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USB flash disk: Remove the write-protection or use another disk

Anonymous
2011-01-06T05:00:36+00:00

My USB flash disk is showing that it is write protected, other USB flash disk drives are working fine on the same PC, it's not a policy issue or a virus, it seems that this problem happened after I removed the USB flash storage while copying process is going on, there should be a shell command or any tool to remove this logical write protection, PLEASE HELP!!!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-01-06T08:17:28+00:00

    Try changing the drive letter and check three registry keys:

    1. Plug in your device, right-click My Computer > Manage > Storage > Disk Management then right-click the graphic icon of the device and select Change Drive letter, then change it to one nearer the end of the alphabet.
    2. If it still isn’t working, check/change these registry keys but create a system restore point first, just in case you have problems. Note that the keys do not necessarily exist, so don't create them as it's probably a different issue.

    A.

    Open a Run window (Windows Logo key+R), type regedit, press Enter and in the left pane navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies, double click on WriteProtect and change Value Data to 0 (zero).

    B.

    Now go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\StorageDevicePolicies, double click on WriteProtect and change Value Data to 0 (zero).

    C.

    Lastly go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet003\Control\StorageDevicePolicies, double click on WriteProtect and change Value Data to 0 (zero).

    10+ people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2011-01-10T04:39:38+00:00

    Guys !!!! if I couldn't find the answer here where shall I look?

    9 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2011-01-06T17:59:24+00:00

    Thank you for your fast response, but unfortunately none of the solutions worked, I even tried to create StorageDevicePolicies key and WriteProtect  DWord entry because I was unable to find them, also same result.

    Please note that other USB flash drives are working fine so I don't think it is a registry issue. I think there should be a command or something to set the property

    8 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2011-01-19T19:40:39+00:00

    It is possible that there is a switch on the drive it self that could be causing the write protection. Alot of USB flash drives and SD cards etc... have little switches for this.

    7 people found this answer helpful.
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  5. Anonymous
    2011-01-19T05:45:25+00:00

    Can you try formatting pendrive from Disk management..  First confirm the drive letter from my computer.. then right-click My Computer > Manage > Storage > Disk Management select the drive from there right click on the drive and select format.

    Be careful not to format any other partition.

    3 people found this answer helpful.
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