Disable Trim on HDD

Pebble · May 18, 2026

I've got a 500GB SSD and a 2TB HDD for my files.
I deleted a file on my HDD and found nearly all files were unrecoverable.

How can i disable TRIM on my HDD?

Brink · May 18, 2026

Hello,

TRIM is only a feature of a SSD or NVMe drive, and not for a spinner HDD.

Unless you secure erase (overwrite) a file, a file is only marked as deleted when you delete it. As you continue to write to a HDD, it can overwrite areas on the drive marked as deleted. Once overwritten, it makes it very hard if not impossible to recover.

Pebble · May 18, 2026

Done a bit more research And the HDD has SED (Self-Encrypting Drive).

I've read that it is possible to deactivate this feature. how could i deactivate it?

Brink · May 18, 2026

The exact method can vary depending on the HDD brand and model.

Basically, you would need to delete the drive's PSID (encryption key).

Some manufacturers (e.g., Crucial) provide tools to send a PSID reset command. You'll need to check the HDD manufacturer's site to see if such a tool (ex: Crucial Storage Executive) is available.

Doing this could also wipe everything on the HDD, so be sure to back up anything you don't want to lose first.

jumanji · May 19, 2026

@Pebble

Please provide full details of your HDD - Manfacturer, Model No, Capacity

"I've read that it is possible to deactivate this feature. how could i deactivate it?" Please provide the address of the website where you read it.

Also post a full screenshot of Windows Disk Management with both the SSD and HDD in place.

That should provide more information that may help people to decipher what exactly could have happened and check for a solution.

Pebble · May 19, 2026

@jumaji

I no longer have the link's to the site's i looked on.
Nothing has happened, It just a 'feature' that has been added to HDD's.
I decided to keep the drive as it is for now, There would be a lot of work involved in backing up first, Also a couple of site's
mentioned problems with the drrive after removing SED.

Decided on the simple solution of using the recycle bin until i get my other computer up and running
and look into it a bit more then.

gunrunnerjohn · May 19, 2026

Pebble said:
@jumaji

I no longer have the link's to the site's i looked on.
Nothing has happened, It just a 'feature' that has been added to HDD's.
I decided to keep the drive as it is for now, There would be a lot of work involved in backing up first, Also a couple of site's
mentioned problems with the drrive after removing SED.

Decided on the simple solution of using the recycle bin until i get my other computer up and running
and look into it a bit more then.

Are you really saying you have important data on the drive with no backup?

Pebble · May 19, 2026

@gunrunnerjohn

Always have backup's, But i've just got thing's how i want them.

Just got a second computer with a 2TB drive on that. I'll wait until the second computer is running (Win 11) on SSD,
And play the 2TB HDD which is blank on the new computer.

gunrunnerjohn · May 19, 2026

Pebble said:
Always have backup's, But i've just got thing's how i want them.

OK, I feel better.

MiniTool · May 20, 2026

Pebble said:
@gunrunnerjohn

Always have backup's, But i've just got thing's how i want them.

Just got a second computer with a 2TB drive on that. I'll wait until the second computer is running (Win 11) on SSD,
And play the 2TB HDD which is blank on the new computer.

Do you have any backup tools for recommendations?

Pebble · May 20, 2026

@MiniTool

For the SSD: (OS) i use Acronis, And usually store the image on the HDD and an external drive

For the HDD: Files i want to keep i burn to DVD. Prefer physical backup (DVD) over external drive's (which can fail).

gunrunnerjohn · May 20, 2026

MiniTool said:
Do you have any backup tools for recommendations?

On various computers I use Acronis True Image and Hasleo Backup, both have worked well. I also use Beyond Compare for doing folder clones to my NAS. I keep both an image backup and a file-by-file backup of my most critical files. I also keep multiple backups, including two external drives that are only connected to do the actual backup.

My backups go to separate physical SSD drives and again to an HDD for redundant backup on dissimilar media. The NAS also uses HDD drives.

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