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How To Secure Erase Corsair SSDs With Parted Magic


Yellowbeard

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Hi yellowbeard

I download pdf and try secure erase. ( my forozen sdd - Nova 128 )

I select internal secure erase but

it say to me hdd is forozen (on bios) this is not enable, it can be external erase.

I click okey. When the process finish I restart my computer. i cant post bios screen i am waiting long time but cant open bois.

When i remove ssd in computer it can open.

I try usb connection for ssd but parted magic say no hdd drive found.

Help me plss...

What can i do...

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  • Corsair Employee
Leave it running at the desktop but exit the erase utility then unplug the power to the drive then unplug the data cable for about one min the plug the data back in and then the power and run the app again it should be unlocked and allow the secure erase.
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Leave it running at the desktop but exit the erase utility then unplug the power to the drive then unplug the data cable for about one min the plug the data back in and then the power and run the app again it should be unlocked and allow the secure erase.

 

This worked great.:D:

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Hi guys

I have laptop & desktop machines.

I try this with both of that machines.

1) Unplug data & power cable (No hdd in machines)

2) Waiting min 10 minutes

3) Insert partedmagic CD and start computer

4) Plug data & power cable of SSD (for laptop direct put in)

5) I select Internal: Security erase command.. and continue

6) Ata Security erase notice is: This rutine can only disk supporting the security mode feature set.

7) Unplug SSD power & data cable and waiting 10 minutes

8) Re try security erase but same error occour

 

 

If Plug SDD in laptop and start machine. I m waiting long time on bios secreen and than starting system with partedmagic. But parted magic say same notice. This rutine can only disk supporting the securtiy mode feature set.

 

If I press F2 for enter bios. I never enter bios screen when SSD pluged.

 

What can i do…

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  • Corsair Employee

You are doing a few steps that are not needed and may be conflicting with the drive function.

But if that continues to happen I would suggest trying on another system.

 

With only the SSD drive connected boot the system with the Parted Magic CD then run the secure erase. If you get the error that the drive is locked exit the erase utility but still at the Parted magic desktop unplug the drive power and then the data cable for about 30 sec to one min then connect the data cable then the power and run the secure erase.

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I have them in Raid0 (hoppfully after upcomeing fw) and thats why this is every 6month job for me.

 

My tip and maybe other that have read, the older stick!

1 take away that power cable from SSD's

2 boot it from that cd

3 insert those power cables to SSD's in that first blue screen, (1 pic in Corsair guide) where you chose "default"..

4 no worry of frozen ssd's...

 

 

Edit: ok, Asciiman had something like this too in maind but i havent find a problem with HDD, so i think its only there that you dont eraser them in misstake!

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We have prepared a short guide with pictures for using Parted Magic to secure erase your SSD.

 

Cheers! ::pirate::

 

LINK

 

Perhaps you could amend your guide with more specific instructions for laptop owners?

 

I put my Nova V128GB into an external USB enclosure and booted my laptop from a Parted Magic USB stick. It would not let me erase the drive. It stated that it was "frozen". I don't have access to a desktop machine to put it in, if that is what you would suggest. I first tried it with the drive in the laptop and got same results.

 

Powering down for a while and rebooting and reconnecting did nothing to improve the situation. Maybe this simply can't be done with the Indilinx Controller. I have to say I'm pretty disappointed in Corsair for not providing a software tool and instructions for accomplishing this.

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  • Corsair Employee

raydabruce

I am sorry but you will need to use a desktop system to do this procedure it would be almost impossible to be able to Hot swap a drive in an external enclosure. To my knowledge there is no other way.

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raydabruce

I am sorry but you will need to use a desktop system to do this procedure it would be almost impossible to be able to Hot swap a drive in an external enclosure. To my knowledge there is no other way.

 

Okay then. Thanks for the info.

 

EDIT: I am happy to report that RAM GUY is not correct in the quote above. Following the directions I found HERE I was able to UNFREEZE my SSD and secure-erase it. Scroll UP from that post to see how it's done. You must boot from a Linux LiveCD (I used Ubuntu 10.10). Open a terminal and follow the directions listed by Stamatisx.

 

I did this with the SSD in the laptop, booting from a USB flash drive. I closed the lid just long enough for the laptop to go into sleep mode and then opened it back up and ran the "hdparm -I /dev/sda" and the drive was no longer frozen.

