SSD secure erase (not parted magic!)

[mrbucket38]

I need to wipe my SSD, but can't spend money on Parted Magic. I know that the manufacturer of the SSD sometimes provides a way to do so, but im pretty sure my SSD's manufacterer didn't do this. I have a crucial mx100, for anyone wondering. Is there a free way to fix this on windows 8.1?

 

[buzznut]

The only type of format that you should use on an SSD is a quick erase, such as the one used in the windows install routine.

Other formats will lead to performance degradation and should not be used.

 

[Dereck47]

The only type of format that you should use on an SSD is a quick erase, such as the one used in the windows install routine.

Other formats will lead to performance degradation and should not be used.

To Secure Erase a SSD is not the same as to format it.
When the Secure Erase command is sent to a SSD an electrical charge is sent to all of the cells in all of the NAND chips of the drive.
It resets any SSD to a blank, fresh-out-of-the-box condition.

After the Secure Erase you would then need to format it, or let Windows format it automatically if you are doing a fresh install.
As you stated, you should never Full format an SSD, only Quick format it.

I need to wipe my SSD, but can't spend money on Parted Magic. Is there a free way to fix this on windows 8.1?

The last free .iso for Parted Magic was version 2013.08.01. All versions after that cost money.
Search the web and torrent sites for that version or older.