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
    2012-06-20T02:15:50+00:00

    This methed does not help me because I do not have a registry folder that says:  "StorageDevicePolicies".

    How do I get that or create it or whatever I need to do.    My jump drive is write protected and unusable.

    Thank You

    kenlitski

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-09-08T14:26:04+00:00

    Good detail on the suggested fix and I have added the appropriate registry entry but still cannot access my nearly new flash drive.  The drive does not work in either the XP PC where it first went write protected in the middle of a copy operation, or the Vista and W7 PCs I have at home.

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-09-08T18:30:16+00:00

    For those that don't have  StorageDevicePolicies you have to create it manually. Just point to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Controland then right click and chose new > key name it  StorageDevicePolicies and follow instruction from C

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    10 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2012-09-08T18:42:30+00:00

    This can happen because of a virus. I think your USB flash drive had the virus and when you put in on each computer those got infected. I suggest : 

    1 - Install/Update Antivirus program

    2 - Scan your computer with the anti virus

    3 - Format your flash drive

    4 - Follow the instructions from A

    Note that although the virus might get deleted from your computer but its damages might still get fixed manually.

    Microsoft has a good anti malware program called security essentials. It's free and powerful. You can download it from here.

    Hope this solves your problem.

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    2 people found this answer helpful.
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