How to completely factory reset a 32GB pro IV PATA

[frank16]

I've got two model 0900027170 2.5" 32GB proIV PATA devices.

Both have been updated by me to version 1916 firmware (16 chip Samsung M die, firmware IM3216.exe)
One works fine, the other is putting up a huge fight.
It will show proper identification in DOS, but under windows XP it shows the old firmware identification string. It worked a little bit at first (installed windows on it), then became erratic and now I can not even partition it anymore. Tried on different machines.

I would like to completely erase it (including all the settings the firmware makes) and start from scratch.

How do I go about that?

[chrisram]

There really isn't a way to do that, what you are asking for will brick your drive. Run the update again. If using a desktop make sure you set it to IDE and if on a Gigabyte board get the drive set to Legacy Mode. Unplug all of your other drives and get the Pro IV in the lowest numbered SATA port, usually 0 but sometimes 1. Run the firmware update and you should then be all set to go.

[frank16]

Thanks Chris,

tried the reflashing in half a bazilion ways (it's PATA by the way, not a SATA drive), including only enabling PIO0 mode, no go. Tried on other computers too. The flashing program just states that the drive is 1916 version and do I want to flash it. The flashing goes very fast (<1 sec after the last 'click' of the floppy drive), and concludes with an 'o.k, reset your computer' type of message. Under windows it then still show's up as the old version (the other one shows the new version string, that's why I'm so sure this is incorrect)

I also left the drive on for a few hours, in the hope that the garbage collection would fix things, but no result.

BTW, the led on the SSD board is green and constantly on when the drive is powered.

What drives me nuts, is that I have another drive (seemingly of the same batch as the S/N is the same), that treated in the same way, finally did work.
Ofcourse, the drive may be physically defective, but somehow it doesn't feel like that (bios also indicates S.M.A.R.T. o.k.)

Ony other ideas? Any tools I could try?

Thanks,
Frank