Delete data from raw ssd

[Csalesz]

I have failed ssd with sensitive data on it, which I previously recovered. However, I would like to permanently delete the data from it before sending it back to warranty. At this point I encountered a problem that the RAW drive cannot be formatted or cleaned (CNC data error). Any suggestion to overcome the situation?

[Kilrah]

You can try the "Secure erase" function either from the manufacturer's tools or that is present in some BIOSes. Can be done with blkdiscard on a linux system as well.

But those may not work depending on how the drive has failed.

[Oshino Shinobu]

Really depends what's failed on it. If the controller's dead, you're not going to be able to do much without specialised tools, or physically destroying the drive.

 

How have you tried to erase it so far? You may not be able to clear it via any tools, depending on how the drive has failed.

 

If you're unable to, you need to consider how sensitive the data actually is. If it's family photos or something, you'll be fine as there's really not much to be gained from it and the maufactuer should destory all data anyway. If it's truely sensitive data that you absolutely cannot have in someone else's hands, destory the drive and skip turning it in for warranty.

[da na]

Open up the drive and physically destroy each NAND chip.

[Applefreak]

13 minutes ago, Mel0n. said:

Open up the drive and physically destroy each NAND chip.

But that will void the warranty for sure.

[Applefreak]

56 minutes ago, Csalesz said:

I have failed ssd with sensitive data on it, which I previously recovered. However, I would like to permanently delete the data from it before sending it back to warranty. At this point I encountered a problem that the RAW drive cannot be formatted or cleaned (CNC data error). Any suggestion to overcome the situation?

If that is a regular SSD not NVME, have you tried replacing the SATA cable? Maybe the drive is not as bad as you might think, just the cable. As @Kilrah said, go into your BIOS and your should have an option to format the drive, if it's and NVME device. Flash memory is prone to degradation if exposed to the elements. Leaving storage outside in the winter will damage or sort of erase it. A freezer would probably achieve the same thing. 

If you are really really concerned about your data, keep the drive and get a new one. That is the only way you can be sure. I would assume the manufacturer opens the drive up looks at the pcb and connects it. A short self test will thell them what's going on or not. Afterwards those drives get recycled and there is where someone might see it and grab it out of a pile of garbage unless the manufacturer shreds them into tiny pieces. 

[Csalesz]

Thank you for the pieces of advice. So far, I have tried erasing with Samsung’ s magican, ccleaner and easus partition master. I am only able to access the drive when it is connected externally via usb, as windows does not boot when the drive is inserted as a secondary drive. My bios unfortunately lacks the option of formatting a drive.

[Kilrah]

Yep, seems the controller is toast.

 

You can probably comfort yourself with the fact that anyone wanting to read what's on it would face the same issues and wouldn't be able to without extensive data recovery work, which nobody would do without a known good reason to...

 

If the info is really that sensitive that it's an unacceptable risk then as mentioned give up on the warranty and destroy the drive.