Samsung SSD Secure Erase in Samsung Magician & Bootable USB

Guide to Performing Secure Erase of Samsung SSDs Using Samsung Magician and Bootable USB

Ensuring the secure erasure of data on your Samsung SSD is a critical step for data privacy, disposal, or repurposing drives. Samsung offers two primary methods to achieve this: through the Samsung Magician software and via a bootable USB drive. However, setting up these tools can sometimes present challenges, especially when creating bootable media. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the process based on practical experience, including tips to troubleshoot common issues.

Creating a Bootable USB Drive with Samsung Magician

Challenges in USB Creation

One common hurdle users encounter is the initial difficulty in creating a bootable USB drive using Samsung Magician. In some instances, the software may not recognize the USB drive upon initial connection. For example, if you plug in an external USB drive—be it SanDisk, Kingston, or other brands—the software might only detect certain models, such as an older SanDisk USB stick, instead of your preferred device.

Practical Steps and Specifications

USB Drive Properties:
Partition Style: GPT (GUID Partition Table)
Capacity: Approximately 30 GB (29,952 MB)
Unallocated Space: 1 MB
Partition Details: Single primary FAT32 partition, healthy, with a size close to 29.25 GB
System Environment:
Samsung Magician Version: 8.3.2
Operating System: Windows 11
BIOS Settings: UEFI mode selected in Magician

Procedure for Creating Bootable Media

Prepare the USB Drive: Format it with GPT partition style and FAT32 filesystem. Ensure it has only one primary, healthy partition.
Configure Magician: Open Samsung Magician, select the UEFI BIOS mode, and follow the prompts to create a bootable USB.
Troubleshooting Recognition Issues:
If the software does not detect your USB, try plugging in different drives. Sometimes, older or specific USB models are more compatible.
Instead of relying solely on the “Refresh” button, stop all Magician processes via Task Manager and relaunch the software. This can help Magician correctly detect the device.
Verify the Created Bootable Drive: Post-creation, check that the drive still shows a FAT32 partition with approximately