The decimal name of the SMART attribute.

    DescriptionThe name of the SMART attribute.

    Threshold

    The lowest value at which the normalized value is considered exceeding specifications.

    Current Value

    The current, normalized value of the attribute.

    Worst Value

    The poorest value reported for the selected disk for a particular attribute.

    Raw Data

    The raw value assigned to the SMART attribute by the drive manufacturer.

    Status

    Shows whether the system can use the drive for processing.

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    Descriptionsof some SMART attributes are shown below. These attributes vary depending onthe SSD or other disk selected. Your SSD or disk may not support some of these attributes.

    Reallocated Sector Count

    Count of reallocated sectors. When the drive finds a read/write/verification error, it marks

    that sector as "reallocated" and transfers the data to a new sector from a special reservedarea.

    Power-On Hours

    The number of hours the drive has been in the on state. This value simply shows userbehavior and is not directly related to the health of the drive. The raw value of this attributeshows the total count of hours (or minutes, or seconds, depending on manufacturer) thedrive has spent in the power-on state. When the machine is in Hibernation Mode, the Power-On Hours value does not increment.

    Power-on CountCount of full disk power on/off cycles.

    Wear Leveling Count

    Represents the number of media erase operations (the number of times a block has beenerased).

    Used Reserved Block Count

    Represents the total number of reserved blocks that have been used as a result of aprogram or erase failure.

    Program Fail Count

    Count of failed program (write) requests.

    Erase Fail Count

    Count of failed erase requests.

    Runtime Bad Count

    Equal to the sum of the Program Fail Count and Program Erase Count. This summary valuerepresents the total count of all program/erase failures.

    Uncorrectable Error Count

    The total number of errors that could not be recovered using ECC.

    Air Flow Temperature

    The current temperature of the NAND chips inside of the SSD.

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    Disk Management

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    ECC Error Rate

    Count of correctable errors. Number of errors corrected by the internal error correctingmechanism.

    CRC Error Count

    The number of Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) errors. If there is a problem between thehost and the DRAM or NAND flash, the CRC engine will tally the error and store it in thisattribute.

    POR Recovery Count

    A count of the number of sudden power off cases. If there is a sudden power off, thefirmware must recover all of the mapping and user data during the next power on. This is acount of the number of times this has happened

    Total LBAs Written

    Represents the total size of all LBAs required for all of the write requests sent to the SSDfrom the Host.

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    Disk Management

    Performance Benchmark

    The Performance Benchmarking feature calculates the performance of the selected SSD ormemory device. Performance parameters like Sequential Read, Sequential Write, Random Readand Random Write are calculated, and a comparison report with the previous performance testis shown.

    This Benchmark feature supports all of the storage devices connected to your PC.

    Performance Optimization

    The Performance Optimization feature automatically consolidates disparate data and preparesinvalid data for future use. It accomplishes these tasks with two very important SSDmaintenance features: TRIMand Garbage Collection.

    Performance Optimization can restore the performance of an SSD that is suffering fromperformance degradation after an extended usage period.

    CAUTION: You should never remove the SSD during Performance Optimization. Doing so risks SSDmalfunction and/or loss or destruction of data.

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    Disk Management

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    Firmware Update

    Samsung occasionally provides new firmware in order to improve SSD performance,compatibility, or user experience. A firmware update is recommended whenever a new one isreleased.

    SSD drive and Model number are shown. If a firmware update is recommended for the selectedSSD, the message "New Version of Firmware Detected. (Version Number)" appears next to theUpdatebutton on the Firmware Update screen.

    NOTE: If you encounter any problems with the Live Firmware Update feature, you may use the manual,DOS-based firmware update utility via bootable CD/DVD/USB.

    Using Firmware Update

    1. Back up the Samsung SSD.

    You should not remove the SSD while new firmware is being installed. This has unpredictable results.Please wait for the firmware installation session to complete before starting any other operations.

    2. Close all open applications except for Magician.3. The message, "New Version of Firmware Detected. Version Number)" appears next to the

    Updatebutton on the Firmware Update screen.Click Updateto update the firmware for theselected Samsung SSD. Please minimize system use during this operation.

