Zeroing an SSD for Clean Install

[Call of Daddy - Modern Dadfare]

Hi guys, I'm re installing windows on my main desktop. It may had some malware on it at some point. I removed it all, but as long as I'm doing a clean install, I wanted to make sure it was all completely gone. I would usually Zero my HDD after any infection, but this is my first SSD so I'm a bit unsure what the protocol is for securely wiping the drive.

tl;dr [HDD->Zero] = [SSD -> ?]

 

[i7Baby]

If you re-install Windows, it will wipe everything from it.

 

[smorizio]

intel and samsung have free tools to wipe there ssd. on ssd it called secure erase and there should be a few 3 party programs out there to do it for you.

 

[Call of Daddy - Modern Dadfare]

intel and samsung have free tools to wipe there ssd. on ssd it called secure erase and there should be a few 3 party programs out there to do it for you.

Yea its a Samsung 840 Evo. Is the software on the SSD itself, or do I have to put it on a USB

 

[Call of Daddy - Modern Dadfare]

If you re-install Windows, it will wipe everything from it.

I've heard of malware coming back after only secure-wiping on a windows install. I'm looking for something a bit stronger I think.

 

[gilbadon]

Wiping an SSD once is okay. But do not do it often. The more times you write/read doing things like wiping and de-fragmenting reduces lifespan.

 

[smorizio]

plug the ssd into another pc and run the tool it part of samsung ssd software tools.

 

[Call of Daddy - Modern Dadfare]

intel and samsung have free tools to wipe there ssd. on ssd it called secure erase and there should be a few 3 party programs out there to do it for you.

So I did this yesterday. I'll write it out here in case someone comes across this thread with the same problem.

There is a thing in Magician (Samsungs SSD Software) that permanently deletes everything from the drive. It is called "Secure Erase" it's one of the options on the sidebar. You go to it, put a USB in and it writes a bootable ISO to the USB. Then change around your boot settings to boot into the "Secure Erase" iso on the USB and start the process. But if yours is anything like mine it will have this popup window saying to disconnect the power from your SSD and restart the program. The name of the program that you type in after plugging the power back in is " SEGUI0.exe " very important here, that's a ZERO on the end. I must have put it in a million different ways getting it wrong.

And you're done, everything should be completely gone, same effect of zeroing a normal HDD.