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General discussion

Help! USB flash drive suddenly became write-protected

May 10, 2013 8:45AM PDT
Question:

Help! USB flash drive suddenly became write-protected


I have a 64GB USB flash drive that suddenly went "write-protected" (read only). It has no tiny little switch to unprotect it, but seeing as there really wasn't anything critical to be lost, I decided that a simple reformat would fix it up. Unfortunately, W7 can't format it because it's write-protected. The error message says to undo the write protection before formatting (starting to look like an old "Catch-22" scenario). I bought it on eBay from China and can't identify the manufacturer, so there is no help there.

I scoured the Internet to find what I was sure would be a simple solution. I've tried virtually every suggestion and freeware tool that numerous Google searches have proffered. My drive is still unusable and to my surprise, it turns out that there are quite a lot of us out there getting increasingly frustrated with the same problem. Short of smashing the drive with a hammer, I don't see how else to end this dilemma.

Frankly, you are my last resort. Unless some genius out there has a solution that actually works, I'll definitely resort to using a hammer. If it comes to that, I bet I will even smash it with relish. That's how frustrating this seemingly simple problem has become for me.

Anyhow, thanks in advance for any help you can hook me up with.

-- Submitted by: Norm B.

Discussion is locked

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When I have run into things like this
May 17, 2013 11:04AM PDT

When I run into things like this. I usually use linux to reformat them. Then bring it back to my windows machine and for mat it again with that.

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Help! USB flash drive suddenly became write-protected
May 17, 2013 11:52AM PDT

Try reformatting the flash drive with SDFormatter and, if possible, use a Mac. SDFormatter comes in Windows and Mac versions. D'load the Mac version from their site at https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/
Make sure you get version 4 (3.1 no longer works on my Mac). Give it a shot - you've got nothing to lose.

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SD Formatter
May 17, 2013 3:48PM PDT

When I had this problem, this (SDF) didn't work.
Have you actually SEEN the problem yourself (and solved it) ?

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El cheapos are false economy.
May 18, 2013 12:15AM PDT

No I haven't. I usually buy brand name flash drives and SD cards. El cheapos are false economy.

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reformat memory stick
May 17, 2013 12:29PM PDT

How about using a friend's computer that has XP?

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reformat w/ XP
May 17, 2013 5:12PM PDT

XP is not the answer, thats what I run - still need an sd card tester.. and even that you have to look at what it shows you. then it sort of stands out.. I just now thought of doing it in DOS... but dont think it would
read it at all.

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USB flash drive suddenly became write-protected
May 17, 2013 1:08PM PDT

Click Start button, right click my computer manage. Go to disk management then select the usb drive and format it will format the drive and it will be usable.

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Use XP ?
May 17, 2013 3:46PM PDT

When I had this problem, this didn't work

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Use Windows
May 17, 2013 3:47PM PDT

When I had this problem, this didn't work.
Have you actually SEEN the problem yourself (and solved it) ?

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Read my lips
May 17, 2013 4:29PM PDT

you are saying flash drive....so it means you can only flash it.......or do you mean another drive tell us....

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Try formatting under Linux or re-partition it.
May 17, 2013 5:35PM PDT

It seems that you may have some kind of drive locking security software on the drive so it would be locking it by software rather than the hardware switch type lock.

I have seen a few drives with this type of protection on, although as to why it's suddenly activated could be any reason.

Here are two solutions you could try...

The first is in Windows go into Control Panel (Start->Control Panel)
Then click "System and Maintenance"
Click "Administrative Tools"
and finally double click "Computer Management"

At this point Windows may ask for confirmation/admin password either click ok or enter password.

In the navigation pane on the left go to the "Storage" section to expand it and click "Disk Management"

Find your USB drive in the list and right click on it.

You should have the option to Delete Volume...

Try deleting the volume and then re-creating the volume.

This may work, or you may get the same error about it being read only again.

The next method is a little more complicated as it involves going into another operating system.

Firstly go to UBCD website (http://www.ultimatebootcd.com) and download an ISO for Ultimate Boot CD one of the mirrors for the iso is below:

http://mirror.komsys.org/pub/ubcd/ubcd523.iso

Re-boot your computer and get it to boot from CD.

You are now using the Ultimate Boot CD which uses Linux rather than Windows so has a little more power.

