How to create a bootable USB for securely erasing an SSD

[zupanman]

This may sound like a really dumb question but i somehow can't find the answer. I'm using the Samsung 850 Pro SSD with WIn7 on it, in a week or two ill be upgrading my hardware so i will starting with fresh windows installed. I want to securely erase my SSD using the Samsung Magician but i just can't find an option to make a bootable USB. Can anyone help me with this? I know it may sound stupid but im still kinda new to SSD drives and their way of formatting (this is my first time doing this).

 

[blazorthon]

Assuming you don't have very sensitive data, a format using the integrated tool in the windows installer should be fine.

If you want more information anyway, this may help:
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/54106648

 

[techgeek]

In Samsung Magician in the Data Management section the Secure Erase has an option for making a bootable USB. There is a large button saying Create a bootable USB drive.

 

[zupanman]

In Samsung Magician in the Data Management section the Secure Erase has an option for making a bootable USB. There is a large button saying Create a bootable USB drive.

Forgot to mention it before that i have options "secure erase", "data security" and also "firmware update" grayed out. Really don't know why. I also get a message when i start the program or scan for driver information that Magician is not properly communicating with Samsung SSD, so some features may not work corretly. Otherwise the SSD is working good, its fast for having it connecter to SATA II and AHCI is enabled.

 

[zupanman]

Assuming you don't have very sensitive data, a format using the integrated tool in the windows installer should be fine.

If you want more information anyway, this may help:
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/54106648

Was thinking about doing just that but after some research i came to conclusion that it's not the best way just to format an SSD but to securely erase it. Or am i wrong with this one?
My biggest question now is why isn't Samsung Magician working properly with my system.

 

[techgeek]

That's weird. I don't even think you need a Samsung SSD installed to make a bootable USB drive with Secure Erase on it.

Have you tried to uninstall it and re-install it?

 

[zupanman]

That's weird. I don't even think you need a Samsung SSD installed to make a bootable USB drive with Secure Erase on it.

Have you tried to uninstall it and re-install it?

Did that just now and the problem is still there. Was thinking to go with the Parted Magic but i saw it's not very competible with the Samsung SSDs. Thoughts?

 

[ArtPog]

This may sound like a really dumb question but i somehow can't find the answer. I'm using the Samsung 850 Pro SSD with WIn7 on it, in a week or two ill be upgrading my hardware so i will starting with fresh windows installed. I want to securely erase my SSD using the Samsung Magician but i just can't find an option to make a bootable USB. Can anyone help me with this? I know it may sound stupid but im still kinda new to SSD drives and their way of formatting (this is my first time doing this).

If all you want to do is fresh-install the Win 10 OS (I'm assuming it's Win 10 you plan to install - you didn't say) on your Samsung SSD, just a simple format of the SSD is all you really need by way of preparation (as blazorthon informed you). There's really no need to carry out a secure erase operation - it's simply not needed unless you're currently having some untoward issues with the SSD.

I'm unsure why you're asking about creating "a bootable USB". Can I assume you're referring to a device that will contain the setup files so that you can fresh install Win 10 on your SSD? If that's what you're referring to, see...
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
Unless you choose to format the SSD before you install the OS, you will be able to proceed with the formatting during the OS installation process.

 

[zupanman]

This may sound like a really dumb question but i somehow can't find the answer. I'm using the Samsung 850 Pro SSD with WIn7 on it, in a week or two ill be upgrading my hardware so i will starting with fresh windows installed. I want to securely erase my SSD using the Samsung Magician but i just can't find an option to make a bootable USB. Can anyone help me with this? I know it may sound stupid but im still kinda new to SSD drives and their way of formatting (this is my first time doing this).

If all you want to do is fresh-install the Win 10 OS (I'm assuming it's Win 10 you plan to install - you didn't say) on your Samsung SSD, just a simple format of the SSD is all you really need by way of preparation (as blazorthon informed you). There's really no need to carry out a secure erase operation - it's simply not needed unless you're currently having some untoward issues with the SSD.

I'm unsure why you're asking about creating "a bootable USB". Can I assume you're referring to a device that will contain the setup files so that you can fresh install Win 10 on your SSD? If that's what you're referring to, see...
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
Unless you choose to format the SSD before you install the OS, you will be able to proceed with the formatting during the OS installation process.

