SSD Secure Erase

Secure erase commands:

Check current status of the disk:

>> sudo hdparm -I /dev/sdX

-----
Security:
	Master password revision code = 65534
		supported
	not	enabled   	
	not	locked
	not	frozen
	not	expired: security count
		supported: enhanced erase

The disk needs to be not locked, not frozen but enabled. To enable secure erase set a password for the master user on the disk.

>> sudo hdparm --user-master u --security-set-pass password /dev/sdX

-----
security_password: "password"

/dev/sdd:
 Issuing SECURITY_SET_PASS command, password="password", user=user, mode=high

If something else appears, like I/O errors or so, check if you are connected to a motherboard port that supports these ATA commands. e.g. my USB Sata adapter did not, thus the commands could not be sent to the drive.

Afterwards we can erase the drive

sudo hdparm --user-master u --security-erase password /dev/sdX

-----
security_password: "password"

/dev/sdd:
 Issuing SECURITY_ERASE command, password="password", user=user

After this, the drive should appear unformated and without a partition table.