    Upon successful completion, the message, "Firmware Update Completed" is displayed.

    Make Bootable USB D isk

    1. Insert a USB flash drive into an available USB port on your PC. Please wait for the PC torecognize the device.

    2. Click the Browsebutton on the Firmware Update screen.3. Choose the attached USB Flash Disk.4. Click the Startbutton. A progress bar shows the status of the bootable USB disk creation

    process.5. Upon successful completion, restart the PC and boot from the USB disk to initiate theFirmware Update process.

    6. Follow the steps in theDOS Firmware Utilitysection.

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    Create a bootable CD DVD

    1. Insert a CD/DVD into the optical drive. Please wait for the System to recognize the device.2. Click the Browsebutton on the Firmware Update screen.

    3.

    Choose the attached CD/DVD Drive.4. Click the Startbutton. A progress bar indicates the status of the bootable CD/DVD creation

    process.5. Upon successful completion, restart the PC and boot from the CD/DVD to initiate the

    Firmware Update process.6. Follow the steps in theDOS Firmware Utilitysection.

    DOS Firmware Utility

    CAUTION: The following steps assume that all necessary files are present on the USB/CD/DVD disk.Please refer to theMake Bootable USBorBurn Bootable CD/DVDsection for more information.

    1. Configure the USB/CD/DVD drive as the primary boot device in the BIOS.

    NOTE: Enable AHCI/IDE/ATA mode on your system

    2. Restart the PC in DOS mode with the bootable USB/CD/DVD.3. The Firmware Updateutility launches automatically.4. After reading the disclaimer, Press [Y] to accept the terms.5. The application scans for any connected SSDs. A list of detected disk(s) is displayed.6. Press [Y] to confirm and proceed with the firmware update process.

    CAUTION: Do not disturb the system until the firmware update is complete.

    7. The disk is updated to the latest firmware.

    See theTroubleshooting DOSsection for more information.

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    System Management

    OS Optimization

    The OS Optimization feature optimizes the OS for working with an SSD to improve systemperformance and maximize SSD lifetime. This feature checks system settings to determine howthey affect the SSD and recommends which features to enable or disable.

    Details about OS Optimization:

    Current Status Shows whether a particular parameter is Configuredor Not configured. Performance Optimization

    Profiles/Parameters:

    Maximum Performance

    Hibernation ModeActivate to setup standby mode.

    Virtual MemoryActivate to maintain the maximum amount of available memory.

    Indexing Service/SearchActivate to increase the speed of data searches.

    Prefetch/SuperfetchDeactivate this feature as SSDs already have very fast access times.

    Write-Cache Buffer

    Activate to increase data storage speeds.

    Write-Cache Buffer FlushingDeactivate for SSDs as this is an HDD Feature.

    Power Setting OptionsChoose High Performance in the Power Options window.

    System Restore OptionsDeactivate the auto backup feature to avoid unnecessary writes to the SSD.

    Maximum Capacity

    Hibernation ModeDeactivate to prevent the system from creating a hiberfile, which burdens the SSDwith unnecessary writes.

    Virtual MemoryActivate to set the maximum system memory to 1 GB instead of 100 MB to increasesystem performance.

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    Indexing Service/SearchActivate to increase data search speeds.

    Prefetch/SuperfetchDeactivate this feature as SSDs already have very fast access times.

    Write-Cache BufferActivate to increase data storage speeds.

    Write-Cache Buffer FlushingDeactivate for SSDs as this is an HDD Feature.

    Power Setting OptionsChoose High Performance in the Power Options window.

    System Restore OptionDeactivate the auto backup feature to avoid unnecessary writes to the SSD.

    Reliability Improvem ent

    Hibernation ModeDeactivate to prevent the system from creating a hiberfile, which burdens the SSDwith unnecessary writes.

    Virtual MemoryActivate to set the maximum system memory to 1 GB instead of 100 MB to increasesystem performance.

    Indexing Service/SearchDisable indexing service/search to avoid unnecessary writes to the SSD.

    Prefetch/SuperfetchDeactivate this feature as SSDs already have very fast access times.

    Write-Cache BufferActivate to increase data storage speeds.

