2 Easy Ways to Perform SanDisk SSD Sanitize in Windows

Before you discard, give away or sell your SanDisk SSD, it’s necessary to erase all your data on the SSD. How to erase your data securely and completely? You may have heard of the tool SanDisk SSD Dashboard. However, it has reached its end of support life cycle.

Now you are suggested to use Western Digital Dashboard or a powerful SSD sanitize tool for all branded SSDs. Learn how to perform SanDisk SSD sanitization step by step below.

How to sanitize a SanDisk SSD with Western Digital Dashboard

First, connect the SanDisk SSD to your computer and make sure it is recognized. Then, download Western Digital Dashboard (the replacement of SanDisk SSD Dashboard) and install it. Next, follow the guidance below:

If the SanDisk SSD is a non-system drive

1. Open WD Dashboard. At the top of the Dashboard, click Select drive to select the SanDisk SSD you want to erase.

Tip: If the SSD to be deleted is not shown in the list, click the Refresh icon next to the Select drive drop-down menu to scan for the SSD.

2. Click the Tools tab and select Erase Drive from the left panel. Then, click Erase Now next to Sanitize to delete all user data on the SanDisk SSD. The drive will become unformatted after erasing.

If the SanDisk SSD is a system drive

1. Insert a formatted USB drive and backup any existing data on the USB drive.

2. Run WD Dashboard. Click Tools > Erase Drive.

3. Under the title “Create a bootable USB drive to perform Sanitize”, click the drop-down list to select the USB drive. Then click Create USB Drive.

4. Shut down your computer and reboot it from the bootable USB to perform SanDisk SSD Sanitize.

Powerful SSD sanitize tool for all branded SSDs

Besides Western Digital Dashboard, there is another tool that can help you with SanDisk sanitize. It is AOMEI Backupper Professional. You can benefit a lot from its following features:

Don’t hesitate to download this remarkable SSD sanitize tool. Whether your SanDisk SSD is a boot drive or not, the wiping steps are the same. Let’s get started.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Backupper. Click Tools and choose Disk Wipe.

Step 2. On the Wiping Type page, choose Wipe Disk and click Next.

Step 3. Select the SanDisk SSD that needs to be wiped and click Next.

Step 4. (Optional) If the SanDisk SSD contains OS, you will be prompted the operation needs to be executed in reboot mode. Click OK to confirm.

Step 5. On the Wiping Method page, choose one method based on your need and click Start to proceed. There are four methods available:

• Fill sectors with Zero (Safe, Quick)
• Fill sectors with random data (Safe, Quick)
• DoD 5220.22-M (Very Safe, Slow)
• Gutmann (35 passes, Very Safe, Very Slow)

Bonus: SanDisk SSD Sanitize vs Secure Erase

As for removing data on a WD or SanDisk SSD, there are two options available in Western Digital Dashboard: Sanitize and Secure Erase. Both of them can permanently destroy all user data on the SSD. What’s the difference between them?

• Sanitize: Deletes the mapping table and erases all blocks that have been written to on the selected SSD. So, it’s a slower “erase” option than the Secure Erase function.
• Secure Erase: Deletes the mapping table on the selected SSD, but it does not erase all blocks that have been written to. As a result, it works more quickly than the Sanitize function.

Troubleshoot: What if the SSD sanitization process fails?

Here are some common problems you might encounter during the SSD sanitization process and how to troubleshoot them:

1. Sanitization Process Fails or Freezes

If the sanitization process starts but fails midway, or the tool freezes before completion, try the following solutions:

• Check for Firmware Updates: Ensure your SSD’s firmware is up-to-date. You can check for updates using the SanDisk SSD Toolbox or the manufacturer’s website.
• Use a Different Tool: Try a different SSD sanitization tool (e.g., Parted Magic or DBAN) to see if the issue persists.
• Ensure Stable Power Supply: Use a reliable power source, especially if using a laptop, to avoid interruption during the process.

2. Drive Not Recognized by Sanitization Tool

If the SSD is not detected by the SSD sanitization software or is shown as "not connected," use the following steps to fix it:

• Check Connections: Ensure that the SSD is properly connected to the computer. For internal SSDs, check the SATA cable or use another USB port for external drives.
• Update Drivers: In Device Manager, locate the SSD under "Disk Drives," right-click, and select Update Driver.
• Disable Encryption: If the drive is encrypted, disable BitLocker or any other encryption tool that might be in use.

3. Sanitization Takes Too Long

If the sanitization process is taking much longer than expected, here's what you can do:

• Be Patient: Larger drives naturally take longer to sanitize. If you're erasing a large SSD, plan for it to take several hours.
• Free Up Space: If the drive is near full capacity, consider reducing the amount of data on it before beginning the sanitization process.

Verdict

To run SanDisk SSD Sanitize, there are two wiping tools you can turn to: Western Digital Dashboard and AOMEI Backupper. When you want to permanently delete data on a boot drive, WD Dashboard requires you to create a bootable USB before running the Sanitize operation. However, a bootable USB drive can be omitted if you use AOMEI Backupper.

Actually, AOMEI Backupper is more than a disk wiper. There are many other wonderful features embedded in this software, such as backup, restore, sync and clone. You can use it create continuous data protection for your computer and clone SSD to new SSD, etc. Why not give it a shot?