How do I remove write-protect from a usb?

i'm having same problem with usb flash drives tried both solutions but neither work with win 7 it still says write protected mbr so you cant copy anything to it and now it seems to be working on big micros sd cards as well write protecting them so you cant copy anything to them or format them. what gives microsoft? will theyre ever be a solution that works or would the best thing to do for everyone with flash drives, and hard drives that have been write protected is to dump windows altogether along with microsoft? i would like a solution that actually works and a answer to my questions please

Hi Ali,

Thank you for the reply.

Did you remove the write-protect of a usb succesfully?

Please do let us know if you need further help with Windows, we'll be happy to assist you further.

Hi Ali,

It appears that, you need more information to remove write-protect from a usb. Refer to the following information.

The Error pops out due to Virus attack or write protection enabled on USB device or may locked USB drive. It mostly caused in windows 7, vista.

As you have to make changes to registry editor to fix this Problem, follow steps to make it disappear.

a) Tap on Start and type regedit then hit enter

b) In registeditor window now, Navigate to :

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l \StorageDevicesPolices

c) Now, Right click Storagedevicespolices and select  New > Dword and Name it as write Protect

d) Edit write protect value and replace it with 0 and hit Ok.

 If above mentioned doesn't work then, try formatting USB drive after following above steps:

a) Open CMD with administrative rights.

b) Type diskpart and hit enter

c) Type listdisk and hit enter

d) Now, type select disk x (where x is the USB disk drive, you can replace x with your USB drive number)

e) Type attributes disk clear randomly and hit enter.

Important:  This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322756 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756/ )

How to back up and restore the registry in Windows.

Note: Make sure that, you take data backup before formatting the USB.

Hope this information helps you. Please do let us know if you need further assistance with Windows, we’ll be glad to assist you.

Hi,

If the drive has failed then you might not be able to remove the Write Protect though

you might be able to read and copy the files on it. Be sure to try the drive in another

computer.

Some of this duplicates Ganesh Achar B's good advice.

Memory card is write protected or locked

http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1102/~/memory-card-is-write-protected-or-locked

Registry Hack to Disable Writing to USB Drives - has Reg file for Enable and Disable

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/registry-hack-to-disable-writing-to-usb-drives/

Enable USB Writes

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies]

"WriteProtect"=dword:00000000

Disable USB Writes

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies]

"WriteProtect"=dword:00000001

The MyDIgital Life link works - to reverse it set it to 0.

http://www.mydigitallife.info/write-protect-and-disable-usb-drive/

Run Registry Editor (regedit).

Navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control

Create a New Key named as StorageDevicePolicies.

Highlight StorageDevicePolicies, and then create a New DWORD (32-bit) Value named as WriteProtect.

Double click on WriteProtect, and set its value data to 0.

(Set to 1 to enable WriteProtect - makes it read only)

==========================================

Check  the 2nd and 3rd methods in this link (1st methods is same as the above) under

"If the above method does work for you, follow the below steps" and those under "The

above two steps will solve the problem. If you still face the problem, follow the below

steps:".

Remove Write Protection On USB Pen Drive or Memory Card or iPod

http://troublefixers.com/remove-write-protection-on-usb-pen-drive-or-memory-card-or-ipod/

Hope this helps.

Rob Brown - Microsoft MVP <- profile - Windows Expert - Consumer : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

So I tried to do the registry method but there wasn't a folder Storage Devices Polices so it didn't work. I tried the command prompt afterwards, I succeeded in cleaning disk 7 but not disk 8.