WD Dashboard Secure Erase wants ATA password

[Tanquen]

I need to RMA an WD SN850 and SN850X SSD. I want to try and erase everything as best I can before sending them off. In the WD Dashboard software there is a secure erase option but it says that the driver will not allow it and you need to make a USB boot drive with their utility.

After booting from the USB drive it finds the SSD but says the secure erase will not work. It's asking for an ATA password. No idea what that would be. I never set a BIOS or other password as best I can recall. Is there a default one for Gigabyte motherboards?

 

[BlueLineSwinger]

AFAIK setting an ATA password and then specifying it as part of the command is a base requirement for performing an ATA secure erase. e.g.:
https://tinyapps.org/docs/wipe_drives_hdparm.html
https://tinyapps.org/docs/ata_sanitize_hdparm.html

 

[Tanquen]

You're saying even if it doesn't have a password, you need to give it a password and then use that password when you try to use the secure erase?

 

[Tanquen]

WD said it's a MB thing but Gigabyte says it is not.

Dear customer,

MB or bios on MB has no any default password. ATA password has no related to MB, you will need to check with WD technical support team for advice.

Best regards,

GIGABYTE technical support team.

 

[bluestang]

Try HDSentinel it has a Secure Erase feature.