Encrypting all data and wiping it is taking days

[kat.hayes]

I want to securely wipe a 500GB internal SSD from a 2014 iMac. I am currently encrypting the drive by turning on File Vault with the plan of going to Disk Utility when it is finished and using the Erase SSD option.

1. It is my understanding that this will make all of the data inaccessible because it is encrypted and then erased?
2. The process is taking days to encrypt all of the existing data. This had me wondering. Can I do a simple erase from Disk Utility and then turn on File Vault and then go back to erase the SSD from Disk Utility OR does erasing it all first defeat the point? I am just looking for a faster way of doing this.

Thanks

 

[Fishrrman]

Once again, I made a recommendation to you in an earlier post.
Go here to read it:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/how-to-erase-all-content-on-2012-imac.2368283/post-31688416

 

[kat.hayes]

There does not seem to be any options for erasing it. When erasing a hard drive I see options, but not for the SSD. Unless you mean something else?

 

[chabig]

The process is taking days to encrypt all of the existing data. This had me wondering. Can I do a simple erase from Disk Utility and then turn on File Vault and then go back to erase the SSD from Disk Utility OR does erasing it all first defeat the point? I am just looking for a faster way of doing this.

There is no faster way. It requires time to encrypt every bit from the SSD, whether it represents data or not. A simple erase wouldn't make it any faster. Erasing now would defeat the purpose, since encryption would have to start over.

 

[Fishrrman]

"There does not seem to be any options for erasing it. When erasing a hard drive I see options, but not for the SSD. Unless you mean something else?"

Tell us what you see in disk utility.
Better yet, take a screen shot or a camera pic and post it here.

If you boot to INTERNET recovery, you should be able to erase the internal hard drive.
(well, if you can't, something's very wrong).

 

[chabig]

To be clear, a simple erase isn't a secure erase.

 

[Fishrrman]

chabig wrote:
"To be clear, a simple erase isn't a secure erase."

I'd suggest an erase with a "one pass of zeros" -- should go fast enough, and should be secure enough (on an SSD) for all practical purposes.