Jun182011

How can I format a write protected flash disk?

nelson555 asks:

I have a 8 GB Transcend flash disk. The problem is it’s write protected and I can not reformat.



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13 Answers -

0 votes

FIDELIS

June 19, 2011

Hello, you could try the following:

– click on start
– click on run
– type cmd
– type chkdsk and then type your drive’s letter and then the switch /f. It should look like:   chkdsk (your drive’s letter): /f
– press enter
– if you get any errors, click ok until chkdsk is finished

– remove flash drive and plug it in again

– try the formatting again.

0 votes

Jeffery Fabish

June 19, 2011

Open up a command prompt. Type “diskpart” and press enter. At the
“DISKPART >” prompt, type “list volume”. This will show you a list of
your drives and a corresponding number. Assuming your flash drive is
listed as “5″, type “select volume 5″. Then type “attributes volume
clear readonly” and press enter.

Credits: RTAdams89 http://www.computing.net/answers/security/removing-write-protection/25867.html#postfp

Ranjanl546

when i tried your post
then i got this
“virtual disk server error:
the operation is not supported on removable media”
 so how to fix this

October 26, 2011
0 votes

Jack Cola

June 20, 2011

Some flash drives have a little switch on them somewhere that enables write protect. Might check to see if it has one, and then flick it.

0 votes

Tina

June 25, 2011

Nelson,

did the tips above work for you? Please let us know!

0 votes

sushil kumar

July 1, 2011

VISIT THIS PAGE IT WILL HELP YOU ALOT http://techsalsa.com/solution-to-remove-write-protection-from-usb-pen-drive/
IF THIS HELP U PLZ LET US KNOW

0 votes

Adnan Sial

August 14, 2011

it all didn’t work… i have also try to done through my windows regedit but could not find ‘storage device policies’. 

Tina

Adnan,

I’m sorry that none of the solutions above worked for you. Unfortunately, I don’t know the answer either. Maybe you should try to ask a new question via the respective button on MakeUseOf Answers.

August 18, 2011
Eubertklint_25

you should download. add.bat 
storage device policies will appear

April 13, 2012
0 votes

Anas P

January 20, 2012

This method will work only ,if any Linux OS is installed in your PC (I used Ubuntu).Just start Linux OS.Plug your Pen drive.Open your Pen drive by the system.You will find the files which are affected by Virus which are some time invisible in Windows.Just delete all the files(Right click on the file -> Move to trash).That is enough.(If it is not working,Can’t delete,do it again by removing and connecting you pen drive to PC).
I Fount this method because,none of the solutions which I got from the Internet didn’t worked.
I wish this will work.

0 votes

Madhusudan Krishnamurthy

February 2, 2012

here is the solution to remove write protection in pendrive due to virus. please do the following steps

start – run -regedit – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentcontrolsetcontrolstoratedevicepolicies

in right side u will be getting writeprotect option, just right click that and modify the value from 1 to 0

Thanking you,

Madhusudan K
(madhusudana.k29@gmail.com)

0 votes

Onyebf

April 23, 2012

Remove USB Memory Stick Write Protected:
How to remove a write protection from your USB memory Stick
1. Shutdown your computer or laptop
2. Insert USB Memory Stick into your laptop or Computer
3. Turn on laptop and then immediately start pressing (F8) key then Advanced Boot Options screen will come up
4. Select Safe Mode with Command Prompt
5. After loading files if your USB Memory Stick drive letter is (G) for example then write as
6. C:\windows\system32>G: and press enter
7. G:\>format G: and press enter
8. If ask you (Y/N) then press (Y) and press enter
9. Now a full format will start which remove write protection from USB Memory Stick.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_remove_write_protected_error_for_the_flash_drive#ixzz1ssAHIKOo

0 votes

suriya

April 29, 2012

i have 8GB trancent pen drive but it not formatting when i give format it says the system is write protected…….i could not format my pendrive…….
so please tell me solution how to format my pen drive…..

Bruce Epper

For a Transcend drive, go here http://www.transcend-info.com/support/DlCenter/DLSoftware.asp?ID=4&Func1No=&Func2No= to use their online recovery tool. I have heard that it also works with Corsair devices but have not tested it myself.

April 30, 2012
yahya

i will like u to help me soft the problem of USB flash protected when formating, it will be of great important if u can help me, thanks pending reply

May 21, 2012
Susendeep Dutta

Did you tried using neo9 tool described in the above comment?

June 15, 2012
0 votes

teshome

May 10, 2012

How can I format a write protected flash disk?
or i can make fix write protected flash disk?

ha14

1. Go to run, type regedit and press enter.
2. Navigate to the path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies
If the registry key StorageDevicePolicies does not exist, you will need to create it manually.
3. Highlight StorageDevicePolicies, and then create a New DWORD (32-bit) Value named as WriteProtect.
4. Double click the key WriteProtect in the right window and set the value to 0 in the Value Data Box and press OK button
5. Restart your computer and see if this help

or
1. Start > search bar -> CMD and press enter
2. type< diskpart
3. type< list disk
4. type< select disk # (# is the number of the USB key)
5. type< attributes disk clear readonly

or
Neo 9 tool able to get past the write protection and format the pen drive
http://www.box.net/shared/9hgp81ndgs

May 10, 2012
0 votes

kunal patil

May 18, 2012

scan disk Pen drive write protected error

ha14

have you tried the above methods?
also if your usb key is dead then you have to consider purchase a new one.

May 22, 2012
0 votes

Lexcell

June 4, 2012

Try This:
1.Right Click on My Computer and Select Manage.
2.Go to Storage then Disk Management.
3. Right click on your Flash Drive and Select Format.
4. If its formatted try and Format it again using the normal method.
5. If the normal method works it means that your USB is not write protected anymore.