Hardware encryption issue with XPS 15 9550

Hi,

There's something wrong with the m2 ssd (PM951) used by Dell's XPS 15 9550.
I've tried everything I know to get hardware encryption working without success.
One would think that such old and basic feature for SSDs would be functional on this high-end laptop...

Has anyone succeeded in using hardware encryption with the PM951?
I'd also be very interested to know, from people that replaced this ssd, if they can now use hardware encryption (with samsung 950 pro or 850 evo for example).

What's not working so far :

1. There is no option to set HDD Password in the bios. This password is supposed to encrypt the ssd encryption key. In theory all SSD are encrypting data by default. All you need to do is set the hdd password to take advantage of it.

2. The "Wipe Data" feature in the bios. This is supposed to send a Secure Erase command to the ssd controller. This only changes the encryption key and renders all previously encrypted data unreadable. Unfortunately this has no effects on the pm951. The encryption key is left unchanged as I can still boot my Windows install.

3. On Linux with hdparm, I failed changing the encryption key and can't communicate with the pm951 controller at all.

4. On Windows 10 Pro, Bitlocker hardware encryption is not available. If you are prompted with this : http://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/113234bitlocker.png, it means that Bitlocker will be using software encryption.

 

I think the only one that currently supports SED specs is the 850 evo, the 950 pro is STILL waiting for a firmware update to enable it and afaik the OEM drives don't yet support it either.

Wipe data doesn't work on the PCIE/NVMe drives only sata connected ones.

 

Thank you GoNz0, that's some very useful information.
I will find more about it and update this thread.

Meanwhile I would still gladly hear from anyone successfully using SED with any m2 drive paired with the Xps 9550.

 

I did with my 840 evo when testing my ISO builds on my 2nd 9550 to see if the latest intel RST suite still broke SED and it did

 

If the drive you want to wipe has a PSID on it you may be able to use the Samsung PSID revert program, I doubt it will work on the 9550 as it cannot be the in use drive to work, I have a sata to mSata/m.2 adapter to plug into my PC for things like that.

 

Sound interesting. Which sata to m.2 adapter supports NVMe?
Never heard that soemthing like that exists as NVMe is more or less PCIe.

 

I didn't know there was a m2 version of the 840 evo.

I don't think there is any PSID for the pm951. Will check though.

 

Oops, had a few beers and thought I was in a 9530 thread after mentioning my adapter