How to totally wipe SSD and HD

[raildogg]

Hello guys, I'm selling my computer shortly. Before I do that, I would like to erase all information on the SSD and the HD. I believe a format does not totally erase the data.

I've heard of people recommending DBAN and then downloading it to a disc and booting from it.

So I'm planning to first format the data and then run DBAN. Good move?

I would really appreciate any responses.

Thank you.




Moved from OT

Anandtech Administrator
KeithTalent

 

[DesiPower]

DBAN, used to be #1, I think it still is, I would say go for it.

 

[raildogg]

So format the drive first and then run DBAN or just run DBAN?

Appreciate the reply.

 

[DesiPower]

I don't see the point in formatting it if you are going to Nuke it anyways, you can skip that step imo

 

[raildogg]

I was thinking that too. Thanks, Desi Munday (or Kuri).

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I was thinking that too. Thanks, Desi Munday (or Kuri).

Perhaps you're satisfied about this, and don't need my remark here. I decided I needed to do the same thing before either recycling or giving away some still-useable IDE disks. I just did a quick search, and it turned up about five or six software titles -- some free, others not so but inexpensive.

The summaries of this type of software observe whether or not a MIL spec was followed in scrubbing the disk. Now that I've used that word, I'll say I downloaded and installed "Hard Disk Scrubber." It seems to work fine, but I'd like to learn more about DBAN.

Is there a link? I'll go ahead and look for one . . .

. . . . Oh, yeah . . . that one . . . Darik's Boot and Nuke. . . .

 

[raildogg]

Perhaps you're satisfied about this, and don't need my remark here. I decided I needed to do the same thing before either recycling or giving away some still-useable IDE disks. I just did a quick search, and it turned up about five or six software titles -- some free, others not so but inexpensive.

The summaries of this type of software observe whether or not a MIL spec was followed in scrubbing the disk. Now that I've used that word, I'll say I downloaded and installed "Hard Disk Scrubber." It seems to work fine, but I'd like to learn more about DBAN.

Is there a link? I'll go ahead and look for one . . .

. . . . Oh, yeah . . . that one . . . Darik's Boot and Nuke. . . .

Well, I ran DBAN for about 25 minutes (15% complete) and then turned it off. When I turned back on the message said that bootup is not possible, so it apparently did erase some data. I did not wait for DBAN to complete but it ran partially. I hope this is enough for some level of safety. Appreciate your comments.

 

[Elixer]

DBAN is fine for a HD, but *not* a SSD!

For SSD you need to use secure erase.

 

[DesiPower]

Well, I ran DBAN for about 25 minutes (15% complete) and then turned it off. When I turned back on the message said that bootup is not possible, so it apparently did erase some data. I did not wait for DBAN to complete but it ran partially. I hope this is enough for some level of safety. Appreciate your comments.

well, not exactly, to make sure everything is erased, you need to let it complete. Some files that were stored beyond the 15% can still be theoretically restored

 

[raildogg]

DBAN is fine for a HD, but *not* a SSD!

For SSD you need to use secure erase.

Yes, I realized that afterwards. Oh well, that PC is now gone. I did format the SSD and manage to run DBAN for about 20-25 minutes. Maybe that helped.

 

[VirtualLarry]

What about a hybrid drive? DBAN? Or Secure Erase?

 

[phis6]

I would just use Active@Kill Disk it works for both SSD and HDD.

 

[Elixer]

What about a hybrid drive? DBAN? Or Secure Erase?

I guess it depends on how smart the controller is.
If it shows up as 2 drives or 1.
Since those drives have a much, much smaller NAND size, with very limited amount of spare NAND, I wouldn't use DBAN on them.
Maybe the makers of the hybrid have a special utility for this.