Wiping a used SSD for sale?

[Hulk]

I'm thinking about selling one of my SSD's and it seems as though if you simply delete all the data on the drive and then run a trim pass the data should be gone right? Unlike a magnetic drive there is no residual magnetic image left that needs to be written over 5 or 6 times. Once should do it I assume?

 

[TJCS]

I used Parted Magic to secure erase a Crucial M4 and it worked out great. It's free and quite easy to use.

Guide here

 

[BFG10K]

Check to see if your drive has the option for a secure erase. This throws away the encryption key and makes a new one, thereby making any previous data unreadable garbage.

 

[Burner27]

Let me know which one you may be selling. I would be interested in buying it if the price is right.

 

[ElFenix]

check with the manufacturer for their secure erase method first. and make sure you match the drive type with the utility.

 

[groberts101]

The ATA secure erase protocol is part of every hard drive mfgd these days. Has been mandated by the federal gvmnt since around 2001 and is actually built into the firmware of the drive.

All that needs to be done to initiate said protocol built into the firmware by sending the command via the utility of choice. SSD toolbox's, HDDErase, various Linux distributions, and a few others are all able to communicate and initiate the command set. Utilities that simply overwrite or use low level formats will not do the same thing though, so be sure to know what you're actually doing with the utility chosen.

So, while I would tend to agree with ElFenix's comment above.. any utility that can initiate the built in ATA Secure Erase protocol will give the same end result. Mfgrs just tend to use what's easiest/cheapest for them to distribute to the masses without having to create much new code for passing the command, is all.

 

[Hulk]

Thanks for the tips guys.
Burner - When I'm ready to move one of these I'll let you know.