The era of floppy disks is long gone, but sometimes when trying to write to a flash drive, the user may encounter a situation known since the days of using floppy disks - the removable disk is locked and cannot be used to write files.
We will look at how to solve this problem in detail in our article today.
So, you need to write some information to a flash drive, you insert it into the connector and receive a message like “The disk is write-protected, remove the protection or use another disk.”
This problem can be solved quite quickly, and we will talk about this a little later, but now we should say a few words about the purpose of installing write protection on a flash drive.
Note! As a rule, this operation is performed for only one purpose - to protect the flash drive from viruses that can spontaneously be copied to removable media without the user’s knowledge.
Methods for removing write protection from a flash drive
There are 2 key ways to remove protection from a flash drive: hardware and software.
The hardware method is to install a lock switch, which is present in some models of USB flash drives, as well as SD cards. As a rule, the switch is located on the side edge of the drive.
Carefully inspect your existing drive and look for an open/closed lock icon or the word Lock on it.
Note! Removing the protection is very simple - you just need to move the locking lever in the opposite direction. Write protection has been removed. Insert the flash drive into the appropriate slot and repeat the file writing operation again.
The software method involves software interaction between the operating system and the flash drive controller, which is responsible for the ability to record information.
You can remove write protection programmatically using the command line, registry editor, or local group policy in Windows 7/8. Let's take a closer look at all of the above methods.
Removing protection using regedit
Step 1.“Start”, in the search field enter the name of the Windows registry editor - regedit. Right-click (RMB) on the program and in the context menu go to the “Run as administrator” item.
Step 2. Let's go to the StorageDevicePolicies section:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies
Important! If there is no such section, you need to create it. To do this, right-click on the section Control - New - Section. We name the section “StorageDevicePolicies” without quotes.
Create (RMB in the right column of the registry) a DWORD value (32 bits) in the created registry branch. For convenience, let's call the created element WriteProtect.
Step 3. You need to make sure that the value of the WriteProtect parameter is 0. Right-click on WriteProtect and select “Change”. If the value is “1” you need to change it to “0” and click “Ok”.
Step 4. Close the registry editor, remove the flash drive and restart the computer. Insert the flash drive. Now the flash drive works as usual, allowing you to write files.
Removing protection using Diskpart
If the flash drive could not be unlocked using the registry, let's try to do it using the Diskpart command interpreter, which allows you to manage disks and partitions using commands that the user enters at the command line.
Step 1.“Start”, in the search field enter the name of the Windows command line - cmd. Right-click in the program and select “Run as administrator” in the context menu.
Step 2. Now you need to enter the commands: diskpart and list disk, and after entering each of them, press the Enter key.
Step 3. In the list above, you need to determine what serial number in the name the flash drive has.
This can be done based on the specified size, in our case an 8 GB flash drive, presented in the table as “Disk 1” with a capacity of 7441 MB.
Step 4. We select the disk with the “select” command, clear the attributes that allow only reading “attributes disk clear readonly”.
If the flash drive needs to be formatted, you should enter the following commands “clean”, create a partition “create partition primary”, format it to NTFS “format fs = ntfs” or FAT “format fs = fat”.
Removing protection using the Local Group Policy Editor
Step 1. Open the editor by pressing the Win + R key combination, after which you should enter the command gpedit.msc and press “OK” or Enter.
Step 2. In the editor, open the branch: Computer Configuration - Administrative Templates - System - Access to Removable Storage Devices. And look at the status of the “Removable drives: Deny reading” parameter.
If the parameter is enabled, you must disable it.
Step 3. To disable recording restrictions, double-click on the parameter and in the window that appears, select “Disable”, “OK”.
If all the methods described above did not help solve the recording problem, you can try going to the official website of the flash drive manufacturer and looking for proprietary utilities for working with the drive.
It is also possible that the flash drive has exhausted its resource (there is a limit on the number of rewrites, after which the drive is switched to read-only mode) and the only way out of the situation is to buy a new flash drive.
Most users have flash drives (usb sd, transcend, microsd, kingston, sandisk, cd, flash, qumo, microsd, apacer, verbatim, sdhc, psp), hard drive d (hdd), dvd or any other removable or local storage .
You probably use them with great regularity. They allow you to copy your media, photos and important documents.
Despite their high resistance to mechanical damage and the ability to store data for many years, like all other gadgets, they deteriorate.
One of the most common errors that can affect USB flash drives, memory cards or disks is an annoying message: the “Disk is write-protected” error.
Those who have ever had a similar problem know exactly what I mean.
Inability to copy/add/delete any files - this can lead to frenzy.
After trying hard to repair, most end up giving up on the fixes and buying new ones.
What should I do if the system writes the disk is write protected? How to remove this notorious protection?
Here are some simple but effective solutions to restore a disk or flash drive to a working state.
