How To Successfully "SecureErase" and OEM SSD Drive

Hi All,

I just received my new Dell XPS 15 (9530). I love it. Howver, I detest the bloatware set up I have got. As per all new laptops I received I like to immediately format the harddrive and start a fresh.

However, this is my first SSD. Well actually mine is a Samsung mSATA SSD (512gb) with a model number of SM841 which is the OEM version of PM841.

I have tried installing Samsung Magician, their latest version, however it will not detect my SSD. I did some research and it turns out that Samsung Magician does not work on Samsung OEM SSDs. I have been on the phone to both Dell and Samsung this morning, both absolving themselves of responsibility of the part. I couldn't even get them to send me a USB ISO file. They claim each SSD model has a different way to erase it. I doubt that.

I have also searched HIGH AND LOW on the internet of how to securely erase an SSD and restore it original settings with no data and can't believe there isn't a clear answer of how to do this? Surely there must be a way.

So I ask you guys out of desperation. How do I do this? Pleaassssseeee.

 

Legacy BIOS/MBR for Windows 7, 8, 8.1 Clean Setup

This won't work for UEFI/GPT setups.

This is not for a fresh install of Windows where other partitions on the drive remain intact.

WARNING: All partitions and data will be destroyed! BACKUP!!!

The following is for manually creating Legacy BIOS/MBR based drive and partitions for Windows 7, 8, 8.1 setup

Ensure the BIOS boot type is set to Legacy BIOS, and SATA mode is set to AHCI.
Ensure the Windows bootable installer media is setup for Legacy BIOS/MBR.
Start Windows installer and at the language form press SHIFT + F10.

Use one of these two specifier's or the other, not both together (unnecessary), or neither, and SSD's do not use frequently either:
* Include ALL parameter with the CLEAN command: Zero writes the entire drive. Use if there are known drive problems or to super-clean.
* Omit QUICK parameter from FORMAT line: Full format by scanning the entire partition area. Use if there are known drive problems.

Type the following commands in order {omitting notes}, Press Enter key after each line:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK n (n = number of the target disk to bring into focus to operate on)
CLEAN {CLEAN: < 1 minute; CLEAN ALL: ~ 10 for SSD, ~ 20 for HDD ( ~ minutes per 100GB) to complete}
CONVERT MBR
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY SIZE=400 {default is 100, increase to 400 for W7 Ultimate or later upgrade}
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="System Reserved"
ACTIVE
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY SIZE=n (n = partition size in Megabytes; SSD's: reserve 30% unallocated space; Omit SIZE=n to allocate remaining space}
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="OS" QUICK {QUICK: < 1 minute; Omit QUICK: ~ 10 for SSD, ~ 20 for HDD ( ~ minutes per 100GB) to complete}
EXIT
EXIT

Done. Click the next/ok buttons to install Windows. The OS partition should automatically be selected in the step "Install to Partition"; no need to do anything there.

 

Thanks for your help... but it's Windows 8.1 Pro installed?

 

Same thing except: Do you know if it is running in UEFI?

 

Stripped and moved: See post #10

 

Stripped and moved: See post #10

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Sorry missed the drive size earlier. I adjusted the numbers for you in both posts. Keep it that way until you need more free space, then later on just expand the partition.

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EDIT: Take your time, read through it. Go and look up the commands and structure I've described. If you have any questions or you see something wrong or confusing, let me know.

You can't PM (personal message) yet

EDIT 2:

Regarding the CREATE PARTITION EFI SIZE=400; that size is a hold over for me from W7 Ultimate MBR disk configuration to accommodate Bitlocker and Recovery files in the System Reserved partition.
I believe this can be safely reduced to 100 for UEFI/GPT W8-Pro disk setups, and to be even safer would only reduce to 200 - that is MB's. And if you do reduce it you can add the difference to the OS size.

Also, I can't stress enough the need for keeping the order in creating the System partitions for GPT drives. Do not move them around. You can add more partitions after the OS, but don't mess with the ordering of those System partitions that come before the OS, they must be there.

 

That's not secure erase though. You need to do an hdparm on the drive. Use something like gParted or Parted Magic.

What you're showing is essentially formatting and zeroing the drive, you need to do an actual secure erase which will send a charge to the cells to set them to a "fresh" state. And there's no need to leave 30% unallocated at all. Not unless you do tons of writes to the drive daily (like fill the drive daily). To me it's a waste of expensive disk space.

 

^^^ With all due respect, that's just going to bring an unnecessary confusion to the moment. He doesn't own an encrypted drive; just wants a super clean install; isn't transferring the drive to another owner; it's brand new!

As far as unallocated space is concerned, I don't think there is a problem with it since the partition can be expanded and it is easier to expand than to shrink. The first 70% is going to endure a lot of writes. Unless it is going to be filled right away past 70% then I say leave it there.

EDIT: And I wanted to add that the drive in question may very well be encryptable since it is an 840 series; either way, another specification and doesn't address the needed task.

 

Your suggestions are sound, for sure and appreciate your time taken.

But sorry, I read "SecureErase" in the title so was assuming to actually secure erase an SSD. Also no it won't hurt to leave unallocated space. And it won't just write to those 70% (at least that's how your post read), it will write to all cells, just the other 30% not partitioned will leave 30% of cells unfilled so there will always be space to write to a "clean" cell (after TRIM and GC).

In any case user should be able to get the drive up and running with your suggestion.

 

UEFI/GPT for Windows 7, 8, 8.1 Clean Setup

This won't work for Legacy BIOS/MBR setups.

This is not for a fresh install of Windows where other partitions on the drive remain intact.

WARNING: All partitions and data will be destroyed! BACKUP!!!