Use the menus to select "Hard Disk Tools" (it uses up/down keys on keyboard and enter to select), then choose "wiping tools" and then "Darik's Boot and Nuke" (DBAN)

If you go to the address below there is a full step-by-step guide from there with screen shots

HOWEVER VERY IMPORTANT!! DO NOT USE THE AUTONUKE METHOD AS SUGGESTED AT THE BEGINNING - START DBAN IN INTERACTIVE MODE

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/dban.html

When in interactive mode use the up/down cursor and the space key to select the USB drive - and ONLY the USB drive.

Then press F10 to start.

It is very important that

a. you do not use the autonuke method and
b. you only select the USB drive from the list.

If you use the autonuke method it will wipe all hard drives on the PC as well as the USB (including recovery partitions), and if you select anything other than the USB drive it could wipe the hard drive on the PC (again including recovery partitions). Which is why it is so important to use this tool carefully, it is powerful and most probably will fix the problem, but be careful with it.

If your not too sure and you know someone in computing ask them to watch over you whilst doing it. These tools are mainly designed for technicians but if your careful you can do it yourself, but you have to be careful.

Please note I cannot be held responsible for any loss incurred by following these suggestions - either loss of data, software, hardware, etc. My advice is provided as-is without any type of warranty.

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Ultimate boot cd (dvd)
May 20, 2013 12:44AM PDT

Hey Darren,

Thanks for the suggestion. It was new so for sure I tried it. I got as far as the "interactive mode" and hit a snag. Although the software could see my usb well enough to confirm it's size (i even unplugged and re-plugged it in a different port to be sure) it none the less showed [??????] Unrecognized Device in the list of disks. I put the * next to that line anyway and tried the F10=Start but nothing happened. I tried every other safe looking option available but no joy.

It was worth a try though so thanks anyway. Cheers.

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DBAN AutoNuke
May 26, 2013 4:21PM PDT

Far safer to run dban after first disconnecting all drives you do not want to run the risk of wiping accidentally.

That way, if autonuke does run, it will run only on the one drive left that you want to wipe anyway.

IF you are able to wipe it then it will have been made writable, and formatting and then partitioning will follow.

Since windows is not running in this scenario, as dban is the only os/program running, and all other drives are disconnected, then any chance of wiping the wrong drive(s) cannot happen even if you choose autonuke.

Try doing it this way. Might work for you.

BTW, most interesting thread I've come across in quite some time! Thanks for posting about your problem as it will be one most of us will encounter at one time or another, so...

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DBAN AutoNuke
May 26, 2013 11:26PM PDT

I don't fully understand what you mean by "disconnecting all drives" and "all other drives are disconnected". Do you mean disconnecting the PC's main hard drive and dvd/cd drive? If so, how do you do this?

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Re: disconnecting a drive
May 26, 2013 11:45PM PDT

You open the case and disconnect the power cable (between the PSU and the drive) or the data cable (between the motherboard and the drive) or both. Make a good note or pic of how it is connected so you won't make mistakes when connecting it again.

It's only needed for hard disks. Not for a cd/dvd/blu-ray drive.

Kees

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Ubuntu for USB write protect
May 17, 2013 6:41PM PDT

Have you tried using Ubuntu's .iso install via USB option? I've had the same issue recently and used Ubuntu to format the write protect USB then reformatting it after under Windows 7.

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write protect switch
May 17, 2013 9:15PM PDT

the write protect switch could be faulty.
happened to me so I bridge the switch with a dot of solder...

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Help! USB flash drive suddenly became write-protected
May 17, 2013 10:31PM PDT

Try to format it with the Centon formattijng tool, that worked for me.

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Centon formattijng tool
May 19, 2013 4:24AM PDT

Hey there, tried it with no joy. Thanks anyhow. Cheers.

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Common faults
May 18, 2013 12:49AM PDT

Only a hand-full of manufacturers are capable of producing a reliable 64GB flash drive.
The 64GB USB flash drive is the most common counterfeited flash drive.
So the brand name label can not be trusted.
Buy 64GB flash drives only from a trusted source.

..

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The very last resort
May 18, 2013 1:28AM PDT

As a very last resort and I emphasize very last when all else has failed, you could try this. Remove the plastic casing. Place the innards in an oven on a piece of kitchen foil, turn it up to maximum heat for about 5 minutes, remove allow to cool and replace casing.

It may seem madness but I have used this method to fix motherboards from Play Stations and PC and it sometimes works. I will say again, try only as a very last resort.

