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What is 251 GB APPLE SSD SM0256F Media

I erased the Macintosh HD but now see 251 GB APPLE SSD SM0256F Media. I want to make sure there is no data on this machine.

Posted on May 24, 2021 7:31 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on May 24, 2021 8:22 AM

WipingCleanMacLaptops wrote:

I erased the Macintosh HD but now see 251 GB APPLE SSD SM0256F Media. I want to make sure there is no data on this machine.



How to erase an Intel-based Mac


If successfully erase/reformat/initialize the parent drive—you would still expect to see your parent drive (?)

< 251 GB APPLE SSD SM0256F Media >



What is your intent here...


Reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery

What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac ...





2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 24, 2021 8:22 AM in response to WipingCleanMacLaptops

WipingCleanMacLaptops wrote:

I erased the Macintosh HD but now see 251 GB APPLE SSD SM0256F Media. I want to make sure there is no data on this machine.



How to erase an Intel-based Mac


If successfully erase/reformat/initialize the parent drive—you would still expect to see your parent drive (?)

< 251 GB APPLE SSD SM0256F Media >



What is your intent here...


Reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery

What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac ...





May 24, 2021 8:30 AM in response to WipingCleanMacLaptops

If your data was encrypted with FileVault as is typical, then the password is the key to decrypting your data. And a robust password means no access to the data without the password. Any bad sectors are also encrypted.


As for erasure, SSDs do not work at all like hard disks with erasure and overwrite, either. SSD storage sectors are automatically erased when the contents are deleted, and there is no direct means to overwrite contents, nor are multiple-pass overwrites (as was recommended back in the floppy disk era) useful.


Follow the previously-linked Apple documentation.

What is 251 GB APPLE SSD SM0256F Media

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