How to completely wipe an SSD? Bought an SSD with stuff on it. I am

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nestlebenq

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Dec 25, 2015
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I bought a Samsung 850 Pro SSD online from a 3rd party seller and it seems to have data on it. I missed the fine print where the seller said the drives may not be new and basically there is no good way for me to get a refund.

My question is:
1) How can I wipe everything away COMPLETELY - is it just a case of formatting?
2) Is there any way for the guy who sold the SSD to install some sort of crap and see what I'm storing on my SSD after I begin to use it? I'm worried that some sort of virus/malware is installed on my SSD and can hold my files for ransom-ware etc.
3) Is there any way to check who the previous owner was or how many write-cycles the SSD was exposed to? Again, I'm just worried that the guy can do something with the S/N and access my files.

Again, I'm just super paranoid and not really knowledgeable about this sort of stuff.
 
Solution
Ralston18
Okay.

I have been wondering about sanitizing SSD's and have read different ideas on the subject. DBAN now has a SSD wiping application (Blancco) which is not free. And I am not sure that what it offers is any real advantage over your solution. Thanks.

As I understand it then: Deleting the partition makes the stored "data" (malware, virus, spyware, etc.) therein unreadable and thus harmless to OP's system.

So per OP's questions:

1) a "wipe" in the classic sense is not necessary.
2) deleting the partition removes any possible threats via malware etc.
3) Samsung Magician software will provide write cycle information. S/N and previous owner stuff meaningless and moot.

Now voting for Partition Deletion.... Meets the requirements.

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Ralston18

Ralston18

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Oct 11, 2014
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Formatting would probably be okay. Just go in and do that directly. No looking, searching, anything on the drive.

If you wish to be more thorough and safe use DBAN (Darik's Nuke and Boot) to clear the SSD. Can take some time depending on how many passes you decide to take. More passes - more erasure.....

No worry about the S/N. That in and by itself will not permit file access.
 
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noidea_77

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Jul 28, 2012
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Format will not help on an SSD and is not needed. Just goto disk management and delete all existing partitions, that's it. To find out the write cycles and so on, download and install the Samsung Magician Software. It also manages the firmware upgrade, if it's needed.
 
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noidea_77

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No, but a (quick) format doesn't overwrite anything on an SSD as well. The controller only marks all areas currently allocated to this partition as free, but that's not a continuous area of blocks like on a HDD and can not be restored to read the memory cells. Just deleting the partitions and sending a trim command afterwards makes the stored data unreadable. (Windows sends the trim for you automatically)
 
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Ralston18

Ralston18

Titan
Moderator
Oct 11, 2014
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Okay.

I have been wondering about sanitizing SSD's and have read different ideas on the subject. DBAN now has a SSD wiping application (Blancco) which is not free. And I am not sure that what it offers is any real advantage over your solution. Thanks.

As I understand it then: Deleting the partition makes the stored "data" (malware, virus, spyware, etc.) therein unreadable and thus harmless to OP's system.

So per OP's questions:

1) a "wipe" in the classic sense is not necessary.
2) deleting the partition removes any possible threats via malware etc.
3) Samsung Magician software will provide write cycle information. S/N and previous owner stuff meaningless and moot.

Now voting for Partition Deletion.... Meets the requirements.

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
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