Might just help some...

Hi Blujay40,

I am having a similar problem on my Inspiron15Z.

Inter RST reports FFS Failed and Dev_Cache failed.

I ran all the diagnostics and they confirm that  22GB + 8GB ssd are healthy. I did take up the matter with Dell support but they want me to refresh windows, which I am reluctant to do unless absolutely necessary. You have the same system, so I am hoping you could help me out.

Thanks in advance,

arj6321

arj63211,

First, it's been quite a while since I did this, nor by any means am I an expert on this SSD/Intel stuff.  If I hadn't had a separate system to use as a reference, I might not have figured it out on my own either.  So I don't think I am going to be much help outside what I posted above.

With that said, I also would be skeptical as you are, that a total restore of windows is necessary.  I think that is just a Dell tech taking the easy way out.  Seems that is their solution to every problem they can't fix with their support scripts.  But to tell you the truth, in my experience with Dell restore and recovery, it doesn't actually reformat and repartition the SSD, but just reinstall the Intel software like all the other preloaded software on a new system and you would still have to go thru the Intel software setup.  It is NOT going to magically fix your SSD setup in my experience.  So again, I think you have a Dell tech that "doesn't have a clue".

NOTE:  If your not comfortable using a command prompt/diskpart or confident in trying what I did in my post, they I would question whether you really want to try this because if you format/delete the wrong partition on the wrong "disk", you could REALLY be in a world of hurt and I cannot be responsible for anything that might go wrong for you.  Also, make absolutely sure that you log all settings, partition names, sizes, and software versions of the Intel software that was working as well as BACKING UP any data you don't want to lose BEFORE proceeding.

So it's up to you which way you go at this point.  Assuming you are willing to proceed, and even though diagnostics says the partitions are healthy, I would download the Intel rapid start and rapid storage software needed, go into add/remove software, uninstall the Intel rapid start and rapid storage software (after logging all of the default settings, partition names, etc.), delete the current partitions on the CACHE drive, then start over by rebuilding it like I did above.  Also note, that unless I named the partitions EXACTLY like they were from Dell (FFS and Dev_cache), I couldn't get it to work no matter what software versions I used.  Intel might have gotten a few of these types of "bugs" worked out in their latest versions of this software, but I cannot speak to that because I am still running the versions I mentioned in my post without any problems.   Also, as I stated in my post, Dell support kept telling me to put in the 18.6 or 8192 figure when partitioning the SSD but it would never work.  Only until I selected "entire disk" in the Intel software setup, did the partitions format correctly. 

Worst case scenario (assuming you don't delete a system partition or worse) is that your really no worse off than you are now because even with the cache not working, windows will still function, just boot a LOT slower.  At least it was that way for me.  Best case is that by doing what I did, you get it working again. 

NOTE:  I did find that there are some quirks when using certain combinations of the Intel software.  The versions of the Intel software that came on my XPS 18 were different than what was on my 15z and were NOT the "latest and greatest" from either Dell or Intel.  Only when I matched the same versions between both systems, did I finally get it to work.  So if the cache worked previously on your 15z and just failed now, I would try to download/reinstall the same versions you currently have from Intel/Dell if possible instead of just whatever "latest and greatest" might be available on the Dell website or even from Intel themselves.  At least you know that combination worked previously.

HTH,

J

Thanks so much, Blujay40, for your time and effort for a detailed reply.

Not being very savvy on command prompts and Diskpart, I will take some time to

mull my options and take a decision. Let me see if I can enlist the aid of a friend who is

knowledgeable enough to take the reins :)

arj6321

arj6321,

That's what mine says as well.  Glad it worked for you and that I could help.

Have a great day!

Hi, BLUJAY40,

Followed your instructions to the letter

and guess what ? Success !!

Thanks a ton,  you made my day.

Just one question, in both the FFS and Dev_Cache volumes, the advanced setting shows

cache mode off. Is this normal? Or do I need to change some setting?

arj6321

Hey guys, I know this was from a while ago but i really need a bit of help. I'm having the same problem as arj6321 where i get the same errors etc.

However, I can't seem to work it out, I'm up to your step 10, Theres no option to accelerate the SSD, only for the SATA disk on Controller 0, Port 0 (system). I tried to accelerate this in case I'm just dumb and this is what I was after, but I didn't get 2 RAID partitions in my D drive...

