Problem with SSD - Can't secure erase using Intel Toolbox

[JediSasquatch]

Getting rid of the "Bootable SSD" problem:

First off - I've been trying to solve this for a while, & need more technical assistance. I just upgraded to a Intel 320 series (80 Gb) to serve as my OS drive. I want to now use my old (x25M G2 80Gb) SSD as a regular drive. I've read that it's a smart idea to secure erase the disk - unfortunately, the intel SSD Toolbox refuses to work on the intel disk. (Error: This tool cannot be run on a bootable SSD).

After poking about on the web I discovered that the problem is most likely due to the @100Mb hidden (boot?) partition written when I first loaded Win7. Windows would not delete the partition, so I downloaded EaseUS Partition Master to tackle the problem.

Using that, I can delete all partitions on the disk - after which the SSD toolbox tells me this is an unsupported drive. Turn the drive into a simple volume, and I'm back to the original problem (bootable SSD, etc).

So, two questions:

1. How do I get around this? (the drive is NOT my OS drive, so I'm hesitant to try the 'bootable DOS cd' option.
2. does it matter whether I use Intel's Secure Erase - or will any secure erase program do the trick to preserve SSD functionality?
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[HAL9000]

Any secure erase program should do the trick there shouldn't be anything different about an SSD in terms of the way you format it, that being said if you secure erase it, which I assume means writing zero's over the entire drive for example then you may shorten the lift of an SSD slightly.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[imagoon]

Any secure erase program should do the trick there shouldn't be anything different about an SSD in terms of the way you format it.

The process is different because of the SSD slack (spare) space that the drive does not typically let the erasing program see. If an SSD is 20% slack, a secure erase program will only secure wipe 80% of the disk, typically with zeros which does the most wear to the disk. Wiping with ones, while calling all of the chip space results in the least wear and actually gets everything.

Also OP you will likely get a better response in storage as this is the wrong sub forum.

 

[razel]

It is not a smart idea to secure erase on a whim. Anand's reviews have shown that formatting well done SSDs within Win7 will issue the TRIM commands necessary to restore performance.

I also have run into secure erase problems. In your case, what I'd do is:

1) Ensure that the Intel to secure erase is connected via SATA, not USB.
2) Delete all partition tables and MBR off the SSD. In win7 go to the command prompt. type 'diskpart', do 'list disk'. Find the # for your SSD 'select disk #' where # is the number. double check you choose the correct SSD with 'list disk' again. now type 'clean'.
3) The Toolbox usually then complains about the drive being locked or frozen and to power it on and off while Toolbox is running. I never got this to work on a laptop since the SATA and power cables are on one connector. I ended up installing Intel's disk controller drivers,instead of the default Microsoft ones and stopping and starting the Intel service related to RST. You can easily google that info if your disk controller is also an Intel.

Otherwise... don't do it. I only secure erase prior to selling the drive.

 

[JediSasquatch]

I emailed Intel and their suggestion was (surprisingly)* similar to razel's. They told me to do a "clean all" under the DOS shell - but not via the command prompt.

Basically I disconnected everything but a DVD drive and the drive to be cleaned, inserted the Win 7 disk & fired it up. At the point where Win 7 wants you to enter date and language, you hit Shift+F10 - which gets you into a DOS environment. Once there, same steps razel describes, except for Clean All.

Took about 20 minutes, but the pesky hidden boot partition was gone.

When I fired it back up (after reconnecting everything) I gave the drive a simple volume & the SSD Toolbox decided that the drive was functional after all.

I'm concerned that this method of secure erasing goes against Anand's suggestions - but at least it worked & I've got a functioning drive. (*this is why I wrote 'surprisingly' above. If Anand is correct, Intel told me to do something that will degrade the performance of one of their products...)

Thanks again for the suggestions.

 

[razel]

'Clean All' writes zeros to the entire disk. 'Clean' only zeros the beginning and end of the disk. The beginning is where all the partition information usually resides and is often all you need. They probably recommended you to use the Win7 DVD to ensure that there are ABSOLUTELY no permissions issues. Their instructions don't take chances and don't mess around, they are clearly a business.

