Windows 10: How to Secure Erase older Intel SSD for selling on

Hi Guys,
I have an older Intel 320 series SSD that I no longer use, so I thought I'd sell it, OK, I know I won't get a lot for it but it will be some money. I tried to Secure Erase it whilst it was in the PC as a Master drive, of course you can't, so I thought I'd 'Google' it, went to the Intel page
Three Ways To Run Low-Level Format Using Intel(R) Software Tools
and it tells you

'[table][tr][td]Note[/td] [td]Windows 10 and Windows 8*/8.1* blocks Secure Erase functionality.[/td] [/tr] [/table]
I'm running Windows 10 home on the PC and Premium on my laptop, so since they are both win 10 I ca't do that, the next 2 options that they give you mean using
Intel Data Migration Software (IDMS)- Acronis* DriveCleanser

That is no longer available, so what can I do? I really want to make sure that no one can get to the data on the drive.Many ThanksSteve

:)

 

Securely erasing old SSD - Ubuntu

To secure erase an SSD you need to use the manufactures utility
https://support.ocz.com/customer/en...i-secure-erase-my-sata-ssd-using-ssd-utility-

Although installing Linux will erase the part it is installed to

 

Securely erasing old SSD - Ubuntu

Very inexperienced with Linux and have been playing around lately with Ubuntu 17.10 successfully recovering data from a bad HDD, quite impressed by it also.

First question is. I have an old OCZ Vertex 3 120GB that has been lying around forever and want to wipe it to factory settings and install Ubuntu on it (so I don't need to run Windows side by side on my current OS drive). I'm assuming the easiest way to do this is to do the following?

• Boot Ubuntu from USB installer
• Select 'Try Ubuntu before you install it'
• Open the Terminal and
• Use the Command-line to Simple Secure Erase i.e. hdparm --security-erase PASS /dev/sdX

My second question is, if the above will work do I then need to format the entire SSD in ext4 or does the installer by default format/partition the SSD when 'Erase disk and install Ubuntu' is selected?

 

Securely erasing old SSD - Ubuntu

'Secure erase' in case of a SSD should never be done by zeroing!
Do not use ubuntu installer 'secure erase' or 'dd' on a SSD.
This is a tourture for the flash cells and massivly shortens life of the device.
One way is to use the provided tool of the manufacturer - which in most cases only works with windows.
The other way is to use hdparm under linux.
Secure Erase aka "memory cell clearing" of a SSD is done by just deleting the internal encyption key and gererating an new one so the formerly data cannot be read anymore. This is not done by the ubuntu installer!