    Write-Cache Buffer FlushingDeactivate for SSDs as it is a HDD Feature.

    Power Setting OptionsChoose High Performance in the Power Options window.

    System Restore Options

    Deactivate the auto backup feature to avoid unnecessary writes to the SSD.

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    Data Management

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    Advanced

    In Advanced mode, you can enable or disable the following features individually: Hibernation Mode

    Hibernation Mode enables quick restart and system standby times (particularlyimportant for Laptop PCs) by saving the current system status to the hyberfil.sys

    file when the PC power is turned off. Virtual Memory

    It is possible to reduce or even eliminate the use of virtual memory in systems with4GB of memory or more. Additionally, expanding physical memory improves theperformance and reliability for the entire system. Some applications may requirethe use of virtual memory, however, so carefully consider your specific applicationrequirements before disabling this feature.

    Indexing Service/SearchWindows automatically indexes the content of data files in order to perform veryfast Keyword searches.

    Prefetch/SuperfetchWindows stores common device drivers and applications in main memory in order toimprove performance. Since SSDs have very fast access times, this feature is nolonger necessary.

    In addition to taking up extra storage space, this feature requires frequentread/write operations that are not recommended for SSDs.

    Write-Cache BufferApplications or data storage devices (SSD/HDD) send a command to the Windows OSto temporarily place data in Cache Memory rather than directly writing it to storage.

    In order to maximize both system and SSD performance, this feature isrecommended. When using this feature, there are considerable improvements inRandom Read/Write performance. The use of this feature does not affect the life orcapacity of the SSD.

    Write-Cache Buffer FlushingWhile using the Windows Write-Cache Buffer feature, any data stored in the CacheMemory is lost or damaged in the event of a device failure or loss of power. TheWindows Write-Cache Buffer Flushing feature should be enabled to ensure dataintegrity. In particular, this feature is important if your SSD is being used in aserver application. When using an SSD and HDD together, it is always recommendedto have this feature ON.

    Power Setting OptionsSelect either power-saving mode or maximum performance mode, depending onyour individual preferences. Laptop PC users typically choose power-saving mode,while Desktop PC users typically choose maximum performance mode.

    System Restore Options

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    Windows default Drive backup and recovery functionality is used to backup thesystem, making it possible to restore the system to its original state if problemsarise. Please ensure that the backup drive is larger than or equal to the system'smain drive. In general, it is recommended to use a separate internal or external HDDfor backups.

    Click the Applybutton to apply ALL settings for a particular profile. If you would like tomanually manage Operating System settings, click the Advanced tab.

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    Data Management

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    Over Provisioning

    The Over Provisioning feature is used to resize drive partitions. SSDs perform better and lastlonger if they have free space to use as swap space.

    During idle time, swap space is used to perform routine SSD maintenance (TRIM and GarbageCollection) in the background, which allows the SSD Controller to prepare free blocks for futureuse. Since the SSD performs better when writing to free blocks, the result is a better userexperience.

    The Over Provisioning feature helps to set aside free space by resizing the drive partitions.

    NOTE: Over Provisioning is not supported for Windows XP or Windows Vista.

    CAUTION: Magician only supports NTFS and raw (Unformatted, Unallocated) partitions.

    Details about Over Provisioning:

    SSD drive and Model number are shown.

    The Over Provisioning space is displayed as unallocated space in the Windows Disk Managementprogram. Samsung recommends allocating 7 - 10% of total SSD space for Over Provisioning.

    Primary Partition

    Logical Partition

    Extended Partition

    Over Provisioning (Unallocated)

    Adjust the amount of space allocated for Over Provisioning based on your requirements.

    Click the OP Setupbutton to start the process. Once completed, the OP Setupbuttonchanges to OP Clear.

    Click the OP Clearbutton to clear the previously set Over Provisioning space. Once completed,the OP Clearbutton changes to OP Setup.

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    Data Management

    Secure Erase

    Windows Secure Erase

    Secure Erase permanently deletes all data on an SSD. To run Secure Erase via Windows, the SSDmust be installed as a secondary disk in your system.