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USB Flash drive
May 18, 2013 6:19AM PDT

Hi
Unfortunately there is no solution. I bought one on ebay few years back from China and had a similar problem. They sell your say a 16G drive then when you write data to it, only 4G shows up then it latter becomes write protect. When you go back on ebay they are no longer listed. Just be very careful buying stuff list from China and Hong Kong on ebay. Sorry Pal.
Joseph

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sometimes unplugging and immediately
May 18, 2013 6:23AM PDT

plugging back in the same port suddenly switches it over from read only to full access. I have a camera SD card I used in a USB reader, and leaving the reader in the USB plug and removing the flash card and then reinserting will change it from read only to full access. While that works fine for my SD flash card, it's not possible with a USB thumbdrive.

Changing USB port might help.

Plug in a thumbdrive without the problem, pull it and quickly replace with the problem one. Sometimes it "sees" the same drive that was in it which allows access.

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This worked for a "regular external" HDD--Maybe it will help
May 18, 2013 8:11AM PDT

I had a hard drive or two crash last fall and I bought SpinRite to try to recover it. It went to 97% and stopped working. The SpinRite people were so nice! They told me to put the drive in the freezer for an hour and then try it.

One worked when cold, another worked after being cold and then warming up for awhile.

I have no idea whether this will work on a flash drive, but it cannot hurt!

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Cold Treatment
May 20, 2013 12:48AM PDT

I left it in the freezer overnight and tried it first thing this morning. No joy :-{

Thanks anyway. Cheers.

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USB Flash Drive in write protect mode
May 18, 2013 5:01PM PDT

Hi Norm B,
It happens especially if the write protect switch becomes faulty.
Very difficult to repair as it uses 'hall-effect' technology to write enable as read only is the default or failsafe mode.

You may have to contact the supplier or make a complaint through eBay.
However as you have found once in write protect mode you cannot erase the recorded information.
Uless you use extreme heat or a very large hammer.

In my experience with Flash Drive technology, it very rarely fails unless physically abused or damaged.

Sorry I cannot be more helpful
Robin

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Write protected folder - USB External Flash 2GB Disk Drive
May 18, 2013 7:14PM PDT

Write protected folder - USB Flask Disk (read only) messages


My 2GB External USB Flash Disk is write protected and comes up with the error that I can not paste documents and transfer documents or folders from it as it is write protected.

I am saying that it is a flash disk (Seagate) who themselves are finding it hard to advise me. If there is a fool proof method. I have not had any responses from my other enquiry.

If there is any third party software that would assist or I will just hit it with a hammer.

There is no switch on the drive - so that is something that went out of the window.

I have tried to look at options of how to change the property off. I am only new to computers and tried investigating to no avail on various mediums.

I do not know how it became that it became read only. I just have gone through methods and suggestions on here and most say to not to go into some of the registry and other areas if you are not confident.

I do not want to lose the information from the disk and have tried the various methods that I could from the internet.

I am not that confident when it comes to computers.

I have a Sony VAIO Y Series VPCYB16KG - Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit.

These are the various methods that am trying. If someone can please assist me, that would be great. I know that I am not alone.

Not confident in Windows Registry and DOS.

Has to be step by step if possible.

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=7A797BF1CB645296!285
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=7A797BF1CB645296!960

Thank you
I am also not too sure on how this forum works - just wish a professional opinion on what I should try and do before just giving up.

I hope that the screen snips that I uploaded are sufficient.

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format in diff computer
May 19, 2013 12:49AM PDT

I had this happen to me only with a micro sd card. It was in my android phone and i took it out and tried to format in windows 8. It kept making it write protected and I would have to put back in my phone and format there. I ultimately had to format it on a windows 7 phone (because I was trying to format it Fat32 instead of exFat). So my advice is to try a different operating system if the registry tweak did not work.

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write-protected flashdrive
May 19, 2013 1:25AM PDT

Hi
After reading majority of the replies-which were about as helpful as a fly-swat against a mountain lion,
I wondered if you have tried the ones used often for TV's and other electronics by manufactures
ie- '0000', '1234' or '9999' or 'ABCD' etc.

You probably have but sometimes we overlook the obvious!

Best of luck
Silver99

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Fly swat against a mountain lion
May 19, 2013 3:58AM PDT

Hey I liked your analogy. Unfortunately I don't quite understand your reference to "ones used often for Tv's and other electronics by manufactures". Could you elaborate please. I have tried virtually everything that I could find on Google but your suggestion is a new one on me.

Thanks and cheers!