topic Erase X25M 80 GB SSD in Archive

Erase X25M 80 GB SSD

DSchr2 — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 01:29:11 GMT

I am trying to use the Intel SSD Toolbox (latest version) to erase an Intel X25M 80 GB SSD to restore to "factory-fresh" condition. I am told that I cannot. Please understand that I have set up a temporary Win 7 64 bit OS and Intel Toolbox on a traditional HDD. And I have attached only one of the SSD's to an open SATA port (AHCI).

In my ASUS Formula V BIOS, I have of course set all SATA ports to AHCI, not IDE or RAID. The Intel SSD I wish to erase/restore to factory fresh condition is NOT on SATA 1, nor set as a boot device.

Here's what I am told, and I kinda feel like an absolute rookie as a result.

I know this qualifies as a too-stupid-to-live question, but what should be so easy is not at all that.

Thanks,

IncurableGeek (@gmail.com)

Re: Erase X25M 80 GB SSD

idata — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 20:09:46 GMT

So you have identified the SSD is clearly not being used as a boot drive but does it have a partition on it? You can easily verify in Windows and erase the partition if one exists.

In regards to your desire to return the SSD to "factory-fresh" condition a secure erase is not really required on Gen2 or later SSD's. While this was required of Gen1 drives due to lack of trim support it is not required on your Gen2. You can simply let Win7 trim the drive or use the SSD Optimizer found in the SSD Toolbox to return the drive to near new performance levels.

Re: Erase X25M 80 GB SSD

DSchr2 — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:20:05 GMT

I got so sick and tired of this Intel Toolbox not working - and I am not at all new to computers - that I just said "to heck with it" and went to Disc Management, deleted the one and only partition on this 80 GB X25M and then let it do a quick format as it would on a traditional HDD.

Please understand, I have been playing with this mailto:silly-@ss silly-@ss problem now for several days and I am no longer entertained with it. There are many, many others who have connected this SSD in all the most bizarre of ways and exhausted every possible way to connect it and make the very "convenient" Intel Toolbox work.

And they couldn't. These Intel forums are littered with failures.

In a forum at Anand, it was just recommended that we format the da**ed thing and be done with it.

What I need to do ASAP is connect the 2 (now "virgin") 80 Gig. SSD's in RAID0 and reinstall Win 7 64 bit and Programs. In short, I need to get back to work.

All in all though, this has indeed been fun!

I can only imagine what the fresh-faced newbie is doing.

Re: Erase X25M 80 GB SSD

idata — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 02:00:28 GMT

I guess I don't understand your frustration or why you are putting the blame on the Toolbox. The Toolbox clearly displayed the error message that it will not perform a secure erase on a drive containing a partition and you have just confirmed yourself the drive did infact have a partition. Are there other issues you are having with the Toolbox or just this one?

Re: Erase X25M 80 GB SSD

idata — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 02:20:54 GMT

Please remove the partition prior performing the secure erase. As mentioned in the SSD toolbox user guide, secure erase is an additional erase for existing format drive and data are not recoverable on the disk.

http://downloadmirror.intel.com/18455/eng/Intel_SSD_Toolbox_User_Guide_2.0.pdf http://downloadmirror.intel.com/18455/eng/Intel_SSD_Toolbox_User_Guide_2.0.pdf

Re: Erase X25M 80 GB SSD

DSchr2 — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 02:32:39 GMT

Thank you so much all for the most helpful direction.

Here is what I have done:

In computer management --> Disk Management:

1) Deleted the one and only partition on the Intel 80 Gig SSD (I have not done both SSD's, because I want to make sure this actually works on one first.

2) Created a Simple Partition

3) Did a Quick Format without assigning a Drive Letter or Path

4) You can see from the attached Snippet just how successful/unsuccessful I have been - still shows as not being formatted on the SSD Optimizer and the SOS (sorry) on the Secure Erase. Ugh!

What to do next. And yes, I have read the manual as well as just about everything of relevance I can find on the net.

And this is the "convenience" of the SSD Toolbox?

Re: Erase X25M 80 GB SSD

idata — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 03:05:30 GMT

One thing at a time...

Just delete the partition (don't go put another partition back on the drive) and run the Secure Erase tool. WHen you have completed that step come back and let us know the results.

Re: Erase X25M 80 GB SSD

DSchr2 — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 05:22:51 GMT

You have absolutely no idea how much I appreciate your continuing assistance. Really I am very grateful.

Did just as you wished, or at least my interpretation thereof.

Went back into Disk Management and Deleted the Simple Volume. Did not create another Simple Volume - and no partitions.

Did not of course format anything.

The pic should tell you where I currently find myself.

As you can see, there is no way to run the Secure Erase Tool within the SSD Toolbox.

Again,

1) all SATA ports are set to AHCI

2) Only the HDD with the OS is set up on SATA 1

3) Motherboard is new ASUS Crosshair V

Hope that helps.

Re: Erase X25M 80 GB SSD

idata — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:28:21 GMT

So did you do as the Toolbox says and power cycle the drive to remove ATA security?

Re: Erase X25M 80 GB SSD

DSchr2 — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:51:19 GMT

Yep, too many times to count.

In Disk Management, I created, deleted simple volume (partition) so many times and tried power cycling (with refresh) multiple times.

