Erase X25M 80 GB SSD

[DSchr2]

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)

[idata]

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.

[DSchr2]

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.

[idata]

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?

[idata]

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