Best way to format previously used SSD?

[jbg232]

I am going to format a formerly loved OWC 3G Mercury SSD that is in my 2008 Macbook Aluminum for resetting the computer to defaults for possible resale or personal use. What is the best way to format the SSD to maintain it's performance? Should I do quick erase or a full format or something else?

 

[Twimfy]

I am going to format a formerly loved OWC 3G Mercury SSD that is in my 2008 Macbook Aluminum for resetting the computer to defaults for possible resale or personal use. What is the best way to format the SSD to maintain it's performance? Should I do quick erase or a full format or something else?

Build a USB bootable copy of OS X installer (disk maker x is good for this).

Boot from it, run disk utility and do a standard format, a more secure one if you really feel you need to (writing zeroes should be greyed out...if it's not DO NOT USE IT).

Job done.

 

[jbg232]

Build a USB bootable copy of OS X installer (disk maker x is good for this).

Boot from it, run disk utility and do a standard format, a more secure one if you really feel you need to (writing zeroes should be greyed out...if it's not DO NOT USE IT).

Job done.

So a full "zero-out" is bad for the SSD?

 

[fdw777]

Zero away

So a full "zero-out" is bad for the SSD?

It's quite alright to zero out the SSD........I've don it on two SSD's several times with NO problem.

 

[ElectricSheep]

A full zero-out will cause additional wear on the cells. Potentially worse, the SSD controller may now think that every block is occupied, and write performance could suffer for a while.

To restore the SSD to a clean factory state, you need to use something like Parted Magic to specifically issue an ATA secure erase command. Google should point you to a howto for this.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

So a full "zero-out" is bad for the SSD?

It does not work, if the SSD controller (SandForce) compresses the data.

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A full zero-out will cause additional wear on the cells.

Not much.