Write-protected USB stick

[Tino1948]

Here I go again...

 

I bought a 32Gb USB memory stick online and I can't copy anything on it because says that is write-protected. Also seems that is not formatted and I can't format it because is write-protected.

 

I did try to clear the protection using the Command Prompt (F:, DIR and xcopy C: F:\s) but didn't work; I went into the register and I was looking for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies to set it to "0" but the key doesn't exist (????????????????).

 

I am totally lost... How can I lift the write protection?

 

With thanks in advance for your kindness,

 

Tino

[shrimply]

I've had this happen when the flash drive is knackered, if I'd just bought it I'd be telling the seller and asking for a replacement.

 

As a last resort you could maybe try a low level format

 

http://www.ehow.com/how_5930428_fix-flash-drive-low_level-format.html

 

But i believe they can sometimes do more harm than good.

[KenB]

In addition to shrimply's link I found this that may be worth a try:

 

click here

[Tino1948]

Ta shrimply and KenB

 

I'll try both ideas and I'll get back to you with the results.

 

shripmly, the seller did behave nicely and did offer me a refund:

 

Let me apologise firstly for the fact that you have clearly received a faulty USB. The USB is definitely not supposed to be write-protected. I can offer you either a full refund or a replacement USB.

 

But I am a bit "strange" and did answer and now what I said in the answer is what I am doing now:

 

It is not right to complain for the sake of complaining and returning things to get a new one without running out of all the technical tasks to get resolved the problem in first place.

 

After overcoming the frustration, the childish behaviour(I am getting old faster than I thought...)and the typical Mediterranean bad temper, I did start thinking on the issue ( I can think!!!! Amazing!)and something doesn't fit in that was faulty when you send it. I don't know... I am going to do some tests to see if there is really a fault or something else, because the fault did show up after start copying files on it and in a sudden,in the middle of the copy, did start saying that couldn't copy because was write-protected. Fine... so... How did copy half of the file without problems? Mmmmmmmm...

 

After that it did start saying that was not formatted (????????????)And it was in the beginning???? When I did try to format it said that could not be done because was write-protected. Right...

 

I am asking for help in some Forums and if they can not help me to find the fault -if any- and how to resolve it, I'll be back to you.

[KenB]

Hi Tino

 

If the supplier says that it should not be write protected I would take him up on his offer to replace it.

It is obviously faulty.

[Tino1948]

Ta, KenB

 

Yes... I am going to stop being Quixote for once and I am going to follow your advise.

 

I am too much too old to star "Crusades"...

 

I am going to contact the seller straight away and pack it up to send it back tomorrow. I am tired...

 

Thank you once more. Please, consider the post closed.

 

Kind regards.

 

Tino

[Tino1948]

Good morning KenB and shrimply.

 

KenB, I've just send it back as you did advice me and in agreement with the seller. I've read in a sellers Forum the sellers complaining that there are a huge amount of fake 32Gb memory sticks, all from China.

 

But just for fun and to learn something new, in this case how to use the facilities in your link and in the shrimply one, I did check the dongle o both facilities plus one to check if was a fake stick.

 

In the one in your link the command prompt ended saying that "The volume does not contain a recognized file system. Please make sure that all required file system drivers are loaded and that the volume is not corrupted".

 

In the shrimply link the LLF Tool, as scrolling the sectors, in each one said "Format Error Occurred at offset xxx,xxx,xxx:19 (here the number of each sector) - The Media is write protected". Oh! Really? I didn't know...

 

I did use a link enclosed in the link about to check if the dongle was a fake memory stick and said that if is not a fake is corrupted.

 

I went to "My Computer" and right click on the drive, then left click on "Properties" and I've found out that the drive was full... OF NOTHING!!!, full of 0 bytes ????????????? and that the capacity of the drive was 0 bytes ???????????

 

Just let you know as matter of future knowledge background. It is in its way to the seller, anyway.

 

Have a nice weekend all of you.

 

Kind regards.

 

Tino.

 

(I will start on the wireless modem interference issue after lunch -and the "siesta"...- and I will let you know the results)

Edited July 28, 2012 by Tino1948

[Tino1948]

This question is not resolved but I am having a replacement so, please, consider the issue closed. Ta.

[KenB]

Will do.

 

Lets us know if the replacement works better than the original :)