SSD - Do you Secure Erase when you do an clean install?

Every couple of months i do a clean install using my retail Win8.1 Home and i use my ssd tool to secure erase my ssd, it only takes about 10 seconds, you get a warning that your ssd might freeze and you will have to remove the ssd and re-connect, but i have done an secure erase and have not had this problem.

A secure erase sets all the ssd memory cells to zero, I do this so the wear leveling of the ssd can use the seldom written too parts of the ssd like partitions and parts of the os that do not change.

The free Partition Wizard is supposed to be able to create an boot dvd/usb that can do a secure erase for people with ssd`s that do not have a toolbox with secure erase function.

http://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html

I take no responsibility for any damage you do to your ssd.

I have never used over-provisioning, and my ssd has had over 25TB or writes.

John.

EDIT: If you need to clone or make an image of your hdd/ssd the Free Macrium Reflect works great, and supports UEFI x86 and x64 if you need to boot Macrium Reflect from usb.

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

 

I never EVER do that. Performance has always been the same

 

How many TB has your ssd written?

Do you use over-provisioning.

John

 

The SanDisks about 10TB each and the mSATA 840 EVO I have in my Alienware 18 has 25TB written to it, still performs like day one.

Secure Erasing is only required if support asks you to do so to troubleshoot some severe slowdown and is not a way to format a system for a clean installation.

 

i always do a secure erase when doing a fresh install, which happens around 1-2 times per year

 

There's nothing wrong with doing it. It basically just resets the drive and ensures a clean wear leveling start. I don't think it's a bad idea. Just it's best to use manufacturer's secure erase utility because it's different than running an all 0's or all 1's secure erase which is just really wiping the drive.

 

nah it's extra work and i can't see myself noticing the difference tbh.