    CAUTION: Secure Erase is an unrecoverable operation that permanently deletes all data on a SSD. SecureErase is an addition to the existing format drive command present in computer operating systems. Onceyou run Secure Erase on an SSD, there is no possibility to recover data.

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    Data Management

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    Using Secure Erase

    1. SSD drive and Model number are shown.

    CAUTION: A warning message may indicate that the SSD is in the SECURITY FREEZE LOCK state. SecureErase cannot be performed on an SSD when it is in this state. To remove the SECURITY FREEZE LOCK,Magician sends an internal command to the SSD, which results in the warning message.

    2. Click the Startbutton to start the Secure Erase process. A Progress bar indicates thesecure erase progress for the selected drive.

    If necessary, click the Stopbutton to cancel the Secure Erase process.

    3. Upon successful completion, a message is displayed.4. Click OK to restart the PC.

    Make Bootable USB

    1. Insert a USB flash drive into an available USB port. Please wait for the PC to recognize thedevice.

    2. Click the Browsebutton on the Secure Erase screen.3. Choose the attached USB Flash Drive.4. Click the Startbutton. The bootable USB Storage device creation progress is shown.5. Upon successful completion, restart the PC and boot from the USB Storage device to initiate

    the Secure Erase process.

    6.

    Follow the steps in theDOS Secure Erase section.

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    Burn Bootable CD DVD

    1. Insert a CD/DVD into the optical drive. Please wait for the PC to recognize the disc.2. Click the Browsebutton on the Secure Erase Screen.3. Choose the attached CD/DVD Drive.

    4.

    Click the Startbutton. The bootable CD/DVD disc creation progress is shown.5. Upon successful completion, restart the PC and boot from the CD/DVD to initiate the Secure

    Erase process.6. Follow the steps in theDOS Secure Erase section.

    DOS Secure Erase

    If you have not done so already, refer to theMake Bootable USBandBurn Bootable CD/DVDsections for more information before proceeding.

    1. Configure the USB/CD/DVD drive as the primary boot device in the BIOS.

    NOTE: Enable AHCI/IDE/ATA mode on your system

    2. Restart the PC in DOS mode with the bootable USB/CD/DVD.3. The DOS SSDutility launches automatically.4. After reading the disclaimer, Press [Y] to accept the terms.5. The application scans for any connected SSDs. A list of detected disks is displayed.6. Press [Y] to confirm and proceed with the secure erase process. Do not use the system

    during the erase process.

    CAUTION: Do not use the system until the Secure Erase process has completed.

    7. Upon successful completion, the application closes.

    SeeTroubleshooting DOSfor more information.

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    Troubleshooting

    DOS Limitations

    By default, a GUI version of the application is launched when you boot from USB/CD/DVD. Inorder for this GUI application to function, the default font must be installed on your system.Otherwise, a command line version of the software is necessary.

    Note: A command line version of the application is copied along with the corresponding GUI versionwhen you create the bootable USB/CD/DVD. You must manually type the application name to launch theCommand Line versions. Press the [ESC] key to return to the DOS Prompt and type the commands shownunder the headings below.

    DOS-Font

    The DOS-based firmware update and Secure Erase utilities require the "/s" command lineparameter as part of each command in order to configure the default DOS font.

    Commands are -

    Firmware Download - "dsrdgui0 /s"

    Secure Erase - segui0 /s"

    DOS-CLI (Command Line)

    The DOS-based firmware download and Secure Erase utilities require the "/c" command lineparameter to launch the CLI version of the application.

    Commands are -

    Firmware Download - "dsrdgui0 /c"

    Secure Erase - segui0 /c"

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    FAQ

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Q1. Why does Benchmarking take a long time for USB storage devices?

    A1. Benchmarking speed depends on the device speed. Typically, USB storage devices are not as fastas internal storage devices. The speed of a USB device will also be affected by the USB interface. Thenewest USB 3.0 interface will return faster speeds (with compatible devices) than the older USB 2.0interface.

    Q2. Why dont PCs with AMD chipsets & AMD drivers support Magician?

    A2.This is a limitation of the AMD driver. You can resolve this issue by installing the Microsoft driver.

    Q3. Why does Magician require a system shutdown after performing a live firmware update?

