Formating an SSD

Sgt Tackleberry · 19 May 2011 at 11:02

hi,

2morrow i will be starting my new build but the SSD i am using now has win 7 installed on it already, So i need to "format" my SSD but
I do know you can't "format" an SSD so what is the best way round to "format" an SSD.

Thanks

AbsenceJam · 19 May 2011 at 11:14

You can format them, just boot from your W7 disk/USB and do so during the install process.

Philtor · 19 May 2011 at 11:18

The preferred method is to perform a secure erase using the likes of HDD Erase.

Meekal · 19 May 2011 at 11:19

you will still be given the option, to remove the partition and format the partition/drive during installation.

DragonQ · 19 May 2011 at 11:19

To get optimum performance, you need to "secure erase" it and then install Windows 7 to the raw disk space - it will automatically sort out the partition alignment and formatting.

Sgt Tackleberry · 19 May 2011 at 11:38

thanks guy's, any chance you could link the Download for HDDErase? as i'm at work at the mo.

Thanks

Philtor · 19 May 2011 at 11:55

HDD Erase link (It's the second one on that page)

Sgt Tackleberry · 19 May 2011 at 11:57

thank you sir

Amraam · 19 May 2011 at 14:32

When I installed Win7 the other night, I told it to create a new partition and install to that. Should I not have done that?

DragonQ · 19 May 2011 at 14:42

Nope, if you create the partition manually it won't be aligned. You should let Windows create the partition itself.

Amraam · 19 May 2011 at 15:02

DragonQ said:
Nope, if you create the partition manually it won't be aligned. You should let Windows create the partition itself.

******** so should I redo it all again?

Cheers

Sgt Tackleberry · 19 May 2011 at 17:15

Amraam said:
******** so should I redo it all again?

Cheers

Yes.

Thanks guys

Amraam · 19 May 2011 at 18:09

Thanks. So I just burn the ISO to CD and erase the SSD, and start again? Cheers!

topdog@OC · 19 May 2011 at 18:10

Before you waste your time needlessly, check with AS SSD benchmark.

Don't have to run the bench, just load the app and see if the number in the first box above the drive size (will say something like '1024 K - OK') is in green.

Hover over that entry and if it's OK (and green) it will tell you that "Offset/Alignment @ 4k cluster" and if it's red / not OK you'll get something else.

Edit: This is in reference to the partition alignment issue. For ensuring drive is optimal in case it is a refurb / 2nd hand / used in other system drive, the secure erase still applies.

EGuitarStar · 19 May 2011 at 18:33

Don't intend to steal the thread but how long does it take to secure erase an SSD, I am aware it depends on capacity but is it anything like what it takes on a normal HDD or does it go at SSD speeds?

DragonQ · 19 May 2011 at 19:18

It takes a few seconds at most, regardless of the size of the SSD.

In a full format on an HDD, each sector has to be written to and read from (bad sector test) so it takes ages. When secure erasing an SSD, the NAND is "flooded" with a high voltage, which completely erases and resets all the NAND cells. Obviously this is a lot quicker. It does reduce the lifetime of the NAND slightly but unless you're doing it every week it won't make any real difference.

EGuitarStar · 19 May 2011 at 19:20

Thanks DragonQ for the detailed answer.

Amraam · 22 May 2011 at 22:10

topdog@OC said:
Before you waste your time needlessly, check with AS SSD benchmark.

Don't have to run the bench, just load the app and see if the number in the first box above the drive size (will say something like '1024 K - OK') is in green.

Hover over that entry and if it's OK (and green) it will tell you that "Offset/Alignment @ 4k cluster" and if it's red / not OK you'll get something else.

Edit: This is in reference to the partition alignment issue. For ensuring drive is optimal in case it is a refurb / 2nd hand / used in other system drive, the secure erase still applies.

Thanks mate. Drive is brand new from OCUK. Just installed that AS SSD and it's green, with the 4k alignment. Looks like I won't need to reninstall!

HangTime · 23 May 2011 at 00:59

Amraam said:
When I installed Win7 the other night, I told it to create a new partition and install to that. Should I not have done that?

DragonQ said:
Nope, if you create the partition manually it won't be aligned. You should let Windows create the partition itself.

Amraam said:
******** so should I redo it all again?

Cheers

Yes.

Unless I'm missing something here, doesn't Amraam's post indicate that he let Windows create the partition during the install, so everything should be fine? Why would he need to redo it?