The original post: /r/datahoarder by /u/KitoLoid on 2025-02-15 10:47:59.

I had Arch Linux installed on my V-Gen Platinum SATA SSD, but I decided to wipe it and use the SSD as a normal storage drive. However, no matter what I do, the partitions keep coming back. Every tool I’ve tried says "success," but when I check again, the partitions are still there. I'm using the SSD as an external boot btw.

My Setup:

• SSD: V-Gen Platinum (SATA)
• OS: Dual-booting Windows & Linux Mint
• Secure Boot: Off
• BIOS/UEFI Mode: UEFI

What I've Tried So Far (No Success):

Windows Methods:

• Disk Management – Tried formatting & deleting → No effect
• Diskpart (Admin CMD)
  • clean / clean all → Permission denied
  • delete partition override → Says success, but still there
  • attributes disk clear readonly → No change

Linux Methods (Arch Live USB):

• wipefs --all /dev/sdX → Says success, partition still there
• dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdX bs=1M count=100 → No change
• blkdiscard /dev/sdX → No effect
• sgdisk --zap-all /dev/sdX → Says success, but partition is still there

Other Debugging:

• Checked for GRUB (ls /boot/efi/EFI/) → No GRUB
• Checked if disk is read-only (lsblk -o name,ro) → Shows R:0 (not read-only)
• Checked with Windows Disk Management → Partition is fully visible and accessible, but cannot be removed

What Could Be Happening?

• SSD is locked in firmware write-protection?
• Corrupt NAND flash making it read-only?
• Windows keeping some kind of boot protection active?

I haven’t tried using an SSD manufacturer tool yet, but V-Gen doesn’t seem to have one.

What’s Left to Try?

• Parted Magic Secure Erase?
• Trying a different OS/Tool?
• SSD might be dying and needs replacement?

If anyone has ideas or has faced something similar, I’d really appreciate the help.