Use these simple tips and simply forget about the message: “the disk is write-protected,” although there is one point here that I have encountered more than once.
Sometimes the system displays damaged media (flash drive, disk) as write-protected. How to revive drives
It's a microprocessor issue. If it fails, even partially - you can read it - you can copy or format it - no), then only a utility from the drive manufacturer can fix it, and even then not always.
Let's start unlocking disks and flash drives
You have a USB flash drive connected to your computer and you want to copy some files.
Here you are in for a surprise: “The disc is write protected. Please remove write protection or use another drive."
Then you say, "...fuck, how did this happen"? Don't panic - take a deep breath and remain calm.
This is just an error message. Now we will go through a few simple steps together to remove write protection on a USB flash drive. It's just technology and we can fix a lot of things.
Step 1 - Check your USB drive for viruses
Every time you connect a USB drive to your computer, you should automatically scan for viruses - especially if you used it on computers that you don't own.
Viruses often fill USB drives with their files - this can cause a message: write protected.
Depending on your antivirus software, it can be configured to automatically scan USB drives when they are connected.
If you don’t have such a tool, you’ll have to do the scanning manually, it’s not difficult.
If you find a virus, eliminate it using antivirus programs.
Most likely, where there is one virus, there are two or more. For such work, the free utilities Doctor Web and AVG have good recommendations.
Step 2 – Check the enclosure of the USB flash drive
Some USB flash drives are equipped with a mechanical switch that allows you to set them to the write-protected position.
This can be a very small slider switch that can switch on its own in a pocket or computer case (if it is an adapter).
If this is your situation, then simply move the switch to the open position and try copying the files again.
Today there are not many USB drives with such locks. So there's a good chance that this isn't your problem.
On the other hand, if this is not the question, then the following fixes are a little more complicated.
Step 3 - Make sure the disk is not full
If your USB drive is full, you may also receive a writing error message.
So find your USB drive, right-click on it and select Properties.
This will give you a nice pie chart of how much is being used and how much free space is available on your drive.
Step 4 – File System
Make sure you are not using a file that is write-protected. Yes, you will receive a different error message, but perhaps you jumped to conclusions and thought that it was the entire USB flash drive that was blocked. This happens.
Right click on the file you are trying to burn and then on "properties" and the "security" tab.
You will now see several options at the bottom of this window, and one of them is read-only.
Make sure that the checkbox is unchecked or unchecked, and then click on the Apply button. You should now be able to write to this file.
Step 5 - Diskpart Command Line Utility
Have you ever worked on the Windows command line? This is not as scary as one might think, and as such it is the next logical step to remove protection.
Click on and enter the word CMD in the field: search for programs and files.
Now, click on the top (black icon). You will see the following window:
Enter the command “DiskPart” into it and press Enter. Diskpart is a tool that is built into Windows and is accessible through a command line utility. With it we can change the values associated with your USB drive.
Make sure this is really your USB drive. Now type the command Select Disk 3, assuming your USB is number 3, and hit Enter.
Now paste another command there - disk clear ReadOnly - and then click on Enter.
This way you have cleared any read-only attributes that might be on that USB drive.
Now close the command prompt and try writing to the USB drive again. If the protection continues to block access, move on.
Step 6 - to the registry
If none of the previous steps worked for you, then you should do something a little dangerous - enter the registry.
If you are not satisfied with the registry, you can proceed to step 7, to format the USB drive.
Or maybe have a friend who is a computer technician and will check the registry for you.
Try it yourself - it's a fairly simple registry change and you can do it.
Click on the Start menu and enter the command – regedit – in the Search programs and files field. You will see something like the picture in the box below.
Click on the icon at the top and the Registry Editor window will open. By clicking on the arrows next to the menu items, navigate to the branch
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies
and find the key named - WriteProtect.
If such an entry exists, right-click on it and click on "Edit".
Now, you will probably find that this parameter is set to 1. 1 means yes and 0 means no. Now change the value to 0 and click on the OK button.
Close Registry Editor, remove the USB device, and then connect it again. You should now be able to record to your USB drive. If not, then the disk will have to be formatted.
Step 7 - Format the USB Drive
WARNING: Make sure you have backed up all files and information on your USB drive. All data will be lost after formatting.
Formatting your hard drive is a last resort. However, it should make your USB capable of reading and writing.
Before formatting a USB drive, determine which file system it already has - NTFS or FAT32.
Usually the file system he already has will be best suited for him.
Now right-click on the selected USB drive and select “Properties” - there you will see the file system.
Close the Properties window, right-click on the USB drive again and select format.
This describes the built-in Windows tool, but sometimes it is advisable, especially if the integrated functions did not bring the desired result.
In the Formatting window, you have several options. You have already determined which file system you will format into.
