USB Memory Stick has gone write protected

Steve_Warwickshire

Hi all,
Can anybody help me please?

I have had 3 USB memory sticks that have gone "write Protected".

I am trying to do some courses & am really fed up with having to keep buying new memory sticks.

Is there any way to remove the write protection so that I can keep using my memory sticks please?

Thanks in advance

Nilrem

Are they all the same type or used in the same machine?

For three to go write protected is odd, unless there is a fault of some kind, or they're of a type with a write protect button/tab (some have a little slider to protect them) and it's been accidentally used.

What's your PC/Laptop make/model and the make/model of the memory sticks?

neilwoods

As said, what are makes of the USB memory sticks. Wouldn't be sandisk by any chance

Steve_Warwickshire

I had 1 Sandisk 8GB memory vault, 1 Kingston & 1 Sony, I have tried them in different laptops, my own & some that I do my courses on. there's no write protect switch on any of them.

I asked Maplin & they told me that the makers allow so many uses then the stick automatically goes to write protect,they seem to think it so the makers can sell more.

My laptop is a Toshiba Satellite L750/L755.

The work stored on the memory sticks is all my own,its just word processing exams/results & loads of practice papers for Excel, which I really need to be able to keep working on & saving to the memory stick.

neilwoods

the sandisk vault can not have the write protect removed, thats the whole idea of the memory vault for long term storage.

do the other 2 not have any kind of small slide switch, like that on sd cards.

Or try this.

http://en.kioskea.net/faq/4214-remove-write-protection-from-a-usb-key-via-the-registry

Steve_Warwickshire

Thanks Neil,will try the link that you have sent there's no switches at all on any of the memory sticks.

It wouldn't be so bad,but I am trying to gain some up-to-date qualifications so I can find employment.

bod1467

Steve_Warwickshire wrote: »

I asked Maplin & they told me that the makers allow so many uses then the stick automatically goes to write protect,they seem to think it so the makers can sell more.

Unless this was explicitly expressed on the product description prior to purchase I could see this being challenge-able - no reasonable person would expect such a product to have a prescribed maximum lifespan.

Steve_Warwickshire

Are there any USB flash drive's that do not have any limits on them(as in amount of times used) if they have a write protection switch does that mean that I can just use them,without a limit on the amount of times I use it? as I would be controlling the write protection?
Thanks all

Peter999_2

All USB flash devices have a maximum number of times that they can be written on due to the nature of the device and the way it forces the write of the data. However, I have never heard of any manufacturer putting limits on the number of writes and then write protecting them.

Far more likely that the Maplin guy just made it up, people working in these type of shops tend to do that.

Will be different when memristors are readily available, they won't have a maximum life span.

kwikbreaks

Peter999 wrote: »

Far more likely that the Maplin guy just made it up, people working in these type of shops tend to do that.

Will be different when memristors are readily available, they won't have a maximum life span.

I'm puzzled here - are Maplin going to be replacing their staff's brains with memristors?

Deru

If you copy your documents off first, are you able to format the drive or does it still say it's write protected?

I wonder if it's a Windows issue or a virus...

Write protect is usually only activated via software or a physical switch. Only exception I can think of being when you try to copy a large 4GB+ file to a disc formatted with FAT32 because it's not supported. Faulty discs?

Are there any USB flash drive's that do not have any limits on them(as in amount of times used) if they have a write protection switch does that mean that I can just use them,without a limit on the amount of times I use it? as I would be controlling the write protection?

They all have a lifespan as you write on them more but this problem is unusual. Usually thousands of writes and you're unlikely to be using the whole drive I'm guessing so certain parts of the memory would have different amount of usage unless you're consistently filling most the drive by overwriting everything.

Have you activated any sort of software to make the drive ready only? If you go Tools > Folder Options > View > Show hidden files, folders and drives

and uncheck hide protected operating system files > apply > ok.

I wonder if there are any weird files on your memory stick. i.e. hidden .exe / autoexec.bat or any files that you don't recognise and have nothing to do with the memory stick brands.

Reason i wonder is because I've seen software to do a software write protect of the drive. Can't remember how it worked exactly but it did manage to write protect one of my drives. Not used this in years now.

You can undo the above setting after after checking.