USB flash drive write protection

dear sir
we try to formate my pen drive from killdisk software. but result is error.
so please solve my problem because my pendrive is write protaction .

thanking you
regards
bajranglal

we unable formate my pen drive from any software so please solve my problems

thanking you

After trying all the suggested routes to correcting this problem I tried one more thing which did work. Remembering that Macs were quite often not affected by the disk problems which affected PCs, I took my flash drive to a Mac and it had no problem. I used the disk utility to repartition it and when I brought it back to the PC it was once again working correctly. Hopefully this will also work for some of the others who have had the same problem.

Absolutely BRILLIANT!

I'd been struggling with this one for WEEKS! Every USB writeable device (daughter's barbie MP3 player, PSP, etc., etc.) was behaving as if it was write-protected - & scouring the net brought up hundreds of peeps with the very same problem.

But...

I alter these reg-keys & BINGO! All is now well in USB-land. I'll be pointing others toward your good advice from now on...

A thousand thanx, fatbird, & a VERY merry Christmas! =]

Just thought I'd say, FatBird's solution does actually work in some instances. It took me forever, and I tried everything else on this board (with the exception of paying for software) and it was actually a registry error. Thanks again!

I am having the exact problem with my "PNY attache 2GB Flash Drive" has anyone salved the problem?

I need help ASAP!

If everyone is having this problem with different drives it might be a Microsoft problem, we should all contact Microsoft and complain.

Hey folks
i wish this message will solve all your problems but i just wanna tell a small story
even i was having this 'write protection problem' with my 1 GB USB until i reached this site and so many ppl having the same problem. Anyhow my bro. came until then and slapped me few times and just moved the small button on the USB. Hope all of u get help from this.

USB flash drive problem and how I made mine work..!

I've had exactly the same problem and after some serious messing around and hair pulling I got my drive working again.
I rebooted my pc into safe mode with the drive in the slot, logged on as an admin and highlighted the drive without opening it. I right-clicked the drive, selected Format, then selected FAT as the file system and did a Quick format. It worked straight away...no hassles.
I then re-booted the pc into normal mode without removing the drive, logged on as normal and Hey presto....I now have a working flash drive.

I have no idea why the volume locks itself up and refuses to allow write operations. Microsoft want £60 to tell me about it via email so they can get stuffed. The net has all sorts of solutions and offers of repair usually boiling down to "make sure the switch is on/off" even if there is no darn switch to be had!! It must be a o/s fault but as yet I have found no one single solution to this annoying trait of Xp and it's usb drive hang-up. If I do find one....I'll post it!!

I hope this method works for you too.

Marvo_man.

hey i follow your instruction but when i type format e where's my usb located)....it says Insert new Disk for drive e:
and press ENTER.....

Possible solution

I was having the same problem with with my 'Retail Plus+' 2gb drive (no switch wouldn't let me do anything)
go (in any folder) Tools >Folder Options >View
click show hidden files and folders
go to you flash drive there should be a file call fdlist i'm not quite sure but the icon will be faded
delete that file
go to my computer right click on your flash drive
click format then ok (it shouldn't give you the error)
then it should be fixed

i sorry to say this..but i hve too...i too have the same problem and i have tried all the above method and failed yet....finally i have detected that itz a virus...and i used most of the anti-virus soft to delete it..but still failed...so now some one please please.... tell me what to do now??????????

-__________-

aaaaaaaaaah
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
i can't find "storage device policies"
i have tried all above suggestions, but none of the m doesnt work

thank you very much!

thanks.

i am not very good in english and i seldom do this. writing in appreciation of another. how ever this time i would make an exeption.

my kingston datatreveler 2.0 2gb flash drive suddenly went into "write-protection" mode. for no apparent reasons. i tried 2-3 ways to unlock it, but to no avail. later on i tried your way and wallah! all of the problems are now gone. i can delete, add or copy files from and into the flash drive. thank you very much.

p.s
it was not just my kingston, the problem also extended to my easydisk 128mb and another of my flashdrive too. i think it might be because of registry done by my collague. anyway, it is back to normal now. thanks.

This is a very old thread. And any users who still have issues should really create a New Thread on the forums

But I thought I'd mention two other tools that may help members\viewers of this thread.
Warning: These tools will format (ie remove all data from) your flash drive, but as a last resort it is worth it.

1.
HP USB Disk Storage Format Utility

This will format most USB flash drives
It can be known to recover Flash drives that are un-responsive too.

2.
If that doesn't work try this one:

Hard Disk Low Level Format Tool (USB Flash drive "format" that is )

i need help..........
my flash drive write protected, I was able to copy a folder to the flash drive but when I tried to copy another one, the system says "Write Protect Error" I tried to format the drive but it also says the same problem. But When I dismounted it to the computer and mounted it again, you can now delete the files stored in it and also format the drive but still you cannot copy a file/folder to it because of this error

Thanks fatbird, i solve my usb write protect problem,

there is no problem in the USB, and no need to format, usb if giving the problems to write on it, actully you have to do some changes in ur registory, and that is very simple,

- Start > Run > type ‘regedit’ (without the speachmarks) > Enter
- Single-click on ‘My Computer’ > File > Export > save it to the Desktop (Always best to have a backup!!)
- Go to the following:
My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDeviceP olicies
*There seems to be some spaces here in 'StorageDevicePolicies' in the text above, there shouldn't be, OK*

- Double click on the string ‘WriteProtect’ and change the ‘Value Data’ box to ‘0’

that's all.....plug off the usb dirve and plug in again, now you can copy and delete the files from ur usb.....
enjoy it....

Don't worry I copied this down ages ago
I have the format options and the registry option, and even the little mico switch all in one text file to quote to others

One user tried all and didn't work
So other than manufacture format tools
I'd say faulty USB drive (or data cable if it has one)

hi

like all of u i had a same problems withmy usb flash memory
xp said that it is lock and i could not write or even format it

i checked with many programs but non of thems work

so at last i boot with dos ! i had a bootable cd i try with it
my flash memory in dos was B: so i use scandisk in dos
it find some problems and solved them and then i can
format it in dos

i wish it can help u all of my friends
( i hate microsoft xp )

Thanks for your info and time.
By the way if you hate Xp, why use it? Try Linux instead of complaining
Also try to write I instead of writing "i" (this is especially important when trying to help others, ie be clear)

no storagedevicepolicies

...I looked in my registry (win xp, sp2, home ed.) but can find no such item in that registry string.