Don't know how to securely delete files on SSD in Windows 10 to prevent a data breach caused by reselling or giving away the SSD? In this article, you can learn the most reliable ways to settle this task without effort.
How to permanently delete files from SSD on Windows 10？
Hi all. I am about to sell my ASUS laptop to a friend so I plan to delete my personal data and reset the OS to factory settings. I don't know the maker of the SSD. There is nothing really secret and I completely trusted my buyer. I have been searching for a soft that just erases the data that I trashed but I am at a loss to find the right one. Any clue about what I should do?
- Question from DPreview
When you try to clean your SSD, you delete everything on the SSD to protect your data from being stolen or leaked. Deleting files from an SSD doesn't mean it's completely deleted, which is just loses the original path that led to it. Recovering deleted files on SSD is not a difficult task for those who have the expertise to do so. But what is a safer way to secure erase SSD in Windows 10?
That could be a wipe. When you do a wipe (also called a secure erase), you are telling the operating system to not only update its file records, but also immediately overwrite the disk space with either zeros or random data, making it much harder to recover anything. This is more secure that a simple deletion.
Now, you may be wondering how to permanently delete files from SSD. Luckily, you will get the best solution from this article to securely finish this task. Let’s continue reading for more details.
The following content will present 2 reliable ways for you to securely delete files on SSD. One is to use the tools that come with some SSD brand manufacturers, and the other is to utilize the best third-party disk wiping tool. You can choose each of them according to your demands.
Most SSD manufacturers offer utilities with their SSDs. These tools usually offer a secure erase feature that can help you securely delete files from the SSD and make them unrecoverable. Here is an example of Samsung Magician Secure Erase to wipe a Samsung SSD. You can follow the steps provided below to permanently make the files unable to recover.
Preparation:
When you use the Samsung Magician Secure Erase function to erase SSD data, you need to create a bootable USB and then enter the WinPE to erase the SSD, so you need to prepare three points:
•Samsung SSD (Samsung Magician only supports Samsung SSD)
•USB flash drive (Used to boot Windows in WinPE to erase the SSD)
•Samsung Magician software
How to securely delete files on SSD with Samsung Magician step by step:
1. Connect an empty USB drive with suggested 8GB size to your computer. Once you have this utility downloaded and installed on your PC, open it.
2. Click the Secure Erase tab from the left side panel. Click Select a Drive to choose the SSD you want to erase. Then select the USB drive you wish to use as the boot drive and click START.
3. A warning will appear detailing the formatting of the USB selected. Click YES.
4. Once the bootable USB is created, the system will restart in the BIOS/UEFI menu. Set the created bootable USB as the boot drive.
5. Then the Samsung Magician Secure Erase splash screen will appear. Press Y on your keyboard to continue the process.
6. When the Secure Erase process is completed, you will receive a piece of successful information. And then you could press any key to restart your computer and you will go to the BIOS again to set to boot order and boot mode.
There are some other common SSDs brands that come with software that feature secure erase functions you can use: Crucial SSD Storage Executive, Western Digital SSD Dashboard, Seagate SeaTools bootable SSD utility and so on.
Note that this software is not compatible with other manufacturers’ SSDs. And according to some user’s feedback, you may occur some issues such as Samsung Magician Secure Erase USB not Working during the process.
Thus, if your current SSD does not come with a software and the Samsung tool fails to use, then the second method is more suitable for you.
Besides you apply for the SSD manufacturers’ utilities, you can also try the best SSD eraser – AOMEI Backupper Professional to completely delete files on SSD and make it unable to recover. It cleans a hard drive with its useful feature “Disk Wipe” to overwrite hard drive sectors with a zero value or using other wiping methods. It is designed to run on all Windows PC operating systems, like Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista/XP, and you can learn more about it below:
◐ Support various SSDs. You can use its Disk Wipe tool to delete files on different brand SSDs such as WD, HP, Dell, Seagate, etc. not only Samsung. ◑ 2 flexible wiping types. It allows you to wipe entire disk, partitions or unallocated space according to your real needs. You can select wipe disk to delete all the partitions on the hard drive and fill every sector with zero, thus you don’t need to wipe partition on the disk one by one. ◐ 4 wiping methods. It offers you with 4 professional wiping methods, they are Fill sectors with zero, Fill sectors with random data, DoD 52220.22-M, Gutmann. ◑ Support wipe multiple devices. You are allowed to wipe C drive, a USB drive, hard disk drive, SSD as well as SD card.
Follow the steps below to completely delete files on SSD in Windows 10 with AOMEI Backupper. Just click the button to download and install this tool on your PC.
Step 1. Launch AOMEI Backupper Professional. Go to Tools > Disk Wipe and click it.
Step 2. In the wiping type window, you will be provided with 2 choices: Wipe selected partitions or unallocated space on the disk, Wipe disk. Select Wipe disk to wipe all sectors on the disk at once and click Next.
Step 3. Select the SSD you want to wipe and click Next. Be careful to choose the right disk, or the consequences of data loss will be irreversible.
Step 4. In Wiping Method window, select Fill sectors with Zero and click Start to continue the process.
Step 5. You will then be taken to the Progress page to secure wipe SSD on Windows 10 where you can see the status of the task completion. If you want to stop it, you can click Cancel.
✍ Notes:
✄ As you can see that safer wiping method comes with a slower wiping speed. If you want a safer choice, you can choose the other three different wiping methods: Fill sectors with random data, DoD 52220.22-M, Gutmann. ✄ This feature doesn’t support wiping dynamic disks. ✄ If you want to erase the SSD running the current system, the software will reboot to WinPE to perform the operation. You will not be able to enter the system after completion.
Now it’s your turn to solve how to securely delete files on SSD in Windows 10 by attempting the method provided in this article. Once the files on SSD have been completely erased with AOMEI Backupper, they are unable to be recovered by any means.
Bear in mind before you delete files on the target SSD, you would better move them to a safe location as they are important. Luckily, AOMEI Backupper is embedded with a clone feature that allows you to securely clone SSD to SSD on Windows 11 to migrate files on it and make it boot up correctly. And there are many other excellent features waiting for you to explore, so try it right now!