SSD slow after Erase Free Space

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Level 1

10 points

SSD slow after Erase Free Space

Hi All,

I upgraded my Mid 09 MBP with an Intel 160gb SSD. It was blazing fast, with my boot up times from completely off around 10-12 seconds. Shut down time was almost instant.

Stupidly, I ran an Erase Free Space from the disk utility because I had some confidential stuff that I deleted that I wanted to make sure was wiped. Now, the computer takes twice as long to boot up and 5x as long to shut down.

I read online about reconditioning the SSD and bought an App called DiskTester that ran a process to recondition it but it's still not as fast as it was before the Erase Free Space.

Is there anything I can do to regain my performance?

Thanks in advance

MBP Mid 09 2.26, 4gb, 160gb SSD

Posted on Jul 25, 2010 9:26 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

MacRS4

Level 2

330 points

Jul 25, 2010 9:44 AM in response to dynamicmange

Hi

You're experiencing something known as 'write fatigue'. Have a look at my blog here: http://www.markc.me.uk/MarkC/Blog/Entries/2009/8/13Erasing_anSSD.html

Essentially you need to do a write-erase. The only way I know of doing it though is on a PC - I do mine every 3 or 4 months or so.

There may be a way to do it on a Mac? I'd be wary though as if you get it wrong you can bork your drive.

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Answer 2

dynamicmange Author

Level 1

10 points

Jul 25, 2010 10:29 AM in response to MacRS4

Thanks for the reply and link, I appreciate it.

What I actually did that fixed the problem was booted off an OSX volume that I installed on a USB key.

I ran the Erase Free Space, single pass on my SSD volume and my speed is 100% back to normal. Boot up time and shut down times are amazing again.

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Answer 3

9ky

Level 1

0 points

Oct 17, 2010 11:40 AM in response to dynamicmange

Worked for me also.. booted from cd Erased free Space

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SSD *slow* after Erase Free Space

SSD slow after Erase Free Space