How do I perform a low level format of a Sandforce solid state disk?

Question

I have a OCZ Vertex 2 256GB flash drive I bought some time ago. I'd like to experiment with Linux on this drive, and I'd like to wipe it factory-clean. Intel provides an "ssd-toolbox" utility which performs a low level format and restores the drive to factory performance, but I cannot seem to find a similar tool for my Vertex 2.

How does one perform a low level block erase on a Sandforce drive?

PS: The drive is in a Dell Latitude E6500. I tried multiple times to use tools which claimed to issue the SECURITY_ERASE ATA command. The free secure erase tool from the Center for Magnetic Research will not start (my guess is that DOS doesn't like the machine with 4GB of RAM), and when I tried to use a linux livecd and hdparm, it reported that my drive was "frozen", and I was unable to find anything in the BIOS to stop it from being frozen.

Answer 1

Well, this depends completely upon OCZ, but the Vertex2 drives now come with the "OCZ Toolbox" software which can do the secure erase and reset the drive to an out-of-box state.

Go to this page -> http://www.ocztechnology.com/ssd_tools/

Even if your drive does not need a firmware update (Mine did), the software can emit the SECURE ERASE command. I had to use another computer to actually do it (you obviously can't initiate this from within Windows booted from the drive you're nuking) but it worked flawlessly.