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SSD secure erase
Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 1:58 pm
by VNvnVN
Hi, im new user in this forum.. and i have one question..
my friend give me lenovo (intel) ssd 520. this ssd is locked with password.
password is unknown and data in ssd is irrelevant. I just want erase all ssd an remove password.
How i cant do it? only with lenovo notebook?
Re: SSD secure erase
Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 2:17 pm
by BillMorrow
ok, let me sort this out..
i detect that you do not have a thinkpad..? am i right..?
if true then you will need an appropriate thinkpad model..
AND, more importantly, you'll not be able to do anything with that SSD unless you DO have the password.. thats the whole rationale of those pesky little password things..
welcome to the forum and you might try a thinkpad as its a far better computer than most anything else out there..
Re: SSD secure erase
Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2013 2:38 am
by VNvnVN
yes. i have lenovo thinkpad x230i model.
>> AND, more importantly, you'll not be able to do anything with that SSD unless you DO have the password.. thats the >> whole rationale of those pesky little password things..
whyyy
if i dont want restore data....
Re: SSD secure erase
Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2013 7:15 am
by Neil
Depends on the type of password set on the SSD. Is it a HDD password set by the machine BIOS? Or are we talking about a Windows Log-in password? If it's the HDD password, was it set with a ThinkPad, or some other brand of laptop? If it's a Windows password, then yes, erase the entire drive and re-install the OS of your choice.
Re: SSD secure erase
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2013 7:52 am
by VNvnVN
type of password set on the SSD set by the machine BIOS
the HDD password, was it set with a ThinkPad.
Re: SSD secure erase
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2013 9:05 am
by Neil
OK then...a secure erase (zero fill) of the drive is not possible because you won't be able to boot he machine with the drive installed without first entering the password. Only way to remove the password is to enter the password at the prompt and change the password in the BIOS settings to "blank". Of course, you can't enter the BIOS with the drive installed without knowing the original password.
There are forensic labs with the necessary equipment to recover the password, but the cost of the service is more than the cost of a new drive, so if you are not interested in salvaging data, it's not worth the cost.
Without the original password, this drive is a paper weight. That's probably why the friend just gave it to you...it has no value.
Re: SSD secure erase
Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 10:13 am
by VNvnVN
thanks.. i think ... need new ssd..