At the time i still have Win7 but i will probably go with the Win 10 when the new components arrive. So it's ok to just do a quick format within the Windows installation the same way as for an HDD?
About creating a bootable USB i was referring to Samsung Magician. Like i mention it before i can't make it to work properly with my SSD so i can't even chose an option to make it bootable. But if you are saying i can just do a normal format when I'll be installing fresh windows i wont even bother with Samsung Magician and securely erasing the SSD.

 

[ArtPog]

This may sound like a really dumb question but i somehow can't find the answer. I'm using the Samsung 850 Pro SSD with WIn7 on it, in a week or two ill be upgrading my hardware so i will starting with fresh windows installed. I want to securely erase my SSD using the Samsung Magician but i just can't find an option to make a bootable USB. Can anyone help me with this? I know it may sound stupid but im still kinda new to SSD drives and their way of formatting (this is my first time doing this).

If all you want to do is fresh-install the Win 10 OS (I'm assuming it's Win 10 you plan to install - you didn't say) on your Samsung SSD, just a simple format of the SSD is all you really need by way of preparation (as blazorthon informed you). There's really no need to carry out a secure erase operation - it's simply not needed unless you're currently having some untoward issues with the SSD.

I'm unsure why you're asking about creating "a bootable USB". Can I assume you're referring to a device that will contain the setup files so that you can fresh install Win 10 on your SSD? If that's what you're referring to, see...
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
Unless you choose to format the SSD before you install the OS, you will be able to proceed with the formatting during the OS installation process.

At the time i still have Win7 but i will probably go with the Win 10 when the new components arrive. So it's ok to just do a quick format within the Windows installation the same way as for an HDD?
About creating a bootable USB i was referring to Samsung Magician. Like i mention it before i can't make it to work properly with my SSD so i can't even chose an option to make it bootable. But if you are saying i can just do a normal format when I'll be installing fresh windows i wont even bother with Samsung Magician and securely erasing the SSD.

If you desire to initialize & format the SSD using your Win 7 OS, you can do that. But there's really no reason to do so prior to fresh-installing Win 10 onto the SSD as previously explained. There's really no point to utilizing the SM program in this situation as previously explained. As previously explained, just use the Windows Media Tool to format/partition the SSD during the Win 10 OS installation process.

 

[zupanman]

This may sound like a really dumb question but i somehow can't find the answer. I'm using the Samsung 850 Pro SSD with WIn7 on it, in a week or two ill be upgrading my hardware so i will starting with fresh windows installed. I want to securely erase my SSD using the Samsung Magician but i just can't find an option to make a bootable USB. Can anyone help me with this? I know it may sound stupid but im still kinda new to SSD drives and their way of formatting (this is my first time doing this).

If all you want to do is fresh-install the Win 10 OS (I'm assuming it's Win 10 you plan to install - you didn't say) on your Samsung SSD, just a simple format of the SSD is all you really need by way of preparation (as blazorthon informed you). There's really no need to carry out a secure erase operation - it's simply not needed unless you're currently having some untoward issues with the SSD.

I'm unsure why you're asking about creating "a bootable USB". Can I assume you're referring to a device that will contain the setup files so that you can fresh install Win 10 on your SSD? If that's what you're referring to, see...
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
Unless you choose to format the SSD before you install the OS, you will be able to proceed with the formatting during the OS installation process.

At the time i still have Win7 but i will probably go with the Win 10 when the new components arrive. So it's ok to just do a quick format within the Windows installation the same way as for an HDD?
About creating a bootable USB i was referring to Samsung Magician. Like i mention it before i can't make it to work properly with my SSD so i can't even chose an option to make it bootable. But if you are saying i can just do a normal format when I'll be installing fresh windows i wont even bother with Samsung Magician and securely erasing the SSD.

If you desire to initialize & format the SSD using your Win 7 OS, you can do that. But there's really no reason to do so prior to fresh-installing Win 10 onto the SSD as previously explained. There's really no point to utilizing the SM program in this situation as previously explained. As previously explained, just use the Windows Media Tool to format/partition the SSD during the Win 10 OS installation process.

Thank you very much for your explanation. One last question for the future. In which case would you recommend the secure erase? Only when you suspect there is something wrong with the SSD?

 

[ArtPog]

Yes, that's pretty much the case. Naturally as a first step you'll utilize the Samsung Magician program as a troubleshooting guide. I would suggest you perform a Google search for detailed info on "secure erase ssd"; you'll find a good deal of useful information on the subject.