I'm trying to completely erase an Apacer NVMe SSD so I can reinstall Windows. DiskPart clean and Windows Setup have not allowed me to remove both partitions, apparently because one or more volumes are BitLocker-encrypted. I also considered DBAN, but I've heard that traditional multi-pass wiping is unnecessary and can reduce an SSD's lifespan. I have a BitLocker recovery key, although I haven't been shown a prompt where I can enter it. This started after replacing a Corsair CX650 power supply with a CX750, so I'm also wondering whether the PSU change could be related. What is the safest way to wipe the drive or reinstall Windows?
3 Answers
BitLocker encryption doesn’t prevent a drive from being erased; it only protects the data on the existing volumes. Boot from a Windows installation USB rather than running tools from the SSD itself. At the disk-selection screen, choose Custom/Advanced installation, identify the correct NVMe by its size, delete every partition on that drive, and install into the resulting unallocated space. Be extremely careful to select the right disk because deleting the partitions permanently removes the data.
If you need the files, stop trying to wipe the drive and unlock each BitLocker volume with the recovery key first. A recovery key applies to a particular encrypted volume, so two partitions may require separate keys. If the data is not needed, the key is irrelevant and deleting the partitions from a bootable installer or using the SSD’s Secure Erase function is sufficient. The PSU swap is unlikely to create a BitLocker issue, but check the NVMe’s BIOS detection and connections if the drive behaves inconsistently.
If Windows Setup still refuses, boot a Linux live USB or a GParted live USB and erase the partition table from there. You can also use a booted command prompt and DiskPart: run list disk, select the correct disk by number and size, then clean. Do not use clean unless you are certain the disk is selected, because it removes the partition information and makes the existing data inaccessible. You normally do not need clean all or DBAN for an SSD.
A firmware-level NVMe Secure Erase/Sanitize option is another good choice if the motherboard BIOS provides one. It is designed for SSDs and is preferable to repeated overwriting.
I tried deleting the partitions from Windows Setup, but one of the two partitions still remains visible and won’t delete.