Using secure erase on an SSD with Windows 10 loaded

We likely have a virus on our computer. The OS is on the SSD. I would like to use Samsung Magician do secure erase the SSD. Is this necessary or can I reinstall Windows 10 and have the Windows 10 CD format the SSD.

I read somewhere that formatting a SSD can damage it.

What is the best way to go about this?

 

when doing a clean install for usb stick or dvd select custom install and use Win10 to delete the infected partition, and then create a new partition, or windows will do it for you to maximum size.

http://www.windowscentral.com/how-do-clean-installation-windows-10

I have used secure erase a few times, but it`s only needed for sensitive information.

John.

 

Will doing this wipe out the virus? Is doing a secure erase not necessary?

Does creating a new partition damage the SSD?

When formatting doe it Defrag the drive which I read can shorten its life.

 

No deleting the partition will not damage the ssd it`s purely deletes the software/partition, no hardware is affected, it`s a simple option offered during the windows install, once the partition is deleted, all the file location table is wiped, so the virus software is powerless, when you create a new partition any new software will overwrite your old data including the virus.

You can use secure erase in Samsung magician, it just erase one cycle from every memory location on your ssd, but your ssd can/might lock-up meaning you will need to pull your battery, and re-boot your computer this will not cause any damage, normally after secure erase you can just shutdown or restart your computer.

EDIT: A quick format, just deletes the FAT (file allocation table) the data is still on the ssd, the index is just wiped, a full format deletes all the data on the entire partition and can take a lot longer.

Do not defrag your ssd it is not needed, and can reduce the ssd life slightly.

John.

 

Find and download "parted magic" ( https://partedmagic.com).

Make bootable cd or USB. It has every tool needed to secure erase a ssd or mechanical HD properly. Also has great partition and clone tools.

 

Formatting an SSD will not damage it.
Use microsoft's Windows 10 tool to load it on a USB storage device.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

1. Put the USB into your system and restart your computer.

2. Enter the boot menu as soon as the computer begins to boot.

3. Boot from your USB device

4. Click install now and click through the various options.

5. Once you get to the option to "upgrade" or "Custom", click on Custom.

6. At the screen where it asks you to choose which drive to install Windows on, check the SIZE of your storage devices. your SSD device probably has a different total storage than your other devices. Remember your SSD's drive NUMBER, this will be important in the next step.

7. At the screen where it asks you to choose which drive to install Windows on, press Shift+F10 and a DOS window should open

type the following: diskpart
[hit ENTER key]
type the following: list disk
[hit ENTER]
type the following: sel disk # (replace " # " with the correct drive number for your SSD!)
[hit ENTER]
type the following: clean
[hit ENTER]

close the DOS window

6. Refresh your storage device list. Your drive should say "unallocated", select the unallocated drive and click next to reinstal lWindows.

 

Thank you.

When formatting the hard drive I have the option of a quick format or full format. Will a quick format be sufficient to remove any possible virus?

 

Full format is the best way to go about this situation.

 

Actually if you do a Secure erase on a SSD that will zero all data, including over provisioning, and the virus is a goner.