 

[birthdaymonkey]

I'm not sure about intel drives, as I've only ever used it with Sandforce, but running the ATA secure erase command on an SSD through Parted Magic should restore it to like-new performance.

 

[imagoon]

I'm not sure about intel drives, as I've only ever used it with Sandforce, but running the ATA secure erase command on an SSD through Parted Magic should restore it to like-new performance.

It still won't erase the reserve area.

 

[Voo]

It still won't erase the reserve area.

Any sources for that? The ATA command should properly implemented take care of that to and afaik Intel does actually implement it correctly.

 

[imagoon]

Any sources for that? The ATA command should properly implemented take care of that to and afaik Intel does actually implement it correctly.

The intel too l may do it but tons of these tools listed above are for secure wiping magnetic media. Also at this time not all SSD's have support for that instruction or worse yet there were a few out there that only wiped the available area.

 

[agrawal.neetu]

Hi i am using intel ssd 320 series on windows 7. For secure erasing the drive i have tried to use intel ssd toolbox but its showing error. I have make ensure that drive doesnt have any partition. Do anyone has idea what other parameters should i check

 

[razel]

Hit the Win7 button, type 'Disk Management.' Right-click your 320's partition, then delete the volume. If you can't or it's grayed out, make sure that it's connected via SATA, then hit the Win7 butt again and type 'cmd', then press CTRL-SHIFT-ENTER. That will force administrative privileges. Then type the below and press enter after every line.

diskpart
list disk (make note of your 320's #)
select disk # (where # is your 320's #)
list disk (ensure an asterisk is next to your 320)
clean

That will clear the beginning and ends of your disk which includes the boot record and partition table.

 

[boxleitnerb]

I bring this thread up since I have the exact same problem.

I have a 160GB G2 Postville I want to sell and want to do a secure erase. I did the cleaning thing via the command prompt, but still the disk is frozen. What else can I do?

 

[Burner27]

Has anyone tried to use Parted Magic's erase disk tool? Always worked for me on all my SSDs

 

[boxleitnerb]

I tried Parted Magic. First it couldn't boot from my USB key when using the recommended "Unetbootin". When using the "Universal USB installer", I could get it to boot. However, once I did anything at all, click on firefox or the start menu, the system crawled to a halt. Unusable and I don't know why.

I've given up

 

[Burner27]

Burn the ISO to a disc and run it from there.

 

[mrpiggy]

Make a partition on the small spare space on some other drive. Back up the small partition with Acronis or other backup program that does full partition backups/restores. Restore the backed up empty partition to the SSD and make sure the option to expand to use all space on SSD. Once empty partition is restored, you can then do whatever you want with the non-hidden partitioned space (delete then secure erase, etc).

 

[boxleitnerb]

Unfortunately I don't have an optical drive anymore. Haven't had one for years. Is there another tool I could try instead of parted magic? Maybe this particular linux version is messed up somehow.

 

[Mark R]

I bring this thread up since I have the exact same problem.

I have a 160GB G2 Postville I want to sell and want to do a secure erase. I did the cleaning thing via the command prompt, but still the disk is frozen. What else can I do?

Are you booting from a CD/DVD - or are you booting into the OS?

If you are booting from DVD and you are still getting a "drive frozen" message, then your BIOS is freezing the drive during POST. If that is the case, then you'll need to hot-plug your drive. Disconnect the SATA cable to the SSD. Boot the windows DVD to command prompt. Plug in the SATA cable to the SSD, then continue with the process.

 

[boxleitnerb]

I'm normally booting into the OS from my other SSD. I have an USB flash drive with the Win7 iso, though. I could boot from that.

I tried the following:
a) Disconnect the drive completely (both cables), boot into Windows and reconnect the drive - drive won't be recognized, toolbox cannot communicate with it
b) Disconnect the data cable only before booting up - still frozen
c) Downloaded UltimateBootCD to my USB key. Hangs when trying to show the desktop, exhibits severe graphic errors.
d) From the UltimateBootCD menu (DOS) tried HDDerase 4.0 directly. Command prompt blinks forever, nothing happens
e) As 4.0 is supposedly incompatible with Intel SSDs, got 3.3, put it on the USB key and booted. Same as before, blinking prompt, nothing happens

At this point I seriously have to ask WTF?