Format SSD while still in system?

Captain · 19 Oct 2017 at 19:29

I have just sold my 3 SSD drives that i have, the only problem being i don't know how to fully wipe them clean while they are in my system, will a quick format do the job?

I don't want to install anything on them and i don't have access to an external drive caddy.

2 are freshly formatted but my main drive is running Windows 7.

Any tips much appreciated.

w1ze1 · 19 Oct 2017 at 19:33

SSD needs secure wiped to get back to near factory performance.

A Full Format like a Mech-HDD would be a very wasteful full write off the SSD's life.

Captain · 19 Oct 2017 at 19:38

The drive i need to format is still being used now, so how can i format it while it's running windows?

w1ze1 · 19 Oct 2017 at 19:41

How can you format a drive you are using it for anything never mind Windows?

Do you realise what you just asked?

Captain · 19 Oct 2017 at 19:46

w1ze1 said:
How can you format a drive you are using it for anything never mind Windows?

Do you realise what you just asked?

Yes i know it's not simple

I think the easiest way to do it is put the windows disc back in, choose the install option and format the drives while in the menu and then shut the system down?

Without an external drive caddy i can't wipe the drive.

w1ze1 · 19 Oct 2017 at 19:49

You obv cannot do anything with your PC as your wiping the Windows drive but again you should Secure Wipe the SSD to get back to full speed.

I am not sure if you can still get a free version of Parted Magic and most new Mobos now have Secure Wipe in the Bios Tools Menu.

https://www.disk-partition.com/ssd-management/restore-ssd-performance-4348.html

jpaul · 19 Oct 2017 at 20:43

equally, have you looked on your ssd vendors site ?
there seems to be a specific samsung utility, that I would use on the Evo ssd I have.
https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/support-software/Samsung-Secure-Erase-949/
which, it says, creates a bootable usb.

You make it sound as though you want to clean your disk that is running windows on your active system - a bootable usb should do it.
(are you really selling the complete system, or you have a new ssd lined up for the OS ?)

darael · 20 Oct 2017 at 01:01

Ultimate Boot CD has Parted Magic on which has a secure erase utility for both harddrives and SSD drives. You can easily transfer UBCD to a USB stick if that's what you'd prefer.