I've always used CCleaner to securely erase files, temp internet, history etc, but have recently moved to a fully ssd system and wondering how to go about it now? Apparently ccleaner wont securely delete anything due to the way an ssd works. Is this not a massive flaw with ssds if nothing can be securely deleted bar wiping the entire drive?
How do you safely erase data on an ssd?
- Thread starter Mark A
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the only time I do a secure erase is when I am doing a full re install of the OS and only did this to get back full performance of my SSD otherwise I wouldn't bother or selling them on.
ccleaner will still do the general clean up of stuff on the SSD, the secure erase, is this something you do when deleting files?
ccleaner will still do the general clean up of stuff on the SSD, the secure erase, is this something you do when deleting files?
Man of Honour
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Do you mean safely as in so nothing can be recovered.
If so a secure erase with a Gparted live cd is enough
If so a secure erase with a Gparted live cd is enough
Yes, but without having to erase the entire drive. I'd like to just permanently delete a file and not have to worry that there are parts of it left behind. I used to use Eraser and ccleaner for this purpose, but seems they don't work with an ssd due to the way the ssd handles wear and tear.
Reading up on it last night it seems that with trim enabled any files deleted will soon be permanently erased by the garbage collection as ssds don't overwrite files marked as deleted, they need an empty space to save data to?
I dont think you can other than wipe/secure erase the whole ssd
http://www.ghacks.net/2010/06/20/delete-data-on-ssd-permanently/
http://www.ghacks.net/2010/06/20/delete-data-on-ssd-permanently/
It doesn't mention how long after deleting the files in windows they tested it with recuva. I'm guessing they used recuva before the ssd wiped the blocks with the data on.
I think i'll test on my spare ssd and delete a file then leave it a few hours and see if recuva finds it.
I think i'll test on my spare ssd and delete a file then leave it a few hours and see if recuva finds it.
Associate
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How about deleting files in the normal way, and then optimise the drive in Windows defrag, which as far as I know will manually run the Trim command and purge empty space.
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