USB flash drive prompts with "Write Protected" message.

Anonymous
2010-06-25T00:56:28+00:00

I have recently purchased a 32gb usb flash drive. I have been using it ok until 3 days ago. I now get a message saying "Write Protected". There is no write protection switch on the device. How do i remove the write protection.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2010-06-25T21:03:53+00:00

Hi,

You can remove write protection from your usb flash drive using the below method:

a. Open start menu, in the search bar type regedit and press enter. This wil open the registry editor.

b. Navigate to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies

Note:

If the registry key StorageDevicePolicies does not exist, you will need to create it manually.

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

d. Double click the key WriteProtect in the right window and set the value to 0 in the Value

Data Box and press OK button

e. Restart your computer and try copying files into your USB drives.

Important Note:

Sometimes this problem is caused by two Windows registry entries that have become corrupted. To fix the problem, you have to use Registry Editor to delete the corrupted registry entries.

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, follow the steps as in the KB Article:

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

Hope this helps.

Thanks and Regards:

Shekhar S - Microsoft Support. Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-10-15T09:57:58+00:00

    DWORD is a term used in the Registry for values put into a 'key'.  Various software programs refer to their 'keys' in the registry in order to carry out specific functions.  

    As mentioned in my post of May 20, 2013, you need to open the Registry Editor - regedit.exe to carry out the operations described.

    However, you can get into a lot of trouble if you don't know much about the Registry or editing it and although unlikely, you could prevent Win 7 running properly or at all .....

    Unless there's some vital information on the USB stick, it might be better to just bin it, rather than tinker with the Registry.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-10-15T05:35:35+00:00

    what do you mean by create a New DWORD (32-bit)???? what is a DWORD? are you creating a new file with that name? and i am running win 7 64 bit.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-10-06T09:14:14+00:00

    I have tried this method a number of times, and each time it has not worked. What other options are there??

    If you read from the beginning of the thread, you will see that there are a number of options.

    I have tried every known method, using other operating systems and low-level format tools.  Originally, I was trying to fix the USB sticks, but now I've given that up and it's just out of interest to see if a solution can ever be found.

    Some work for corrupted System Policies.  However, there are a lot of cases where there are no known means to make the USB drive 'readable' - see my earlier posts.

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-10-05T22:46:12+00:00

    I have tried this method a number of times, and each time it has not worked. What other options are there??

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