How To Format or Wipe SSD From BIOS

The need to wipe out your solid-state drive can arise from one or many scenarios, ranging from data handling to software corruption. Technological upgrades have made the process quite easy, but you should take care of the operational constraints. The following article illustrates handy answers to the query of how to format SSD from BIOS.

Part 1. What Is SSD and SSD vs HDD?

Before you proceed with the formatting process, it is necessary to understand the definition of an SDD. You should also know about the dissimilarity between an SSD and an HDD. These aspects are discussed in what follows next:

What Is SSD?

A Solid State Drive or SSD is a recently invented storage component for modern-day operating systems. This is a non-volatile flash memory with a much better performance speed than normal hard disk drives.

Difference Between SSD and HDD

1. Data Storage

The major difference between the aforesaid devices is seen in the data storage pattern. HDDs store the system information in mechanical spinning disks. Data stored on an HDD is accessed through a movable read/write head. SSDs on the contrary, utilize memory chips for both purposes.

2. Working Principle

The next difference can be seen in the working pattern of these devices. A hard disk drive comes as a set of platters below a ferromagnetic coating. Each data bit is represented by the direction of magnetization. A fast-moving head reads and writes data on the disk.

SSDs use flash technology to store data on individual memory cells. The stored data bits have immediate access to the controller. These are shock-resistant and high-speed devices, but cost much more than HDDs.

Part 2. Can You Format SSD in BIOS?

As stated earlier, there may be several situations that require you to format the solid-state drive of your laptop. While it is quite easy to address the concern, most of you may wonder if it is possible to format SSD in BIOS. It is indeed possible to wipe out your solid state drive from the system BIOS through the ‘Secure Erase’ process. It is welcoming to know that a host of SSD management programs are also available to work on the requirement.

Part 3. How To Format or Wipe SSD from BIOS?

The information about your system’s drives is contained in the BIOS. You can introduce changes in the same for sensitive disk management. It takes care of the data flow between the disk drive and the operating system.

When moving ahead to format SSD from BIOS, you can follow different methods in line with your specific requirements and system configurations. The upcoming section describes 2 convenient processes to set the issue straight. You are free to choose the one that best suits your needs. It should however be noted that each method has its merits and limitations.

Operation Steps

Using the Secure Erase Tool

The ‘Secure Erase’ tool is the most reliable and safest method for wiping out or cleaning your SSD. Using this method, you can rest assured of no data being left behind. The tool writes over each bit of the stored information with 1 or 0. This makes it impossible for the data to get leaked. Here’s how you can use the ‘Secure Erase’ Tool to format your SSD from BIOS:

Step 1: Restart your system.

Step 2: Use the button configuration of your operating system to enter the BIOS.

Step 3: Navigate to the ‘Security’ tab.

Step 4: Select the ‘Hard Drive Utilities’ or ‘Hard Drive Tools’ option as displayed on your screen.

Step 5: Choose the ‘Secure Erase’ tool.

Step 6: Select the drive you wish to format.

Step 7: Wait for the command to process and click ‘Continue’ on receiving a prompt.

Part 4. How To Recover Data From a SSD After Format?

Formatting your SSD is one thing, but data recovery is a more important concern. Before attempting to format SSD from BIOS, you should take care of the options available for information retrieval. The process is rather easy, but you should look at the specific recovery scenario. For instance, you may want to retrieve the data using an operating system utility, like the Windows Recovery Tool. In addition, there are hosts of third-party tools to address the concern.

Operation Steps

When taking the second choice, you can rely on the Wondershare Recoverit program for getting back the SSD data after a wipeout. The software is an effective and handy tool to set straight the data recovery concerns under a diversity of scenarios. Here's how you can use the program to retrieve the information stored on a formatted SSD:

Start with downloading the Wondershare Recoverit Data Recovery tool from its official website. Install and launch the program on your system, and take the following steps:

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Step 1: Connect and Select Your SSD

Connect the formatted SSD to your system through a lightning cable. Ensure that the device is recognized by the PC. Head to the 'Hard Drives and Locations' tab in the program’s welcome interface, and choose your drive from the list of storage spaces. Tap the ‘Start’ button to proceed further.

Step 2: Scan the Selected SSD

The software initiates an automatic scan of the selected SSD and displays the deleted data sequentially. If the required files don't appear in the first scan, you can select the 'All-Around Recovery' mode for deep location scanning. The process may be a bit time-consuming.

Step 3: Preview and Recover the Data Files

Preview the displayed files after the drive scanning finishes. Check the quality and resolution of the required data and select the same. Hit the ‘Recover’ button at the bottom of the interface to get back the chosen files. It is recommended to save the recovered files at a different location for safety reasons.

FAQs

Conclusion

A diversity of scenarios may require you to format solid-state drives. The concern is easily addressable through the operating system BIOS. There are some essential aspects to look at before you format SSD from BIOS. You can quickly wipe out the data and retrieve the same using a smart data recovery tool. Looking for an affordable choice, you can pick the Wondershare Recoverit Data Recovery program.