topic Secure Erase on Intel 320 SSD in Archive

Secure Erase on Intel 320 SSD

idata — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 11:40:50 GMT

hi,

want to ask, how to perform a Secure Erase using hdparm from a linux boot medium. I'm using a Macbook Pro.

I've already done that many times with a Intel SSD Postville G2, never had a problem performing a Secure Erase.

But with the new 320 series, it just won't work. I can't set a password by using the command:

hdparm --user-master u --security-set-pass pwd /dev/sda There's no error message or anything like that. It just takes some seconds.

Here's what i get after trying to set a password:

Security: Master password revision code = 65534 supported not enabled not locked not frozen not expired: security count supported: enhanced erase 2min for SECURITY ERASE UNIT. 2min for ENHANCED SECURITY ERASE UNIT.

It shouldn't output "not enabled", right? "enabled" would be fine?

Hope anyone is willing to help me, thanks a lot in advance!

I really appreciate it.

Re: Secure Erase on Intel 320 SSD

idata — Mon, 02 May 2011 16:56:11 GMT

nobody performed a secure erase on his Intel 320 series SSD without using the intel toolbox?

thanks!

Re: Secure Erase on Intel 320 SSD

idata — Mon, 09 May 2011 17:48:29 GMT

hi there,

i've the intel 320 120gb in my 2011 macbook pro and it's great. as far as secure erase. apples osx leopard disk come with it. what you need to do is boot from dvd with osx disk and on the top choose utility and it will offer you secure erase and secure erase with 7 passes or 30 passes.

i find it works great and very handy.

Re: Secure Erase on Intel 320 SSD

idata — Mon, 16 May 2011 01:09:30 GMT

Thats actually the last thing you want to do.... By using the Mac's built in secure erase actually writes 0s to the drive so many times, which wears the drive out quickly and doesn't mark the cells free as the actual "Secure Erase" function does.

Re: Secure Erase on Intel 320 SSD

idata — Mon, 16 May 2011 01:10:42 GMT

Are you sure the drive is actually named SDA... did you verify it isn't named SDA1 or something else..

Use GDParted (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=841182 http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=841182 3rd step) and check! Let me know if this is it!

Re: Secure Erase on Intel 320 SSD

idata — Mon, 16 May 2011 17:58:27 GMT

hi,

thanks for your help, I appreciate it.

As I said, I've done this several times with the G2 Postville 80GB SSD. Worked flawless.

It's /dev/sda for sure. The problem seems to be setting a password, which I can't. See Step2: https://ata.wiki.kernel.org/index.php/ATA_Secure_Erase https://ata.wiki.kernel.org/index.php/ATA_Secure_Erase and my 1st post.

Maybe it has something to do with this new AES feature?

I don't get any errors, nothing. The secure erase command took about 7min, was about 50s with the G2 SSD.

Any other ideas?

Thanks!

Re: Secure Erase on Intel 320 SSD

idata — Mon, 16 May 2011 18:23:38 GMT

So when you say it took 7 min.. You actually got it to do a secure erase on the 320 series?

Re: Secure Erase on Intel 320 SSD

idata — Tue, 17 May 2011 07:59:22 GMT

exactly.

As I said, I'm able to type any command, which is necessary. And I don't get any error outputs.

The final secure erase command took about 7mins, but after it's finished, i look after my partitions with gparted and

everything is still there, all files etc. MacOSX will just reboot, as if nothing happened, just weird.

Re: Secure Erase on Intel 320 SSD

idata — Wed, 18 May 2011 00:17:09 GMT

I installed my 320 today and tested it out and performed a secure erase sucessfully. I am assuming you are using Unbuntu via a CD to do this? Did you remember to type Sudo su before you did anything.. Also when I performa secure erase I pop in the Apple CD and erase my SSD first. Try that! let me know!

Re: Secure Erase on Intel 320 SSD

idata — Fri, 20 May 2011 09:41:08 GMT

will definitely try your suggestions, thanks. I'll let you know, as soon as possible.

btw: which mac are you using with your Intel 320 SSD? And how long does it take for you to secure erase your SSD?

Re: Secure Erase on Intel 320 SSD

idata — Sat, 21 May 2011 03:22:38 GMT

2010 Macbook Pro... it literly took the same time as the X25-M.. About 30 Seconds...

Re: Secure Erase on Intel 320 SSD

idata — Tue, 24 May 2011 04:40:22 GMT

ok, tried everything, still no luck.

Re: Secure Erase on Intel 320 SSD

idata — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 01:00:32 GMT

I had the same problem. The 'hdparm --user-master u --security-set-pass pwd /dev/sda' command would not set my ssd to an enabled state.

I changed the SATA mode in my bios from IDE to AHCI. Rerunning the command then set the ssd into enabled.

Thanks.