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The disk cannot be written to because it is write-protected...

Hi friends !

I have a problem in my Flash Disk. When I plug it in the USB port, my PC detects it and I can see removable disk (G:) in My Computer. When I double click and open the disk, I can open it normally. BUT...

1. When I try to delete any file from Flash Disk, I can't delete any file. I receive the following error message...

Error Deleting File or Folder
Cannot delete <filename>: The disk is write-protected.
Remove the write-protection or use another disk.

2. When I try to copy a file from Hard Disk to Flash Disk, I can't copy. I receive the following error message...

Error Copying File or Folder
Cannot Copy <filename>: The disk is write-protected.
Remove the write-protection or use another disk.

3. When I try to format the disk from Windows Graphical Mode by right click--->Format, I receive the message...

The disk is write-protected.

4. When I use Command Prompt and give this command ---->Format G:, I receive the following message...

Insert new disk for drive G:
and press ENTER when ready...
(when I press ENTER, I receive the second message...)
The type of the file system is FAT32.
Verifying 491M.
Cannot format. The volume is write-protected.

5. When I scanned the Flash Disk with Kaspersky 6.0, it detected some viruses and threats, and suggested me to delete the files. When I chose the option to delete them, Kaspersky couldn't delete them and gave the following message...

The Volume is write-protected.

Note that: I don't think that the Flash Disk is corrupted because it is detected by the OS and showing 491 MB capacity. The file system on Flash Disk is also identified by OS as FAT32. When I copy one file From Flash Disk--->To Hard Disk, I can copy it. So I am quite sure that Flash is OK.

Also Note that I have not protected my Flash Disk by any Locking Utility. Previously I was able to open it and to copy/delete files on it

Please help me in this regard. Waiting for your valuable suggestion...

Hemant

SOLUTION

and235100

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SOLUTION

SheharyaarSaahil

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JatinHemant

ASKER

Thanks for your quick reply...

You see in my first posting, I missed to tell that there is a manual lock at the right side ot the flash. And I have applied this method. It was already unlocked. And all these error messages are coming in its unlocked state.

I applied your second suggestion...chkdsk /r

But it gave me the following message...

The type of the File System is FAT32.
Cannot lock current drive.
Windows cannot run disk checking on this volume because it is write protected.

Are there some ways to forcefully unlock the disk ?

Thanks,

Hemant

SOLUTION

SheharyaarSaahil

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JatinHemant

ASKER

Hi SherharyaarSaahil !

I have worked on your suggestion locking and unlocking and checking. BUT it doesn't work. I agree with you that switch might be damaged.

Is there any manual way to repair the swtich ? Can we do it ourselves or we need to ask for some experts ? Will the repairing cost will be same as purchasing new one or it will be nominal ?

Thanks,

Hemant

SOLUTION

SheharyaarSaahil

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ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

nobus

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johnb6767

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johnb6767

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JatinHemant

ASKER

Thanks for your replies and sorry for not being on the discussion for a long time...

Please see that I couldn't find the provided registry path...
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies]

I could only nevigate upto Control, after that I neither found the entry key for StroageDevicePolicies or any subdirectroy named StorageDevicePolicies under Control Directory.

Are you sure this path is correct ?

Thanks,

Hemant

SOLUTION

johnb6767

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JatinHemant

ASKER

Thanks for your continuous support...

It seems that the lock is damaged and now I have decided to buy the new one.

Thanks,

Hemant

nobus

>> It seems that the lock is damaged << what lock do you mean?

JatinHemant

ASKER

There is a lock in the right side of the flash. It is the switch for write protection. I opened and closed it but in both condition, I couldn't copy any data in the flash. I couldn't format the flash.

Any solution in this matter...

Thanks,

Hemant

nobus

yes- that is the write protect switch. i doubt if that is damaged; i suppose your flash stick just went bad.

JatinHemant

ASKER

Thanks for your reply...

I have planned to buy a new flash as on the same discussion, I was suggested that new flash will cost the same as repairing and it is not easy to repair a flash.

Thanks again,

Hemant

nobus

i never heard of a repair for flash disks

Ramesh Kumar Pasupuleti

JatinHemant:

thanx mate for the solution
iam serching from many days i found correct solution

snsemea

Hello, I am exactly having the same problem like JatinHemant but in my case, I dont have any lock button I believe. I am using Transcend Data External Hard Disk 160 GB ; the weird part is that when I try to delete a file, im getting the same error, when i empty recycle bin, i get this error but it empty it after that. when i copy a file from desktop to external, it says that disk is write protected as well and that i cannot copy. When i tried it on my other laptop, it worked, so problem is from this particular laptop. Any advise?

The above solutions didn't work.

dattek

I don't believe the problem is the switch for locking or unlocking the usb drive. I have a Sony 64GB USB Volt 2.0 drive which doesn't have a switch and I have the same issue. I have seen a lot of blogs and postings regarding this issue and non have a solution but to throw it away and buy a new one. Mine is brand new. It was working well in NTFS and I had to format it in FAT32 in order to be record movies and the TV with my PVR cable box. The formating to FAT32 came out very well but, after recording the first movie, it kept repeating the same scene over and over. I click to the stop recording button and the box turn off itself. I securely removed the USB and connected it my PC to see if the movie was there and a few files where created but not a big size video file. So I decided to remove every file from the USB drive and that's when it all began to happen. The same issues as this guy reports. Can't delete or put files, can't format it.. and all because it says that the volume is write protected. There is no switch as I mention. Apparently no programmer have develop a tool to be able to erase the volume label and reformat a USB device. I tried using one that comes with the CMD of WIndows Vista but it doesn't allow formating by volume with external devices.