USB Live Boot Tool with GUI, or one that is like an OS you recommend, to format SSD.

aoib578

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Hi Guys,

Looking to do a clean full install of Linux over an entire SSD.
I heard low level formatting is unhealthy for the SSD so I'll stay away from it.
What's the best USB Live Boot Tool with GUI, or one that is like an OS that you recommend, to format it and install the distro in my laptop.
 


I am installing manjaro.
I will google this but i've got some really good recommendations in this forum about linux tools.
Just wanted experienced users recommending a good one.
 
Once ISO is burnt to a Flash Drive...boot to it and click...Install...that's it.
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The last time you needed to format the Drive before installing the OS was windwoes 98. ;)
 
Once ISO is burnt to a Flash Drive...boot to it and click...Install...that's it.
m01101.gif


The last time you needed to format the Drive before installing the OS was windwoes 98. ;)
Are you sure?
Doesn't the SSD leave bits of info behind that should be cleared before doing a clean install?
Or when you install, the OS tool already does that well enough?
If the case; even better for me. Less hassle.
 
Or when you install, the OS tool already does that well enough?

It'll do a quick format of the entire disk space, or of the partition, when you go through the installation and format the disk to a Linux-specific (usually Ext4) format.
 
It'll do a quick format of the entire disk space, or of the partition, when you go through the installation and format the disk to a Linux-specific (usually Ext4) format.
Yes. But, is it not better to do a more comprehensive formatting with a tool, before booting the install USB?
I'm also checking on installing Manjaro/EndeavourOS with optional ZFS.
Is this a bad idea?
 
Yes. But, is it not better to do a more comprehensive formatting with a tool, before booting the install USB?

Nah, it'll be unrecoverable by normal means anyhow, especially as you're changing disk format.

Is this a bad idea?

Go for it. That format is plenty mature today. So long as it's an option, you can use it.
 
Are you sure?
Doesn't the SSD leave bits of info behind that should be cleared before doing a clean install?
Or when you install, the OS tool already does that well enough?
If the case; even better for me. Less hassle.

Yes I am...when you install the Distro to an SSD or HDD for that matter...everything on the Drive is wiped on a used Drive with a Distro or files already on it.
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On a new SSD straight out of the box that you want to install a Distro on...just boot to the Flash Drive and click Install...the Distro has a built-in formatting/installing tool.
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Now if you want to use that new straight out of the box SSD as an internal storage Drive...then you must format it...otherwise it wont work. You can format it to either Ext4 or NTFS as Linux sees all.
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If you buy a portable SSD...it's already formatted and you don't need to change it...just plug in and play.
SSD are great and wouldn't go back to HDDs...I created an image 3 years ago of my HDD and put it on my first SSD (both same size) and speed was at least 10 times faster...hope this helps. :)
 
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Yes I am...when you install the Distro to an SSD or HDD for that matter...everything on the Drive is wiped on a used Drive with a Distro or files already on it.
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100%
So, some specific formatting tools are for specific scenarios?
I thought sanitizing drive to make sure it gets properly wiped out, was always a good idea.
I am not referring to the Peter Gutmann 35 passes method :D
Just proper complete wipe-out.
I believe what you said. I am starting clean. And this time i want to get it done properly.
Plus i got to learn that installing the OS already does standard formatting.
But it still leaves some residue behind...
In my case i don't have sensitive data to wipe. So no need for Military-grade Data Wipe Method.
 
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Linux Mint has the...USB Stick Formatter and the Disk Utility to format Flash Drives...External HDDs/SSDs safely. Be very careful what you use to "wipe" your SSD...you might end up with a very expensive paper weight. :eek:

There's only one way to "wipe" the Drive so it can't be used again and that's using this...
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As bob466 mentioned, you can use gnome disk utility and it's available on AUR. So if you are going to install manjaro, boot into the live environment and enable AUR on the Manjaro software center (AUR is not enabled by default on manjaro). Then you can continue the process.
 
Linux Mint has the...USB Stick Formatter and the Disk Utility to format Flash Drives...External HDDs/SSDs safely. Be very careful what you use to "wipe" your SSD...you might end up with a very expensive paper weight. :eek:
True! :)

There's only one way to "wipe" the Drive so it can't be used again and that's using this...
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:D
 
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Sometimes it's hard to know what people want.
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Sometimes it's hard to know what people want.
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Yes, I agree!

Maybe a standardized question sheet which includes the question parameters needed to supply those answering with the info needed ?
 
Maybe a standardized question sheet which includes the question parameters needed to supply those answering with the info needed ?

I tried coming up with a generic form that could be filled out to fashion a good support question, but it proved to be more time consuming (to do well) than I was interested in spending. It'd need to be some sort of flowchart that also had information filled out along the way, and there are a jillion variables to consider.
 
I tried coming up with a generic form that could be filled out to fashion a good support question, but it proved to be more time consuming (to do well) than I was interested in spending. It'd need to be some sort of flowchart that also had information filled out along the way, and there are a jillion variables to consider.
Hah! Now I see one reason why you do your job as Mod well -- detail orientation!

Such a form does not need to be so detailed as that!

Hardware being used, intended usage for the hardware, plus pertinent specs and the user's expectations will do, for a beginning, I would say.
 
Yeah, that's the easy part. Then, you get into if it's a hardware problem, a software problem? If so, which is it? Then, which applications are in use, which versions are in use, etc...

And that's just for straightforward questions. Many questions, probably a higher percentage than one might think initially, aren't so straightforward.

Go ahead, try it. Start with a flowchart on paper is my suggestion. I kinda tried it before, lemme see if I can find you the link...

Ah, there it is... It's from my original How To Ask A Good Support Question and was dropped from the revision that exists on the current site. The old site redirects to the current site's page, so it wasn't easy to retrieve this!

I gave up on the complex form idea and came up with this:


Exactly zero people filled it out, but that was as basic as I could make it while still giving a functional output.

It's woefully inadequate for a more complex question, which so many of them are. We can tell they're complex by the number of answers proffered, the number of efforts made to solve the problem. If they were indeed straightforward, they'd get a straightforward answer.

That was my 'best effort' for the time I allowed myself. I initially envisioned something actually effective. Something where you'd fill in a form and then would be presented with another form due to the answers given. That'd be effective, but it's just an insane concept to write - which is probably why nobody smart has made one that I could steal! :D
 

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