Show us your SSD performance

[essenbe]

I may be wrong but I believe the iastor driver is in the IRST package. It should be on your motherboard site or can be downloaded from Intel. (Intel Rapid Storage).

 

[Hopalong X]

Hopalong, I had the same problem. That's why I use parted Magic. But, with the toolbox I had to unplug the power cable to the SSD with the toolbox open. Then restart the computer, open the toolbox, then with the toolbox open plug the power cable back in, and click refresh. That was the only way I could get it to work. YMMV. The Intel website says it works much better with the Intel ahci driver installed, iastor. My SSD seems to work better with the msahci driver. It tests better with iastor but works better with msahci. Again, YMMV.

I just tried this. Last night when I tried it I had forgotten to go back to AHCI. Too tired. LOL

I found a driver at Intel but it said it was for INTEL moboards. Intel Autodetect says I have the right drivers.

I'm going to get my coffee and burn a Pmagic disk next.

Thanks Essenbe.
Mike

I could have had the system installed with all the time wasted trying to Secure Erase.

 

[essenbe]

I would suggest re reading the OCZ instructions again. Also, to make it easier unplug the SSD before booting into the CD. After it has completely loaded replug the SSD in. Also if you get a message during the procedd about enhanced secure erase, answer no. the only difference is enhanced is a 'military grade' SE. Some people say it could remove the firmware also, although I find that doubtful.

 

[Hopalong X]

Okay.

 

[essenbe]

Does OK mean you did it?

 

[Hopalong X]

Okay I was following your posted directions. Reread OCZ page and burn disk etc.

Burned disk. Unplugged SSD and completely loaded Parted Magic disk. Replugged SSD. Went to Start>Tools> erase per instructions at OCZ and with the software.
Found same directions on the disk same as OCZ. Easy to follow.

Still locked. "Cannot erase. Locked by Bios." is what was stated.

Closed erase window, not Pmagic, plugged and unplugged SSD same message Locked.

 

[essenbe]

Don't know what to say. That has never happened to me. Try one more time. Plug back in at the start screen then go to HD erase. That's the only suggestion I have. Shut down first, unplug then boot into disk.

 

[Hopalong X]

Okay, thanks.

 

[essenbe]

Did you delete the partition before trying? I think that has to be done.

 

[pparks1]

Hopalong X:

when I first got my Intel X25 I remember having a very similar issue. For me, I had to set my BIOS to IDE mode (like you have tried) and I also had to enable a feature in the BIOS called "Legacy Mode" for IDE. That got me to a point, where I could use the Secure Erase app to blank out the drive.

At work, when I recently tried to do the same thing with an intel 320 series, I eventually connected the drive to another computer using an eSATA external dock and was able to run the secure erase on it. I wasn't able to do it through USB 2.0 from that same dock however.

It seems these things can really be a pain to secure erase. Wish it were easier.

 

[essenbe]

I'm just wondering if it may have something to do with the 320's encription feature.

 

[mbjbdc]

thought i would add mine ocz vertex3 120gb

 

[essenbe]

thought i would add mine ocz vertex3 120gb

Good numbers. I'm sure you like that. And welcome to sevenforums.

 

[Hopalong X]

Essenbe
I retried Pmagic same problem. Locked.

pparks
I just went thru Bios. No legacy mode.


Essenbe and others

This program Best Free Partition Manager Freeware for Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP 32 bit & 64 bit. MiniTool Free Partition Manager Software Home Edition. will wipe the drive per Snip but I'm not sure it is the same as Secure erase.

Any ideas whether to proceed?
It says it will wipe the drive anyway.

 

[essenbe]

I don't know anything about it. But, fill sectors with zeros is the same as diskpart 'clean all', which I don't do with mine.

I assume you are running the toolbox from your original win 7 HD. Have you gone to disk management and deleted the partition on the SSD?

 

[Hopalong X]

Partition was deleted yesterday. First thing I did.

I'm running from the HDD now and have been since removing the partition. AHCI mode.

 

[essenbe]

I'm Thinking.... do you have a password in bios? Also, are you familar with linux?

 

[Hopalong X]

I don't know anything about it. But, fill sectors with zeros is the same as diskpart 'clean all', which I don't do with mine.

According to this PMagic writes "0"
"Internal Secure Erase writes zeroes to entire data area."
It is not the military wipe which is 1 and 0 with multiple passes.
http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/f...Point-and-Click-Method&highlight=parted+magic

 

[Hopalong X]

No password in Bios. Two places for password marked "NONE". Admin and User or similar terminology. You use it to lock the Bios totally or partially. Like Windows to keep others from changing Bios settings. No other passwords.
There were no submenus for passwords etc. for any of the hard drives or SSD.
Evidently Pmagic detects the SSD Secure Lock firmware as a Bios lock.

What is a Linux?
Just the boot CD's such as used for Macrium imaging. That is all.

 

[Hopalong X]

The only thing I'm worried about using the mini tool is if it will wipe the firmware. That would not be good.