[SOLVED] How to destroy data (or drive) on non readable NvME SSD before returning to Manufacturer for replacement?

[shawnc]

I have a 1yr old NvME SSD that I want to delete the data from.
However it's not readable in Windows 10.
It does not show up in Disk Manager, Win Explorer, Adata Utils, or BIOS.
It had been working intermittent but now reinstalling the drive manually is not bringing it up in system.
I don't have another computer to try it on.

So I'm basically working with a loose SSD and want to make sure the data is not accessible before returning it for warranty replacement.
It's an Adata SX8200 Pro.

I don't have any fancy lab equipment for working on electronics at all. Just a basic mechanical tool kit.
Any recommendations for that?

As a last resort, is there a component I could break, or burn with a lighter or something to make it unreadable?
I hate the thought of destroying what could be repaired by them, but don't want my data compromised and the drive is not working.
I've changed the Bios to AHCI, firmware is latest, tried other things which did not work.
It should not look like I detonated it as they would likely refuse the warranty.

Magnet's don't work to corrupt SSD unless you have a strong alternating field or something like that.
Thank You.

 

[helpstar]

if you really wanna be sure that the data won´t be recovered by a third party, don´t send it back. Just buy a new SSD.

You could drill a tiny hole in all flash memory chips to be sure. But this will void the warranty.

Which motherboard do you have? reset the BIOS by jumper and try entering the BIOS again.
Did you remove the M.2 yet and reinserted it?

 

[COLGeek]

What is the make/model of your motherboard? Your motherboard BIOS may have a "secure wipe" tool that can wipe the drive if accessible by the BIOS (not in Windows).

 

[Ralston18]

If no "secure wipe" as suggested by @COLGeek then use DBAN.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/dban/files/dban/dban-2.3.0/dban-2.3.0_i586.iso/download

 

[mdd1963]

Thought I had read DBAN was functional w/ SSDs, but, as it does not show up in the BIOS, or anything, one is not going to be able to clear it with any software tools...

If you have super-critical stuff on it (your codes to 1000 bitcoins stored somewhere?), you'd have to eat the cost of the SSD since you cannot clear it, although it is unlikely even the manufacturer is really going to do much with it other than confirm it is bad and send a replacement.

 

[USAFRet]

If no "secure wipe" as suggested by @COLGeek then use DBAN.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/dban/files/dban/dban-2.3.0/dban-2.3.0_i586.iso/download

Don't use DBAN on an SSD.

From their front page:
"It cannot detect or erase SSDs "

 

[USAFRet]

It does not show up in Disk Manager, Win Explorer, Adata Utils, or BIOS.

Then the tools available to you are limited to a hammer or drill.

Of course, that will kill the warranty along with the drive.

 

[Ralston18]

Not for SSD use - no detection or erase.

I stand corrected then - apologies.

Thanks.

 

[shawnc]

Thank You kindly for all these answers...Been away for a week.
I'll see if I can get BIOS to see it again by re-inserting drive a couple of times.