Thanks for any help

Wow, a blast from the past!!!  If you haven't already done so, try and see if the enable acceleration setting is under the performance tab.  Since I have no way of knowing what the software may look like nowdays, I can only go off the versions I am still using to this day.  Under "Performance" and expanding the "Solid State Drive Configuration" link, there should be a clickable link to "Enable Acceleration".  HTH.

Yes that looks exactly the same as mine, except I haven't got any partitions popping up, and it also says under the SSD Configuration, SATA SSD on port 1: Failed, rather than Normal

I would send a screenshot bit I cant seem to figure out how to...

To attach a screenshot, you need to click on the "Use rich formatting" link.  So as you did every step in my post, did you verify each outcome before proceeding to the next step?  It's been so long since I wrote that, and have had not reason to do it again since, it's hard for me to try and figure out what might have went awry.  Are you using the same versions you had before or the versions of the software I posted?  I know when I tried other versions, for whatever reason, it didn't work until I used a "known good" combination of the software, and not just the latest versions from Intel.  Luckily, I had another system running the same software, with the same size SSD to use as a guide, or I probably would not have gotten it either.  Seems it is a quite finicky setup where if EVERYTHING is not compatible, exact, and done in the right order, it fails.  I also seem to remember that it took me a few tries to get it to work so you might want to back up and try again by wiping your SSD partitions, uninstall both the Intel Rapid Start AND Rapid Storage software and then go thru it again, making sure you double check each steps outcome before moving on to the next.

I did verify each step, It seemed to work fine until the step I was talking about. The only differences I can see are:

I used CMD to clean out the SSD (It did remove all partitions and data)

I used a hibernation partition of size 16384 as I have 16GB of memory

I used the latest version of Rapid Storage Technology which i think is 15.8.1.1007

I can't figure out how to delete all partitions on Windows Partition Management, which is why I used CMD. On partition management it doesn't give me an option to delete any partitions...

Should I use 8GB partition size next time i wipe the SSD?

And I'll try it again with your versions of the drivers...

Also, does it make sense that my disk 1 (D Drive) is my SSD? Or have i totally messed this up and used the wrong drive... How do I know which drive is my SSD, this is what is shown on my Windows Disk Management screen

Disk1 is 32 GB

Disk0 is 1 TB

Disk 1 is what mine ended up as well so no worries there.  Knowing that it is 32GB also tells me that your talking about the SSD and not the 1TB drive, which is your windows drive, also means your using the correct one.

It shouldn't matter that your using CMD to delete the partitions, but I do know that the cache drive needs to be formatted as a GPT partition and not MBR.  Also, you wouldn't think the version of the software being use would make a difference, but I had issues until l reverted to the exact versions I posted above, and which were also working on my XPS 18 AIO.  

Lets start with trying a few other things:

1.  Go into Windows Disk Management and "right click" on Disk 1 in the leftmost column (not on each partition), then select "Properties".  Then click on the "Volumes" tab at the top and find out what the "Partition Style" is.  It should read "GUID Partiton Table (GPT)".  If not, that needs to be fixed.  If it is already a GPT partition, then maybe something below will help.

2.  I found a post online where someone else using 16GB of memory set theirs up (on an HP board, but the same process) and they also used one additional command that I didn't that might help.  It is called the "CLEAN" partition paramter in DISKPART and from what I have read on it, might also ensure the disk is setup correctly to be a GPT one and make sure that any possible remaining MBR data is removed.  Here are the steps they used in setting up the disk and you might substitute their steps for mine when using DISKPART.

First open cmd.exe and type in "diskpart"

At the DISKPART> prompt, type the following commands, in the order shown:

DISKPART>list disk

DISKPART>select disk X

(X is the disk number where you want to create the store partition. Refer to results from “list disk”

for exact disk number. Disk must be an SSD)  In your case, Disk 1

DISKPART>clean

DISKPART>create partition primary size=16384 set id=84 override

DISKPART>exit

In Windows Disk Manager, you should now see a 16GB "hibernation" partition with the rest of the drive unformatted AND NO DRIVE LETTER ASSIGNED.  Also recheck the properties of Disk 1 to ensure it is GPT.

Then proceed with the rest of my process above starting at step 5.

3.  Consider downloading the same versions I posted above from Intel.  

downloadcenter.intel.com/.../Intel-Rapid-Start-Technology

downloadcenter.intel.com/.../Intel-Rapid-Storage-Technology-RAID-for-Intel-7-and-8-Series-Chipset-Based-Desktop-Boards