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
    2013-04-22T14:49:34+00:00

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-03-28T09:34:38+00:00

    The solution is actually simple.. 

    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."

    then set the value to 0

    this worked for me.

    As I pointed out in my post above, you can create a new DWORD, but I'm afraid that only works if the problem is in the Registry system security policies. 

    I've tried all the known solutions, including trying to fornmat in Linux: 

    fdisk /dev/sda
mkfs -t vfat /dev/sda1I was issuing these with data for my students, but four of the twenty five are still not usable and cannot be recovered.  I think the waste bin will be their next home.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-03-28T09:19:49+00:00

    The solution is actually simple.. 

    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."

    then set the value to 0

    this worked for me.

    Was this answer helpful?

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-03-27T11:28:52+00:00

    Sorry - should have also given you instructions to backup the Registry!

    Look here - Windows Support

    BB

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