I suggest unchecking the “Quick Format” checkbox. This will do more than just erase files.
If there are bad sectors on this USB drive, full formatting will throw an error.
Formatting shouldn't take much time. Of course, the larger the volume, the longer it will take.
Assuming you don't have a physical problem with the drive, it will be formatted and ready to read and write.
Conclusion
Sometimes the problem is simple and can be treated simply. Try the methods above as they are most often correct.
If the problem is deep and requires drastic action, make sure that this is true.
Now you have a lot of troubleshooting tools in your arsenal, you should be able to get your flash drives and drives back up and running, potentially saving you a pretty penny.
Of course, if you have any additional tips, we'd love to read them too. Good luck.
Keywords: usb sd, transcend, microsd, kingston, sandisk, cd, flash, qumo, microsd, apacer, verbatim, sdhc, psp, external, flash drive, dvd.
Read what to do if, when you try to format a flash drive, memory card or hard drive, you receive the message: “The disk is write-protected.” And also, how to properly remove protection and unlock any device if you cannot create or copy files to a flash drive or memory card because the device is write-protected.
If you see a message while copying or creating files on your device: You need permission to perform this operation.
Or when you try to format, you receive a message: You do not have sufficient permissions to perform this operation.
This means you need to remove device write protection in the Windows Local Group Policy Editor:
- Run the run command, enter gpedit.msc and press Enter.
- Go to section "Computer Configuration" - "Administrative Templates" - "System" - .
- Disable the property "Removable drives: disable writing". To do this, double click on it, set the value Disabled and press OK.
- Repeat these steps for the section "User Configuration" - "Administrative Templates" - "System" - "Accessing removable storage devices".
After completing these steps, try creating a file or folder on the flash drive. If this guide did not help you, watch our previous videos about fixing errors on a flash drive.
The era of floppy disks is long gone, but sometimes when trying to write to a flash drive, the user may encounter a situation known since the days of using floppy media - it is blocked and cannot be used.
We will look at how to solve this problem in detail in our article today.
So, you need to write some information to a flash drive, you insert it and receive a message like “The disk is write-protected, remove the protection or use another one.”
This problem can be solved quite quickly, and we will talk about this a little later, but now we should say a few words about the purpose of installing protection from downloading on .
Note! This operation is performed for only one purpose - which can spontaneously be copied to removable media without the user’s knowledge.
Methods for removing write protection from a flash drive
There are 2 key ways to remove protection from a flash drive: hardware and software.
The hardware solution is to install a lock switch, which is present in some drive models, as well as SD cards.
Most often, the toggle switch is located on the side edge of the drive.
Carefully inspect your existing drive and look for an open/closed lock icon or the word Lock on it.
Note! Removing the lock is very simple - just move the lock lever in the opposite direction. That's all. Insert the media into the appropriate slot and repeat the file writing operation again.
The software solution involves the interaction of a flash drive controller, which is responsible for the ability to record information.
You can remove write protection using this method using the command line of the Registry Editor or Local Group Policy.
Learn more about all of the above methods.
Removing protection using regedit
1. Click “Start” and enter - in the search field. Right-click (RMB) on the program and in the context menu go to the “Run as administrator” item.
2. Go to the StorageDevicePolicies section:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies
Important! Important! If there is no such thing, you will have to create it. To do this, click on the section Control - New - Section. We call it “StorageDevicePolicies” without quotes. If there is no such section, you need to create it.
Create (RMB in the right column of the registry) a DWORD parameter (32 bits) in the created branch. For convenience, let's call the element WriteProtect.
3. Make sure that the WriteProtect value is 0. Right-click on WriteProtect and select “Change”. If the value is “1” you need to change it to “0” and click “Ok”.
4. Close the registry editor, remove the media and restart the computer. Insert the flash drive. Now the flash drive works as usual, allowing you to write files.
Removing protection using Diskpart
If we were unable to unlock using regedit, let's try to do it using the Diskpart command interpreter, which allows you to manage the commands that the user enters into the command line when working with partitions and disks.
1. “Start”, enter the name - cmd - in the search field. Right-click in the program and select “Run as administrator” in the context menu.
2. Now you should enter the commands: diskpart and list disk, and after entering each of them, press the Enter key.
3. In the list above, determine what serial number in the name the flash drive has.
This can be done based on the specified size, in our case an 8 GB flash drive, presented in the table as “Disk 1” with a capacity of 7441 MB.
4. Select the disk with the “select” command, clear the attributes that allow only reading “attributes disk clear readonly”.
If, you should enter the following commands: “clean”, create a partition “create partition primary”, format it in NTFS “format fs = ntfs” or FAT “format fs = fat”.
Removing protection using the Local Group Policy Editor
1. Open it by pressing the Win + R key combination, after which you should enter the command gpedit.msc and press “OK” or Enter.
