Best Crucial SSD Secure Erase Tool – Data Unrecoverable

You can grab the most secure way to permanently erase a Crucial SSD and make the data never to be recovered. Continue reading for more details.

Clytze

By Clytze Updated on December 16, 2022

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Scenario

 

How to secure erase a Crucial SSD?

Hello all, I want to secure erase a Crucial M4 128GB SSD. I have another SSD, which is my primary. Another Crucial, but a much newer 512GB model. It is the M4 that I want to secure erase as I want to sell it. Meaning the data must not be retrievable. I have Crucial’s own Storage Executive installed, which has an option called “Sanitize Drive”. I don't even know if “Sanitize Drive” is secure erase or not. How do I securely erase the entire SSD so that the data is not recoverable ever? Thank you.

- Question from Linus Tech Tips

Why need to secure erase a Crucial SSD?

Securely erase a Crucial SSD can restore it to factory settings and isolate bad sectors, thereby improving read/write speeds and boosting SSD performance. You may want to implement this task in the following situations:

✎ You may want to erase the SSD to protect your information from being compromised or misused. One of the things you need to do to prepare your SSD before reselling it is to erase all the data on it, which will prevent someone from accessing your sensitive files and avoid data leakage.

✎ You may want to have your computer restored to factory settings while completely wiping the SSD for reuse. After that, you can install or update your operating system.

✎ Eliminate viruses or malware from your SSD. If your SSD is infected with a virus or malware, securely wiping the SSD can effectively restore it to a healthy state of use.

Does Crucial SSD come with an erase tool?

Crucial Storage Executive is an SSD software offered by Crucial to manage its performance. The Storage Executive tool offers a Sanitize Drive function, which will erase an SSD’s contents. 

Sanitize Drive

Notes:
◆ This operation removes all data, including partitions, from the targeted drive. This will leave the drive in a state requiring reinitialization for further use. This process will force a reboot of your system to complete so ensure you are prepared before allowing the reboot to continue.
◆ This operation is not available for encrypted drives (those with TCG-enabled/password-protected) and only runs on systems in AHCI mode. In addition, you should unmount the drive before proceeding.

However, the utility is a Windows application so a working Windows OS must be available, a system with multiple storage controllers must be used, and the storage controller must be supported. Obviously, these are all severe limitations.

  • OS compatibility. The Storage Executive software is for Microsoft Windows 7, 8, 10, 11 systems with 64-bit.
  • Drive compatibility. It supports Crucial X8, X6, P-series, MX-series, BX-series, M550, and M500 SSDs but still some SSDs are not included, like Crucial M4 in the user case above.

Moreover, some users who have met the requirements for using this tool still report that the “Sanitize operation is not available”. In this case, you need another option to erase the Crucial SSD.

Sanitize Not Available

Most secure way to secure erase SSD on Windows 11/10/8/7

If you fail to use the Crucial Storage Executive software with restrictions, then this is when you can use third-party software to perform Crucial SSD secure erase. AOMEI Backupper Professional can be your reliable assistant. It is an SSD eraser designed for all Windows PCs including Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP, and provides you with many practical features, including:

✦ You can choose to wipe an entire disk, a selected partition, wipe free space on Windows 11, or unallocated space using this software to meet your various needs.
✦ It allows you to erase USB drives, hard disks (HDD/SSD), and SD cards. With no brand restriction, all brands of disks are supported, including Crucial, WD, Samsung and Seagate, etc.
✦ It offers 4 wiping methods including Fill sectors with Zero, Fill sectors with random data, DoD 52220.22-M, and Gutmann to meet your different needs.

Now, here is the stepwise guide for you to secure erase Crucial SSD like Crucial mx500 with AOMEI Backupper Professional.

💥 Warm tip: If you have any important files on this SSD, please create SSD backup image in advance, for the data cannot be recovered after erasing the SSD.

Step 1. Download AOMEI Backupper Professional, install, and launch it. Then click Tools > Disk Wipe.

Download DemoWin11/10/8.1/8/7/XP
Secure Download

Disk Wipe

Step 2. Select Wipe disk to delete all partitions and erase all sectors on the disk and click Next.

Choose Wipe Disk

Step 3Select the Crucial SSD you want to wipe and click Next to continue.

Choose Disk

Step 4. On the Wiping Method page, choose Fill sectors with Zero. Then click Start to begin the zero filling process.

Start Wipe

Step 5. You will then be taken to the erase process page. If you want to stop the process, you can click Cancel in the right corner. When the operation is complete, click Finish.

Finish

Helpful tips:
👉 This function does not support wiping dynamic disks.
👉 If you want to erase the current system disk or the C drive where Windows is installed, the software will reboot to WinPE to perform the operation. You will not be able to enter the system after completion.

Conclusion

That’s all for making Crucial SSD secure erase data with the best secure way provided in the above contents. With AOMEI Backupper, you can completely wipe the disks with up to 35 passes and make the data not be able to retrievable.

Except for the disk wipe function, it also integrates with backup, restore, clone, sync features and other powerful tools. You can clone SSD to another SSD with the help of its disk clone feature.

Clytze
Clytze · Editor
Clytze, an editor at AOMEI Technology, is passionate about safeguarding your digital world. She dedicates her expertise to empower users like you in data security and recovery. She firmly believes that everyone should have the tools and knowledge to protect their digital assets through computer backup, seamless disk cloning, and efficient file synchronization. Clytze is your trusted guide on the journey to data safety.