Certain functionality requires a WinRE recovery partition, especially for BitLocker recovery.
NOTE: No partition is marked ACTIVE in the UEFI/GPT setup.

For Windows 7, probably will require manual setup in order to have a WinRE partition.
For Windows 8 or 8.1, an alternative to manually setting up the partitions before install is to let Windows set them up automatically - as it will. Just run the listed commands and Stop after CONVERT GPT, then EXIT and EXIT; This would be the easiest way to get all of the system partitions required for all features - as it still needs to start with an empty drive to do this properly anyway.

This recovery partition part hasn't been tested by me yet, only without it:

CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY SIZE=400 {default is 350, increase to 400}
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="WinRE"
SET ID=de94bba4-06d1-4d40-a16a-bfd50179d6ac

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Can't stress enough the need for keeping the order when creating the partitions before the Windows OS partition, they must be there; do not move them around.
Adding more partitions after the OS is absolutely fine.

For SSD, keep the unallocated space at the recommended 30% for performance and longevity.
Reduce to 20% (not recommended) only if it is absolutely necessary to have more usable file storage space.

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The following is for manually creating UEFI/GPT based drive and partitions for Windows 7, 8, 8.1 setup

Ensure the BIOS boot type is set to UEFI (not LEGACY), and SATA mode is set to AHCI.
Ensure the Windows bootable installer media is setup for UEFI/GPT: Use the Rufus link below for this.
Start Windows installer and at the select Language form press SHIFT + F10.

Use one of these two specifier's or the other, not both together (unnecessary), or neither, and SSD's do not use frequently either:
* Include ALL parameter with the CLEAN command: Zero writes the entire drive. Use if there are known drive problems or to super-clean.
* Omit QUICK parameter from FORMAT line: Full format by scanning the entire partition area. Use if there are known drive problems.

Type the following commands in order {omitting notes}; Press Enter key after each line:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK n {n = number of the target disk to bring into focus to operate on}
CLEAN {CLEAN: < 1 minute; CLEAN ALL: ~ 10 for SSD, ~ 20 for HDD ( ~ minutes per 100GB) to complete}
CONVERT GPT
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY SIZE=400 {default is 350, increase to 400}
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="WinRE"
SET ID=de94bba4-06d1-4d40-a16a-bfd50179d6ac {If rejects string then surround in quotes, like: SET id='de94bba4-06d1-4d40-a16a-bfd50179d6ac'}
CREATE PARTITION EFI SIZE=100 { Increase to 260 if it is Advanced Format 4K Native drive (4-KB-per-sector)}
FORMAT FS=FAT32 LABEL="System"
CREATE PARTITION MSR SIZE=128
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY SIZE=n (n = partition size in Megabytes; SSD's: reserve 30% unallocated space; Omit SIZE=n to allocate remaining space}
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="OS" QUICK {QUICK: < 1 minute; Omit QUICK: ~ 10 for SSD, ~ 20 for HDD ( ~ minutes per 100GB) to complete}
EXIT
EXIT

Done. Click the next/ok buttons to install Windows. The OS partition should automatically be selected in the step "Install to Partition"; no need to do anything there.

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LINKS

Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way
UEFI Bootable USB Flash Drive - Create in Windows
DiskPart
BitLocker Overview W8
BitLocker Overview W7
Windows and GPT FAQ
PARTITION_INFORMATION_GPT structure (Windows)
TypeID (Standard 7 Package Reference)
Configure UEFI/GPT-Based Hard Drive Partitions Windows 8 and 8.1
Recommended UEFI-Based Disk-Partition Configurations Windows 7
Building Windows 8 - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

See option two: Convert MBR Disk to GPT Disk - Windows 7 Help Forums
UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 8
Clean Install - Windows 8

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Today's SSD's are 512-byte Native logical and physical sector size.

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MS Excerpt

EFI system partition size, note:

For Advanced Format 4K Native drives (4-KB-per-sector) drives, the minimum size is 260 MB, due to a limitation of the FAT32 file format. The minimum partition size of FAT32 drives is calculated as sector size (4KB) x 65527 = 256 MB. Advanced Format 512e drives are not affected by this limitation, because their emulated sector size is 512 bytes. 512 bytes x 65527 = 32 MB, which is less than the 100 MB minimum size for this partition.

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MS Advanced format (4K) disk compatibility update: Advanced format (4K) disk compatibility update (Windows)

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Realized usable file space for the following drive capacities, after reserving >30% for OP (over-provision), i.e., unallocated space for SSD controller to use.
Round "down" advantage given to the (OP) space always! System partitions factored in at average 500MB's.
Multiple SSD's: each will need their own OP space independently.

Mfr. Drive capacity: MB to GB as realized usable file space, including Windows OS share.

120GB: 78,848 MB = 77 GB
128GB: 83,968 MB = 82GB
240GB: 158,720 MB = 155 GB
250GB: 165,888 MB = 162 GB
256GB: 169,984 MB = 166 GB
480GB: 319,488 MB = 312 GB
500GB: 332,800 MB = 325 GB
512GB: 340,992 MB = 333 GB
750GB: 499,712 MB = 488 GB
1000GB: 666,624 MB = 651 GB

1TB (30% OP) Calculation example
1000 / cube(1.024) {Convert drive to nominal size}
931.322574615478515625 * 0.3 {Unallocated space}
279.3967723846435546875 + 0.5 {System partition(s)}
279.8967723846435546875 - 931.322574615478515625 {Realized usable file space, including Windows OS share}
Int(negate(-651.4258022308349609375)) * 1024 {Strip negative, strip decimal, convert GB's to MB's}
666624 / 1024 {Convert MB's to GB's}

651GB

666,624 MB = 651 GB (Realized usable file space, including Windows OS share)