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.

If this post helps to resolve your issue, please click the "Mark as Answer" or "Helpful" button at the top of this message. By marking a post as Answered, or Helpful you help others find the answer faster.

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-01-06T21:31:58+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.

    If this post helps to resolve your issue, please click the "Mark as Answer" or "Helpful" button at the top of this message. By marking a post as Answered, or Helpful you help others find the answer faster.

    I was able to get this to work finally. Created a new key "StorageDevicePolicies", created a new DWORD within called "WriteProtect", and set it to 0. However I also had to set it to decimal. Once I did this I unplugged the drive and reconnected it then was able to format it. Don't know how long this will last...

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-02-16T05:44:47+00:00

    It's not working on my window xp service pack 2

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-03-10T17:15:46+00:00

    Hi, can you tell me why my registry is over writes after I change the key value to 0, it always come back to 1. Even If I delete the registry it comes back to 1. I have Windows 10

    ******@king-automation.com

    thanks,

    Placido

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