Solved SSD NVME Secure vs Enhanced erase

Sheikh · 2025-05-01T09:21:29-0400

Hey guys
I want to sell my SSD to my friend which is an NVME model.
I have a bootable Parted Magic usb and want to erase the ssd. It has two options for nvme drives. Secure erase and Enhanced erase. What’s the difference? Which option should I use?

abactuon · 2025-05-01T11:10:02-0400

Depends on how it's implemented.
On Linux, it makes sense

Solid state drive/Memory cell clearing - ArchWiki

The main thing is not to use the “Overwrite” option if there is one.

Berton · 2025-05-01T11:18:15-0400

I'll post what Search found, no point in typing again.

Enhanced erase at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

Sheikh · 2025-05-01T11:50:04-0400

Berton said:
I'll post what Search found, no point in typing again.

Enhanced erase at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

I've searched a lot about my question but couldn't find a direct answer. they are all talking about SATA sanitize vs Secure erase which is a different topic.
my question is about "Enhanced" option for NVME SSDs.
even Parted Magic didn't explain about it on their website (documentations).
so a short answer to your post is "thanks for your answer

but, I'm unable to solve my problem"

altae · 2025-05-01T12:09:53-0400

There is a brief explanation of the difference under "Secure Erase" in the Parted Magic documentation. It should also apply to NVME drives as these are also SSDs.

TairikuOkami · 2025-05-01T12:15:24-0400

Basically:
Secure erase - marks data as removed, but can be theoretically restored
Enhanced erase - overwrites data at the cost of TBW, so 500GB SSD will get +500GB writes

Sheikh · 2025-05-01T12:26:12-0400

TairikuOkami said:
Basically:
Secure erase - marks data as removed, but can be theoretically restored
Enhanced erase - overwrites data at the cost of TBW, so 500GB SSD will get +500GB writes

I think it's a bit different because writing on SSD will take about 5 minutes to complete but the enhanced method will take about 20 seconds.
(Secure erase will take 5 seconds)
I'm just curious about what it does in the background...

Sheikh · 2025-05-01T12:29:17-0400

altae said:
There is a brief explanation of the difference under "Secure Erase" in the Parted Magic documentation. It should also apply to NVME drives as these are also SSDs.

"The fourth column toggles between “Secure” and “Enhanced”. “Secure” marks each cell as empty. “Enhanced” generates a new public encryption key so the data could be undecipherable. You can see if your drive supports “enhanced erase” by hovering your mouse over the second column. The “beep” check box makes the computer beep when the erase completed."

What's the meaning of new public encryption key in an SSD?

Anibor_11 · 2025-05-01T12:40:43-0400

In this case, I tend to agree with Google´s AI [edited]:

"The most secure way to erase an SSD is to use the manufacturer's built-in "Secure Erase" feature, which utilizes the SSD's internal commands to overwrite all data, including areas the operating system doesn't typically access. If a secure erase tool isn't available, whole-disk encryption followed by formatting to erasure the encryption key can also provide secure erasure".

Sheikh · 2025-05-01T12:49:43-0400

Anibor_11 said:
In this case, I tend to agree with Google´s AI [edited]:

"The most secure way to erase an SSD is to use the manufacturer's built-in "Secure Erase" feature, which utilizes the SSD's internal commands to overwrite all data, including areas the operating system doesn't typically access. If a secure erase tool isn't available, whole-disk encryption followed by formatting to erasure the encryption key can also provide secure erasure".

My SSD manufacturer is Samsung, but the Samsung Magician tool will not work on my SSD even it shows the model and Serial number! What should I do? (Windows is not installed on it)

Sheikh · 2025-05-01T12:59:32-0400

abactuon said:
Depends on how it's implemented.
On Linux, it makes sense

Solid state drive/Memory cell clearing - ArchWiki

The main thing is not to use the “Overwrite” option if there is one.

Read this one and understood what's happening in the background.
topic marked as solved.
thanks everyone

hsehestedt · 2025-05-01T13:22:28-0400

Sheikh said:
My SSD manufacturer is Samsung, but the Samsung Magician tool will not work on my SSD even it shows the model and Serial number! What should I do? (Windows is not installed on it)

Possibly a fake Samsung drive?

Sheikh · 2025-05-01T13:25:10-0400

hsehestedt said:
Possibly a fake Samsung drive?

No, but an internal pre-installed on my laptop. checked the S/N and benchmarks. it's all good.

hsehestedt · 2025-05-01T14:18:41-0400

Sheikh said:
No, but an internal pre-installed on my laptop. checked the S/N and benchmarks. it's all good.

Glad that is the case, just weird that the Samsung software would not work properly with it then.

Solved SSD NVME Secure vs Enhanced erase

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