    A3. The system must be restarted in order for the drive to reflect the new firmware update.

    Q4Can I use Magician in a software RAID environment?

    A4. No. Running Magician in a software RAID environment is not recommended.

    Q5. Does Magician support Hardware/Firmware RAID?

    A5. No. Magician does not support Hardware/Firmware RAID, as Magician does not detect the SSDunder these setups.

    Q6. Which OS platforms does Magician work on?

    A6. Windows XP, Vista, Win7, and Win 8 in 32-bit/64-bit environments.

    Mac and Linux environments are not supported.

    Q7.Why does a frozen message always display when using the Windows-based Secure Erase feature?

    A7. This happens on some machines because of compatibility issues. You can resolve this issue byeither booting the machine in IDE mode or by using the DOS based Secure Erase utility. You cancreate a bootable USB drive, CD, or DVD containing the DOS-based utility via Magician.

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    Glossary

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    Q8. Why is the actual capacity of the SSD less than the advertised capacity?

    A8.Samsung SSDs conform to the International Disk Drive Equipment and Materials (IDEMA)standard, which classifies approximately 93 percent of their actual physical memory capacity asusable space for storage. To make calculations easier for consumers, manufactures rate drivecapacity based on the assumption that 1 GB is equal to 1,000 Megabytes (MB) rather than 1,024 MB.

    When calculating capacity, the OS uses the more accurate 1,024MB, resulting in the discrepancy younotice when looking at the reported capacity versus the actual capacity.

    Q9. Even after running Performance Optimization, my SSD performance has not improved. Why?

    A9.The SSD might have already been optimized with respect to its current health.

    Q10.Why does the DOS Firmware Utility application take such a long time to open?

    A10.The DOS Firmware Utility tries to detect all disks connected to the system while it is launching.This may require a few minutes depending on the hardware platform and the number of disksconnected to the system.

    Q11. What should I do when I get UNKNOWN for the SSD drive information after doing a powerON/OFF of the SSD?

    A11. Please wait for a moment and then refresh the disk again.

    Q12. Why do I see the following messages?

    "Base Board" for Mother Board Information "To be filled by OEM" under System InformationDMI

    A12. The above messages are shown if the operating system is unable to read the correct values.

    Q13. Why does scanning take such a long time on my PC?

    A13. The scanning duration varies depending on the hardware configuration and the operatingsystem. This may be because a CD or DVD is in the drive. Make certain to remove any disks fromconnected optical drives before scanning.

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    Samsung Magician

    Q14. Why am I getting a Loading FreeDOS No Kernel SYS error while booting from the bootable USBcreated by Magician?

    A14. In some PC configurations, such as with an Intel D975XBX, you might get this error.

    Check the BIOS mode.

    Set the "USB MASS Storage Emulation Type" to the "ALL FIXED DISC" option.

    Boot from the bootable USB created using Magician.

    Q15. Why is my desktop not showing the Magician application properly?

    A15. The supported resolution for Magician is greater than 1080x824. If your resolution is less thanthis, you will not be able to see the full application.

    Q16. Why is Magician not detecting my SSD(s)?

    A16. The Magician application may not detect SSDs properly when connected to RAID/SCSI storagecontrollers.

    Q17. Does the Magician DOS application support RAID or other controllers?

    A17. The DOS application in Magician only works for IDE and AHCI controllers. Others are notsupported.

    Q18. Why do the Drive Status and Total Bytes Written (TBW) indicators show N/A?

    A18. Drive status and total usage information are only available for SSDs and will depend on whichSMART attributes your SSD supports. All Samsung SSDs from the 830 Series onward support thisMagician feature.

    Q19. What should I do if DOS Fonts are not rendered properly in my system?

    A19. Please use the switch "/s" command to launch the DOS application with another font or the /ccommand to launch the command line interface. (e.g. DSRDGUI0.exe /s (or) DSRDGUI0.exe /c;SEGUI0.exe /s or SEGUI0.exe /c). See theDOS-CLIsection for more information.

    Q20. Does Magician require the Internet to run?

    A20. No. Magician does not require Internet access to run. However, to get updates for the latestfirmware and the Magician application, you must connect to the Internet.