Kind of like this fellow did: /message/103469 http://communities.intel.com/message/103469

Short of trying "magic and witchcraft" I am at a loss as to what to try.

Gotta love the convenience of the Intel Toolbox, eh?

I'll keep reading and Googling the world, I guess.

Thanks,

------------------------------

I think this best voices everyone's frustration with Secure Erase and the Intel SSD Toolbox:

/126422# 126422 5. May 26, 2011 4:43 PM /103265# 103265 in response to: /103265# 103265 fadsarmy

/126422# 126422 Re: X25-M SSD and Toolbox 2.0

yeah that power cycle stuff doesn't work for jack.

With standard MAHCI drivers installed and bios mode set to AHCI It's safe to assume I have AHCI support right?

So why does the disk not get plugged back in on this "power cycle"?

i have the same problem, everywhere i search ppl say it's a bad idea to just do a regular format of the drive- secure erase is the way to go.

So why is it so damn hard to do this secure erase??

I tried HDDERASE, but that didn't work either, it just froze on some picture during the procedure. Never got the part where i could even select a hd.

I also have a vertex3 SSD, they also have a toolbox utility, and it was very easy to do secure erase on that (when it was running as secondary hdd)

and now I have OS on my vertex3, and want to use the X25-M as secondary hd, but I have to secure erase it - but that seems impossible...

Re: Erase X25M 80 GB SSD

DSchr2 — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 19:39:17 GMT

So does this Anand article help?

http://www.anandtech.com/show/2865/2 http://www.anandtech.com/show/2865/2

Basically, the crux of the article is to Quick Format the SSD and let Trim do the rest.

Trust me I have tried every suggestion made by anyone anywhere - and the Intel Toolbox Does Not Work!

"If it is a Gen2 X25-M 34nm (silver case) all you would need to do is let Win7 trim the drive or run the SSD Optimizer found in the Toolbox to accomplish the same."

I did the following then:

1) Created a Partion in Disk Management and did a Quick Format

2) And then as BDS73 suggested (see above quoted lines)

And that will end my adventure for this week. I'm gonna RAID 0 these two X25M Ham Sandwiches, reinstall the OS and Programs and be done with it.

Thanks all.

Re: Erase X25M 80 GB SSD

idata — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 21:47:01 GMT

Unfortunately there are some systems out there that will not release Security Freeze Lock state when power cycled and yours appears to be one of them. THe Toolbox is doing what it is designed to do unfortunately your system is not releasing the lock state. In order to secure erase you will need to download a tool such as HDAT2 (http://www.hdat2.com/ http://www.hdat2.com/) and perform the secure erase in DOS.

Re: Erase X25M 80 GB SSD

DSchr2 — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 00:26:37 GMT

BDS73, you have been a real stand-up guy and for that I applaud you.

Re" Unfortunately there are some systems out there that will not release Security Freeze Lock state when power cycled and yours appears to be one of them."

Yes sir, I was kind of catching on to that fact myself.

In order to secure erase you will need to download a tool such as HDAT2 (http://www.hdat2.com/ http://www.hdat2.com/) and perform the secure erase in DOS.

I do know of, in my having been all over the net looking for a solution, http://www.hdat2.com/ http://www.hdat2.com/.

My question is why do I need to do anything more than I stated in my last post:

"If it is a Gen2 X25-M 34nm (silver case) all you would need to do is let Win7 trim the drive or run the SSD Optimizer found in the Toolbox to accomplish the same."

I did the following then:

1) Created a Partion in Disk Management and did a Quick Format

2) And then as BDS73 suggested (see above quoted lines)

Should I not be OK with just doing these two things?

Re: Erase X25M 80 GB SSD

idata — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:45:20 GMT

16,April,2012

Re: Erase X25M 80GB SSD

I had the same problem. I'm using Intel DZ68BC motherboard and Intel 520 series 120GB SSD. After tryinf wahtecer suggestiions I could found. I ended up with the DOS level format solution.

Re: Erase X25M 80 GB SSD

idata — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 06:58:47 GMT

How are you performing a power cycle of that SSD, by restarting the PC? If so, that is not correct.

Have the side of the PC removed, or whatever you need to do to remove power from that SSD. With the PC on, and the Toolbox running, click Secure Erase. The message about power cycling the SSD will be displayed. At that point, remove power from the SSD ONLY by removing it's SATA power plug. Wait 15 seconds to be safe, and re-connect the power to the SSD. Then click to continue the process, and the Toolbox will display a message that it is rescanning, or something like that, and then it will perform the Secure Erase.

I've done that twice, primarily just to see it work, and on my oldest and first SSD, a 80GB G2. Worked fine for me.

Re: Erase X25M 80 GB SSD

idata — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:04:21 GMT

Thanks parsec:

Been through what you suggested. If took too long, even had to detect drive and refresh.

I'll try that again with tool box V3.0.3 later.

Re: Erase X25M 80 GB SSD

idata — Wed, 02 May 2012 01:37:07 GMT

Ok, I've recently ran into this issue and took a while until I figure it out. But the method does work, so here is how I did it.

1. The SSD port you want to do a secure erase is HOT SWAP ENABLED (in this case the X-25M). Must be done in BIOS.

2. Boot into OS. Delete the SSD volume/partition.

3. Unhook the SSD cables without shutting off the system. Must be done in Windows.

4. Hook the cables back to a SSD.

5. Do a SECURE ERASE.