Secure erase of an ssd?

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stratman70
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2018/10/04 03:18:35 (permalink)

Secure erase of an ssd?

So, from my many threads most know I just built a new machine. I would like to recoup some $$$ by selling my old one. Which actually isn't so old. 
I used DBAN to do a secure erase of the intel SSD and then used intel toolbox and intels secure erase on the drive.
 
Is that sufficient to sell ( I will be installing legal copy of Win 8.1x64 on it) ?
I have read that conflicting stories about it for and against.
 
Thanks

 
 
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    BobF
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    Re: Secure erase of an ssd? 2018/10/04 13:16:27 (permalink)


    Bob  --
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    #2
    stratman70
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    Re: Secure erase of an ssd? 2018/10/04 13:58:00 (permalink)
    Yes well I get that. I was hoping for a more objective and informed opinion. You know, something actually helpful.

     
     
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    BobF
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    Re: Secure erase of an ssd? 2018/10/04 14:03:24 (permalink)
    stratman70
    Yes well I get that. I was hoping for a more objective and informed opinion. You know, something actually helpful.




    Sorry - If I knew of some reliable method I would share.
     
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    Bob  --
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    msmcleod
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    Re: Secure erase of an ssd? 2018/10/04 14:23:34 (permalink)
    CCleaner has a drive wiper feature, which should suffice for SSD's. It'll write zero's to all sectors of the disk.

    Mark McLeod
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    Fog
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    Re: Secure erase of an ssd? 2018/10/04 14:25:36 (permalink)
    same as any other drive, just rewrite it a  number of times. even the free version of ccleaner has drive wiper (under tools)
     
    change it to complex / very complex overwrite
     
    I'd plug it into another machine to do that , personally though.
     
     or there is probably a bootable tool that you can do it with also.
     
     
    #6
    stratman70
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    Re: Secure erase of an ssd? 2018/10/04 19:29:28 (permalink)
    OK. So what I already did, with DBAn, highly touted secure erase and then intels own secure erase is not as good as CC Cleaners? I do have CC Cleaner Pro, btw. 
    JUst was hoping that someone could verify that DBAN and intel or samsungs own SSD secure erase was sufficent.
     
    Thanks for the input

     
     
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    stratman70
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    Re: Secure erase of an ssd? 2018/10/04 19:30:49 (permalink)
    BobF



    Actually I have always used a drill ---seriously....Just drilled a whole bunch of holes in the drives . :-) 

     
     
    #8
    gswitz
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    Re: Secure erase of an ssd? 2018/10/04 19:30:49 (permalink)
    I was going to suggest drilling a hole in it.

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    #9
    stratman70
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    Re: Secure erase of an ssd? 2018/10/04 20:08:49 (permalink)
    OK...But the point is I would like to recoup some $$$ by selling my old (hi end) PC with a new legal install of Win8.1x64. I won't be using the Intel 335 series 240GB SSD for anything else.
     
    I surrender to the masses!

     
     
    #10
    slartabartfast
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    Re: Secure erase of an ssd? 2018/10/04 20:27:47 (permalink)
    If you have highly classified data on the drive then grinding it into sand sized particles or incinerating it should be considered. Unless you are selling to a state actor who would find it worth the expense of recovering the data using specialized equipment, then any of the overwriting methods should suffice. The problem is that overwriting with software designed for spinning hard drives may not access all of the SSD memory sites. The last time I checked DBAN would not securely erase an SSD. I am not familiar with the intel toolbox, but if this is the manufacturer's solution then it should be able to do the job, but not under Windows 10. I would use something like KillDisk free or Aoemi Partition Assistant Standard (free) that specifically states it will do the job or put the device in a Win7 computer and use the W7 version of intel toolbox. Some of these secure erase tools actually do not overwrite, but do a reset which wipes the memory sites, but the effect is the same. Of course the simple/secure method is to keep your drive/partition encrypted with a strong password, then just make sure the password is not transferred with the computer.
     
    http://www.killdisk.com/erase.htm
     
    https://www.disk-partition.com/download-home.html
     
     
    Article ID: 000006084
     
    You can securely erase an Intel® Solid State Drive (Intel® SSD) using the Intel® SSD Toolbox.
    Note
    • You need secondary access for target drive for Secure Erase.
    • Remove all drive partitions.
    • You cannot Secure Erase a current working drive.
    • Securely destroy and properly dispose of replaced SSDs.
    • Windows 8*/8.1* and Windows® 10 do not allow secure erase.
    #11
    Kev999
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    Re: Secure erase of an ssd? 2018/10/04 23:23:44 (permalink)
    I once cleared a drive using the following method:

    Ensure that the Recycle Bin does not store anything on the drive
    Delete everything off it
    Do a quick format
    Create a blank database with only numeric fields and save it on the drive
    Type in some random numeric data
    Clone the record until it reaches a limit when the drive is full
    Delete the file

    This should fill at least 99% of the drive with meaningless data. However, I'm not sure whether this method is still feasible. Harddrives used to be a lot smaller when I did this.

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    #12
    stratman70
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    Re: Secure erase of an ssd? 2018/10/04 23:56:49 (permalink)
    Good stuff guys. Using the intel Toolbox I made boot usb drive to secure erase the drive. Those were the instructions. . Intel says that their toolbox is made for their SSD drives. I knew DBAN was NOT for SSDs specifically that is why I used it first, then used the intel tool.
     
    Sad that I have to just store the SSD in a closet instead of putting it in a a very fine i7 3770, 32GB ram, antec 650W PSU etc, etc and sell it.
     
    Oh well I guess that is life in this day and age. It's not like I had US secrets on the drive, but I did have passwords and a password program and receipts, etc
     
    Just was hoping to get some re assurance, but I certainly didn't want false re-assurance so I truly appreciate everyone chiming in.
     
     

     
     
    #13
    tlw
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    Re: Secure erase of an ssd? 2018/10/05 00:31:31 (permalink)
    This page on using a bootable Linux image and the hdparm tool to securely erase an SSD might be useful.

    https://grok.lsu.edu/article.aspx?articleid=16716

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