I have a 64gb corrupted USB Flash Drive. I get an error message that it is write protected and cannot be formatted. Is there any way to remove the write protection?

Look for a small slide switch on it and change its position if one is there.

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No switch on it Jay

Hi chad, try this out, it may help: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3pwGZOAmvw

Cheers: Rich

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"Life's a long song" >>>>> Jethro Tull

Thanks Rich, I gave it a try but when I run that, it can't find the drive. This is my second USB Flash Drive that has become corrupted and no longer accessable. I have tried numerous things but nothing seems to work. It seems that these USB Flash drives are write protected and as a result of that, they cannot be formatted and returned to use. There are some help pages that talk about changing the registry so that formatting can be accomplished but I would need specific instructions on how to do that.

Point us to the help pages. We may be able to translate into step-by-step procedures.

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Patty MacDuffie
Computer Haven Administrator

Live Long and Prosper
Mr. Spock

These pages all relate to my problem:

http://blog.vistanetworks.ca/2009/05/29/windows-7-rc0-disk-is-write-protected/

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-security/usb-hard-drive-is-write-protected-and-will-not-run/a413d47c-6586-484b-92fb-ce77d7821bbb

http://technodigits.com/2007/06/30/how-i-got-my-corrupt-usb-drive-working-again/

This is the best solution I see, and should be simple to do if followed step by step. The only thing he doesn't tell you is to hit enter after each command.

Open a command prompt window (start –> run –> type in the run window "cmd")

In the command prompt type "diskpart"

Type "list volume" This will list all the drives on your computer and give them all volume numbers.

Next you want diskpart to set focus on the write protected drive. Type "select volume #" which ever volume is the disk in question.

Now type "attributes disk clear readonly" and then type "attributes volume clear readonly"

Check the drive in question, you should now be able to access the disk with full permissions.

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Patty MacDuffie
Computer Haven Administrator

Live Long and Prosper
Mr. Spock

I think I did this correctly but got an error message in the command prompt when I did the "attributes volume clear readonly" telling me that the operation is not supported on removable media.

Can you see the drive in Computer? Can you right-click and go to its properties? If so, go to the Security tab. What accounts are listed and what permissions?

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Patty MacDuffie
Computer Haven Administrator

Live Long and Prosper
Mr. Spock

Patty, assuming that the 8gig drive is the flash would diskpart be fooled into 'thinking' that the drive was unformatted just due to attributes? It shows it as RAW.

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I can see the drive in Computer. When I go to properties, it does not have a security tab. See the two pics of what drives I can see. The drive is showing empty and I guess that's because I was able to save all the files that were in the flash drive to the downloads folder in my "C" drive using a 3rd party recovery program.

Hi Ms MacDuffie........More on this. I have read a ton of stuff on line about trying to fix corrupted flash drives and there was no definitive answers that would repair the "write protected" problem. It may have been possible to do it but in all instances, the drive had to be formatted which would have meant the loss of all data on the drive. So for me, that left two options: 1. Recover the Files and then try to fix the drive. 2. Try the format and hope that it worked to save the drive and in the process, lose all the data on the drive. I chose to recover the files, all 24,174 pictures which I have safely tucked away on two separate drives now.

This afternoon, I checked when and where I had bought that 64gb Flash Drive and it was 49 days ago at Buy.com. I contacted them and they are going to give me credit for the drive but I have to send it back to them on a RMA so I think we can put this problem to sleep as far as I am concerned.

I want to thank everyone for their help and as usual, I found out how to do a lot of new things I have never done before.

A last observation. The drive doesn't show as empty. It shows as 0 bytes used of 0 bytes free. That's quite different. That is what you see with a formatted, closed CD disc. That also shows as read only. It almost looks to me like your computer thinks this thing is a CD ROM, not USB flash. I haven't seen 64 GB flash drives yet - but I wonder if they aren't using some sort of virtual CD program, sort of like WD uses on its external hard drives so you can't get rid of their lousy pre-installed software. Just a thought - not something we need to dig into since you are getting a new drive.

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Patty MacDuffie
Computer Haven Administrator

Live Long and Prosper
Mr. Spock

I don't know, Jay. Your guess is as good as mine.

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Patty MacDuffie
Computer Haven Administrator

Live Long and Prosper
Mr. Spock

Naw, your guesses are usually a little better.

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Ha! Not necessarily! Perhaps in certain areas - but yours are better in others. I would say we are complementary! (In addition to being complimentary. <g>)

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Patty MacDuffie
Computer Haven Administrator

Live Long and Prosper
Mr. Spock

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