Selling - Do I need to erase SSD

[Cappuccino]

hi I'm noob I want to sell my SSD but before I do that do i need to erase everything first? If yes how do I do that? I dont have any wires etc and the SSD is crucial thanks

 

[Valantar]

Where did the SSD come from? A laptop? Desktop? Did it store personal files? And what's the model of the SSD?

As a general rule, doing a secure erase on the SSD is advisable no matter the usage - you never know what an a**hole might be able to glean from restored data. Don't give away any storage device (HDD, SSD, usb stick, memory card, whatever) to a stranger without being 100% sure there's nothing on it they might use in some way.

Depending on the model, you might be able to secure erase the drive from Crucial's Storage Executive software. To do this, the drive needs to be connected to a PC running its OS from another drive.

Doing a quick google search, someone that at least sounds like a Crucial rep posted this guide on the Crucial support forums.

 

[Essence_of_War]

I can't think of a reason that a secure erase would be a bad idea before selling an ssd.

If you're comfortable with a command line, you could boot a live Linux distro and use hdparm to issue the secure erase command.

https://tinyapps.org/docs/wipe_drives_hdparm.html

 

[Cappuccino]

Where did the SSD come from? A laptop? Desktop? Did it store personal files? And what's the model of the SSD?

As a general rule, doing a secure erase on the SSD is advisable no matter the usage - you never know what an a**hole might be able to glean from restored data. Don't give away any storage device (HDD, SSD, usb stick, memory card, whatever) to a stranger without being 100% sure there's nothing on it they might use in some way.

Depending on the model, you might be able to secure erase the drive from Crucial's Storage Executive software. To do this, the drive needs to be connected to a PC running its OS from another drive.

Doing a quick google search, someone that at least sounds like a Crucial rep posted this guide on the Crucial support forums.

Laptop. I can't remember what files I have but now you got me scared so I am going to erase it but I don't know how. Anyway the model number is CT480M500SSD1 (CRUCIAL M500 2.5 inch)

 

[Valantar]

Laptop. I can't remember what files I have but now you got me scared so I am going to erase it but I don't know how. Anyway the model number is CT480M500SSD1 (CRUCIAL M500 2.5 inch)

It was your OS drive? If so, you definitely want to clean it out.

As to how: Check out the guide I linked in the previous post. From skimming through the guide, it seems like the tool they recommend is bootable, i.e. you put your old ssd back into the laptop after making the required USB drive, boot from it and not the ssd, and follow the instructions.

As I said, you might be able to nuke it through crucial's software (don't know specifically, but some ssd makers have secure erase functionality in their software), but that would require you to have some way of hooking the drive up to the computer while booted from your current drive.

 

[corkyg]

Before secure erasing, make sure you have the laptop's original OS available to go with your notebook sale. Selling a laptop with no OS is almost a non-starter.

 

[Valantar]

Before secure erasing, make sure you have the laptop's original OS available to go with your notebook sale. Selling a laptop with no OS is almost a non-starter.

True, but from what was written in the first post, I'm assuming it's only the SSD that is being sold?

 

[John Connor]

You want to use Parted Magic for SSDs.

 

[Cappuccino]

True, but from what was written in the first post, I'm assuming it's only the SSD that is being sold?

Yes I'm just selling the sSD I have new SSD for my laptop. Also I can't seem to erase my SSD -_-
What is the program and I suppose to download? I swear it's not working

 

[Cappuccino]

You want to use Parted Magic for SSDs.

President Trump, is this an program or do i need wires etc sorry can't check atm
I'm
On me
Phone

 

[John Connor]

It's a program or bootable media. Read here: https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-securely-erase-an-ssd-drive/

Make sure just the SSD is attached in the computer, boot the disk or USB and you erase.

 

[Elixer]

Yes I'm just selling the sSD I have new SSD for my laptop. Also I can't seem to erase my SSD -_-
What is the program and I suppose to download? I swear it's not working

On Crucial's support site, they have a utility you can download, and it will write to a USB drive the secure erase program.
Then you just boot with the USB drive plugged in, and tell it to secure erase the SSD.
Really easy.

 

[Cappuccino]

On Crucial's support site, they have a utility you can download, and it will write to a USB drive the secure erase program.
Then you just boot with the USB drive plugged in, and tell it to secure erase the SSD.
Really easy.

Hi you mean this? http://uk.crucial.com/gbr/en/support-ssd

 

[Elixer]

Hi you mean this? http://uk.crucial.com/gbr/en/support-ssd

Yup... download Crucial Storage Executive, install that, then write to a USB stick the secure erase program (it is an option within the program itself).

 

[Cappuccino]

Yup... download Crucial Storage Executive, install that, then write to a USB stick the secure erase program (it is an option within the program itself).

I just downloaded it and I dont see erase? https://i.imgur.com/RX9MwmY.png
am i missing something here?

 

[Elixer]

I just downloaded it and I dont see erase? https://i.imgur.com/RX9MwmY.png
am i missing something here?

Nope, that is secure erase, they just call it something different.
If the SSD is TCG-enabled, then you need to perform a PSID reset.

 

[Cappuccino]

Nope, that is secure erase, they just call it something different.
If the SSD is TCG-enabled, then you need to perform a PSID reset.

I don't see secure erase anywhere and what is tcg

 

[Elixer]

I don't see secure erase anywhere and what is tcg

I told you their secure erase is called Sanitize.
TCG is a drive mode, if that is enabled, then it is "secured" (encrypted). It will tell you if the SSD is in that state, and if it is, then you need to do a PSID reset.