How do I format/erase an SSD before sending back?

streettriple

streettriple

streettriple

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4 Sep 2014
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Hello,

I have a Samsung SSD 840 EVO solid state hard drive. I need to erase the drive and send it back to Amazon due to a fault. What would be the best way to make sure my files are non recoverable?

Thanks,
 
are you able to do a secure erase on the SSD?

in the magician software there is a section for secure erase on the left, you will need a USB stick for it to put the software on and then boot from it.

tell it to boot from the USB stick and then you can secure erase it before sending it back
 
As long as TRIM is ran after a format there won't be any data retention, this isn't a magnetic storage medium like a normal HDD.
 
Its worth reading up on it. My understanding is that, secure erase tools, overwriting & trim don't erase SSD's.

The only thing that half works is the SSD manufacturers own secure erase tools. I say half work, because in some tests, many of them didn't work either. Last I read best practise is to encrypt the drive, or destroy it. Its obviously more complicated than all that. So heres some links if you want to read up.

http://www.howtogeek.com/234683/why-you-cant-securely-delete-a-file-and-what-to-do-instead/

https://belkasoft.com/why-ssd-destroy-court-evidence

http://superuser.com/questions/856438/what-is-the-theory-behind-securely-delete-files-on-a-ssd

So I guess if you want to return the drive I would encrypt it. Then using the Samsung tools securely erase it.
 
Last edited:
Hmm I hadn't considered the wear levelling to interfere with SSD secure erase!

Seems odd that TRIM doesn't work as expected.
 
What is the problem with the drive? If it's running slowly, install the latest Samsung Magician software and update the firmware.

Usually the Samsung drives are rock solid, I'd highly recommend the 850 Evo.

I've bought about 5x 840 Evo and 3x 850 Evo.
 
Hi,

Thanks for the help, it looks like I will use Samsung Magician to secure erase.

If it makes sense to encrypt the drive before doing this, what is the best way to go about encrypting the drive please?

Thanks,
 
I've encrypted the drive with Bitlocker, I'm now trying to erase it but running into problems.

-Samsung magician - I created the bootable USB but when I ran it the screen came up with garbled text. I googled this and noticed it was well known, but when I tried to enter the command they suggested into the command prompt it gave an error and I had to turn it off.

- Cc cleaner doesn't let you erase an SSD.... not even the basic 1 pass overwrite.


Does anyone have any ideas as to what I should do to this drive before returning it? Or is it secure enough to return it to Amazon (and presumably it gets back to samsung) just encrypted with Bitlocker?
 
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