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Secure Erase Windows program

fullvietFX

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Sep 1, 2004
Messages
2,015
Do any exist? I have a Vertex 2 I want to secure erase that's not my boot drive. I want a program that can do it within Windows. Intel Toolbox only works for Intel drives. Do you guys know of any? All the ones I know you have to make a bootable CD or something which is what I want to avoid.
 
Heidi Eraser can wipe individual files, directories or drives.

No good for restoring the performance of an ssd. secure erase is an SATA command issued to the drive firmware to erase. On an SSD this zaps the mapping table resetting all blocks to unused.
 
All the ones I know you have to make a bootable CD or something which is what I want to avoid.
AFAIK the computer must be in DOS mode for a Secure Erase which is the reason for bootable disks.

You never burnt a bootable disk before?

AAR, Parted Magic has, by far, the easiest version to use of Secure Erase.

Here's a great little tutorial on how to use it after you have DL'd and burnt an ISO from here.
 
AFAIK the computer must be in DOS mode for a Secure Erase which is the reason for bootable disks.

Even if the drive is not your boot drive? I have but for some reason it just won't work on my new motherboard. When I had my P5Q Deluxe the Vertex 2 would show up in the DOS mode but with my new motherboard it never shows up.
 
Even if the drive is not your boot drive?
AFAIK yes.

When I had my P5Q Deluxe the Vertex 2 would show up in the DOS mode but with my new motherboard it never shows up.
I dunno what to tell ya.

Burn the disk and let the program to it's job but if I were you, I'd only have the HD I wanted to erase connected at the time......just to avoid confusion.
 
It won't work with Intel RST. :(

That MAY be only for the newer SATA III drives. Try to find a copy of the vr 2.37 OCZ toolbox, that may work for your SATA II vertex 2. 2.37 worked fine to secure erase and update firmware on my Agility 2 running as the non-boot drive from Win 7.

Sam
 
Do any exist? I have a Vertex 2 I want to secure erase that's not my boot drive. I want a program that can do it within Windows. Intel Toolbox only works for Intel drives. Do you guys know of any? All the ones I know you have to make a bootable CD or something which is what I want to avoid.
Intel Toolbox doesnt work for all, even on intel drives, it requieres to unplug a drive that hasnt been secure ejected.... in my case that leads to the only blue screens that win7 has given me, the main reason for this operation is to unlock the drive that is protected, but never worked for me. The best way is to do it via linux, you can do a bootable USB and do it from there, not so hard google it.

No good for restoring the performance of an ssd. secure erase is an SATA command issued to the drive firmware to erase. On an SSD this zaps the mapping table resetting all blocks to unused.
Dont worry too much about it, if you are installing an OS that will support trim it will regain its speed, i have done multiple formats on my intel ssds, and still working close as new.
 
I can send ata security erase commands from my normal install of linux to any drive that currently isn't in use. it definitely does not require dos mode or a boot cd to do so, I think it's a lack of development for the tool in windows, or something in windows itself that would prevent you from sending the commands to the drive.
 
I can send ata security erase commands from my normal install of linux to any drive that currently isn't in use.
I know nothing about linux and can only give advice about Windows systems.

If Windows requires DOS to give a Secure Erase command that's all I know........and I'm pretty sure it does.

However, I'll be the FIRST to admit, I'm no Guru about anything! :)
 
I have done exactly what the OP is asking on my Vertex 2 240GB, in Windows, with the OCZ toolbox, on an ICH10R controller. Don't know about what drivers I had, and why not just uninstall them ?
 
Do any exist? I have a Vertex 2 I want to secure erase that's not my boot drive. I want a program that can do it within Windows. Intel Toolbox only works for Intel drives. Do you guys know of any? All the ones I know you have to make a bootable CD or something which is what I want to avoid.

CCleaner has one in it's "Tools" section.
 
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