Solved Secure erase not working?

zbook · Jun 27, 2023

Please run Sea Tools for Windows or Sea Tools bootable Long Generic test > take pictures > post images or share links into this thread using one drive, drop box, or google drive.

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If the drive passes the Long Generic test then boot to a Windows Media Creation Tool (MCT) (Windows iso) Recovery Environment > identify the applicable disk > run administrative command prompt: clean all

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hdmi · Jun 27, 2023

MK77P said:
Yes I did it while the PC was ON and also while in BIOS nothing worked. No password used in BIOS. Unplugged the cables from the SSD. I've enabled hot plug for SATA2 which is where this SSD is and it's already in AHCI (SATA Mode [AHCI Mode])...still did not unlock from freeze.

I would try Parted Magic, and, if that still doesn't work either, try hooking the SSD up to a different PC with a different motherboard (and that uses a different BIOS, that hopefully can defrost the Kingston). What else might be worth giving a shot I don't know. (I am assuming that you have already updated the BIOS of your motherboard to the latest version from MSI.)

zbook said:
clean all

Same problem as the one that I described in post #13, it doesn't secure erase an SSD at all. (Instead, it just hurts the lifespan of an SSD.)

MK77P · Jun 27, 2023

hdmi said:
I would try Parted Magic, and, if that still doesn't work either, try hooking the SSD up to a different PC with a different motherboard (and that uses a different BIOS, that hopefully can defrost the Kingston). What else might be worth giving a shot I don't know. (I am assuming that you have already updated the BIOS of your motherboard to the latest version from MSI.)

I'm afraid I don't have access to another MB. Yes BIOS is up to date.

Thanks.

FreeBooter · Jun 27, 2023

This video is a detailed guide to securely erase a disk and file via the Linux shred command.

hdmi · Jun 27, 2023

FreeBooter said:
This video is a detailed guide to securely erase a disk and file via the Linux shred command.

Same problem as post #13 again.

hdmi · Jun 27, 2023

MK77P said:
I'm afraid I don't have access to another MB. Yes BIOS is up to date.

Thanks.

Try Parted Magic then.

FreeBooter · Jun 27, 2023

hdmi said:
Same problem as post #13 again.

What is your point?

MK77P · Jun 27, 2023

hdmi said:
Try Parted Magic then.

Can you please tell me if I did everything correct, as this is the first time ever using Parted Magic.

This is what I did, copied the Parted Magic files into a USB drive (SanDisk).

https://i.ibb.co/LSPNjQ1/1.png

Entered BIOS and selected "UEFI: SanDisk, Partition 1".

https://i.ibb.co/4p2Yp5b/2.jpg

Chose the first option "1. Default settings (Runs from RAM 4GB+)".

https://i.ibb.co/zJYmpX2/3.jpg

Clicked on Easer Menu and chose the first option "Secure Erase - ATA Devices".

https://i.ibb.co/Tbng1vB/4.jpg

Then clicked on "sleep" after that the drives were unfroozen, checked the SSD (Kingston drive D).

https://i.ibb.co/cccP2Nh/20230627-152747.jpg

Then "start erase".

https://i.ibb.co/d5R8NwZ/20230627-152836.jpg

Now all that needs to be done is give it a letter and format it from Disk Management correct?

EDIT: And what's better to use, Secure Erase or Sanitize?

zbook · Jun 27, 2023

MK77P said:
what's better to use, Secure Erase or Sanitize?

SSD > Secure Erase

HD > Disk Sanitizer

Do not use sanitizer on SSDs.

hdmi · Jun 28, 2023

MK77P said:
Can you please tell me if I did everything correct, as this is the first time ever using Parted Magic.

This is what I did, copied the Parted Magic files into a USB drive (SanDisk).

https://i.ibb.co/LSPNjQ1/1.png

Entered BIOS and selected "UEFI: SanDisk, Partition 1".

https://i.ibb.co/4p2Yp5b/2.jpg

Chose the first option "1. Default settings (Runs from RAM 4GB+)".

https://i.ibb.co/zJYmpX2/3.jpg

Clicked on Easer Menu and chose the first option "Secure Erase - ATA Devices".

https://i.ibb.co/Tbng1vB/4.jpg

Then clicked on "sleep" after that the drives were unfroozen, checked the SSD (Kingston drive D).

https://i.ibb.co/cccP2Nh/20230627-152747.jpg

Then "start erase".

https://i.ibb.co/d5R8NwZ/20230627-152836.jpg

Now all that needs to be done is give it a letter and format it from Disk Management correct?

You also might want to initialize the drive as GPT before that.

MK77P said:
EDIT: And what's better to use, Secure Erase or Sanitize?

Navigate to 3:53 in this video:

FreeBooter said:
What is your point?

SSDs are not HDDs. So please refrain from suggesting to use secure deletion methods that simply fail to get the job done properly on an SSD. On an SSD, those methods are about equally as affective as any software tool that pops up a message saying that all data has been securely wiped, when the reality is that it has not been wiped in any way that comes even remotely close to being secure. (For secure erasing HDDs and the type of USB flash drives that, internally, do not incorporate the same technology that an SSD does incorporate, use DBAN─Darik's Boot And Nuke.)

If you don't know why these secure deletion/shredding methods that keep getting suggested multiple times in discussions like this don't work for SSDs, then please feel free to create your own forum thread about that old subject. It's just basic, common knowledge about how an SSD factually works, so as a matter of fact this kind of "debate" dates back ~15 years by now.