I'm trying to use hdparm to secure erase an SSD as suggested here.
Following the directions in that guide has worked okay so far, but I can't seem to resolve this error:
~ $ sudo hdparm --user-master m --security-set-pass NUL /dev/sda security_password="NUL" /dev/sda: Issuing SECURITY_SET_PASS command, password="NUL", user=master, mode=high SECURITY_SET_PASS: Input/output error I've searched around and tested things, as suggested here, but to no avail. How else can I deep-wipe an SSD, if this is not an option?
Note: Yes, there is a BIOS password "on" the hard disk, in that it must be typed at boot, but it's not (as far as I know) attached to the disk itself.
sudo hdparm -I /dev/sda:
/dev/sda: ATA device, with non-removable media Model Number: SanDisk SDSSDA240G Serial Number: 153655402044 Firmware Revision: U21010RL Media Serial Num: Media Manufacturer: Transport: Serial, ATA8-AST, SATA 1.0a, SATA II Extensions, SATA Rev 2.5, SATA Rev 2.6, SATA Rev 3.0 Standards: Used: unknown (minor revision code 0x0110) Supported: 9 8 7 6 5 Likely used: 9 Configuration: Logical max current cylinders 16383 16383 heads 16 16 sectors/track 63 63 -- CHS current addressable sectors: 16514064 LBA user addressable sectors: 268435455 LBA48 user addressable sectors: 468862128 Logical Sector size: 512 bytes Physical Sector size: 512 bytes Logical Sector-0 offset: 0 bytes device size with M = 1024*1024: 228936 MBytes device size with M = 1000*1000: 240057 MBytes (240 GB) cache/buffer size = unknown Form Factor: 2.5 inch Nominal Media Rotation Rate: Solid State Device Capabilities: LBA, IORDY(can be disabled) Queue depth: 32 Standby timer values: spec'd by Standard, no device specific minimum R/W multiple sector transfer: Max = 1 Current = 1 Advanced power management level: disabled DMA: mdma0 mdma1 mdma2 udma0 udma1 udma2 udma3 udma4 udma5 *udma6 Cycle time: min=120ns recommended=120ns PIO: pio0 pio1 pio2 pio3 pio4 Cycle time: no flow control=120ns IORDY flow control=120ns Commands/features: Enabled Supported: * SMART feature set * Security Mode feature set * Power Management feature set * Write cache Look-ahead * Host Protected Area feature set * WRITE_BUFFER command * READ_BUFFER command * DOWNLOAD_MICROCODE Advanced Power Management feature set SET_MAX security extension * 48-bit Address feature set * Device Configuration Overlay feature set * Mandatory FLUSH_CACHE * FLUSH_CACHE_EXT * SMART error logging * SMART self-test * General Purpose Logging feature set * WRITE_{DMA|MULTIPLE}_FUA_EXT * 64-bit World wide name * {READ,WRITE}_DMA_EXT_GPL commands * Segmented DOWNLOAD_MICROCODE * Gen1 signaling speed (1.5Gb/s) * Gen2 signaling speed (3.0Gb/s) * Gen3 signaling speed (6.0Gb/s) * Native Command Queueing (NCQ) * Host-initiated interface power management * Phy event counters * READ_LOG_DMA_EXT equivalent to READ_LOG_EXT * DMA Setup Auto-Activate optimization Device-initiated interface power management * Software settings preservation Device Sleep (DEVSLP) * Data Set Management TRIM supported (limit 8 blocks) Security: Master password revision code = 11822 supported enabled locked not frozen not expired: security count supported: enhanced erase Security level high 2min for SECURITY ERASE UNIT. 2min for ENHANCED SECURITY ERASE UNIT. Logical Unit WWN Device Identifier: 5001b44ed2285a3c NAA : 5 IEEE OUI : 001b44 Unique ID : ed2285a3c Checksum: correct Device Sleep: DEVSLP Exit Timeout (DETO): 70 ms (drive) Minimum DEVSLP Assertion Time (MDAT): 31 ms (drive) 