 

The actual time it took to do the secure-erase was only about 7 seconds! You don't want to do this very often because it impacts the overall lifespan of your SSD. My estimated drive life went from 99% to 98% after the erase. So, save this for when you really need to do it.

 

VOILA!

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I try plug/unplug method in 3 desktop machines. but it dont work. When enter bios screen (F2 or delete) i see no hdd in machine. But it pluged. (Nova V128GB)

for Acer aspire 8943g (hm55 chipset) i never enter bios screen if ssd pluged.

 

for ubuntu

hdparm -I /dev/sda ==> HDIO_DRIVE_CMD(identify) filed: Invalid Exchange ???

I dont tyr sleep method yet

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I try plug/unplug method in 3 desktop machines. but it dont work. When enter bios screen (F2 or delete) i see no hdd in machine. But it pluged. (Nova V128GB)

for Acer aspire 8943g (hm55 chipset) i never enter bios screen if ssd pluged.

 

for ubuntu

hdparm -I /dev/sda ==> HDIO_DRIVE_CMD(identify) filed: Invalid Exchange ???

I dont tyr sleep method yet

 

asciiman: You have to boot your laptop externally... from a CD or, as I did, from a USB flash drive. You can't perform any disk operations on a mounted drive or filesystem in Linux.

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  • Corsair Employee
If that works for you then by all means, but it may not work every time, The issue is caused by the MB or system BIOS at POST it will by default lock the drive for security reasons and this can happen coming from suspend as well.
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When SSD pluged

a) I cant enter bios screen in my laptop. (acer aspire 8943G)

b) If enter bios screen i see all slots are empty. (with desktop or other laptop)

c) If start pc with partedmagic cd (except my laptop because it cant post bios screen).

Ata Security erase notice is: This rutine can only disk supporting the security mode feature set.

d) I start SmartControl for checking ssd. I cant found any device.

 

I try this yesterday.

a) I set a password for my standard hdd (Seagate 500gb)

b) Delete password for frozen mode.

c) Start pc with partedmagic.

d) Start erase utility and select internal erase and seagete hdd. (only this disk in pc)

e) Next, Next, In Last step this is not enable, it can be external erase.

f) Unplug Seagete and plug SSD - Nova

g) Press Ok

h) I take screen captures.

Note: Toshiba is my usb. I plug it when taking screen shot.

 

 

 

 

http://picturedumper.com/data/thumbs/2010/11/03/e0c086f7bb78.thumb.png http://picturedumper.com/data/thumbs/2010/11/03/3bf4eb71e9ee.thumb.png http://picturedumper.com/data/thumbs/2010/11/03/c09b3b9f97e0.thumb.png http://picturedumper.com/data/thumbs/2010/11/03/fdbb3ed60ca5.thumb.png http://picturedumper.com/data/thumbs/2010/11/03/3974333d7f24.thumb.png http://picturedumper.com/data/thumbs/2010/11/03/41e8b53faf04.thumb.png http://picturedumper.com/data/thumbs/2010/11/03/4fd5c19ee456.thumb.png http://picturedumper.com/data/thumbs/2010/11/03/94df0c6aba8d.thumb.png http://picturedumper.com/data/thumbs/2010/11/03/efaee7364d65.thumb.png http://picturedumper.com/data/thumbs/2010/11/03/8acdd214782a.thumb.png http://picturedumper.com/data/thumbs/2010/11/03/e8981650c93e.thumb.png

 

Uploaded with PictureDumper.com

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Hi,

 

when I follow this manual to secure erase my Corsair Force F120 with Parted Magic, the erase is done within only a few seconds. Are afterwards really all data on the SSD securely erased and cannot be restored (e.g. if I want to sell my SSD or send in the SSD for RMA?

 

Best,

Max

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Hi,

 

when I follow this manual to secure erase my Corsair Force F120 with Parted Magic, the erase is done within only a few seconds. Are afterwards really all data on the SSD securely erased and cannot be restored (e.g. if I want to sell my SSD or send in the SSD for RMA?

 

Best,

Max

 

Yes it is very fast and it will securely erase your drive.

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We really aren't Parted Magic experts. I think they have a forum and some support options. You may want to check with them. Also, GParted is another option if Parted Magic is not working for you.

 

sir, i try gparted. PartitionMagic & Gparted cant find my SSD. English is not my natural language and i dont have technical information and google.translate is too bad. When i read a page. I understand some lines. This is really difficult for me.

 

Do you have Nova SSD. Pls do this set status frozen and apply external erase in laptop.

I need help.

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