USB memory key / flashdisk gone read-only

I have a USB memory stick (or key, or flashdisk .. depending what one wants to call it) that has one file on it. I cannot delete it because Windows XP tells me

"Cannot delete <filename inserted>: The disk is write-protected.
Remove the write-protection or use another disk. "​

Attempts to format the whole thing reports the disk is write-protected. I have not (knowingly) set on any write-protection for this USB flashdisk, nor for the file; file attributes in properties display do not show read-only is set (only the archive flag is set on).

Anyone know how to remedy this, or is the USB key beyond recovery?

 

Hello Ludwig,

Make sure that System Restore is not monitoring the drive: My Computer > properties > System Restore tab. If it was being monitored, try it now.

My Computer > rightclick on the drive > properties > hardware tab > left click on drive > Policies tab > "optimize for quick removal" should be ticked.

When you have a usb device plugged in, there is a safely remove icon in the tray. Right click on it and a dialog box comes up. Highlight the drive letter line and left click Stop bar, then remove. Reboot and then to re install the drive, insert back into the port.

Regards - Charles

 

still read-only

No, only the two hard drives are monitored.

Already set.

Know about that, and have used it (although it sometimes reports cannot release (a different) USB key as WinXP thinks something is still using it).

The USB key is still behaving exactly as originally described. Think I might just crush & toss it.

 

Does it have a write-protect switch?

(My CryptoStick does and my Lexar doesn't).

 

No write-protect switch

No write-protect switch. It just a plain 64MB free giveaway I got when Blackberry devices were roadshowed here in NZ-land a year or so ago, hence not too worried about throwing it away.

I am interested a solution though, having just bought a 2GB key I'd had that to go R/O on me!

Off-topic: The 64MB stick / flashdisk / why-have-so-many-names-for-these-devices even had "BlackBerry" printed on them in blue, and on the side have a wonderful 15-digit serial number (that's a bit OTT I think! ... just how many serial #s have they chewed thru, & for what gain?!).

 

Narrowing the problem is amenable to substitution, i.e., does the stick work in another computer the way you want? Does another stick work in your omputer the way you want?

 

Um .. write switch .. um

Tried it in other machines, no work. Tried others in this computer .. they work ok.

To update latest find:

Actually ... Well ... um, how do I say this .. I showed the USB key to someone at work today; there IS a little, tiny slide buttton on the side of the stick that if you stare at it has a very (I mean very!) small symbol of a padlock on one side and an open padlock on the other. Slid it using end of a ballpoint pen (ordinary finger no good) and presto write enabled once more. Didn't know such tiny slide buttons could exist! SpywareDr .. you were dead right even though I couldn't find it when I looked after reading your posting; only saw it after work mate tested then had a look & found it.

Sorry for wasting people's time. I'll crawl into my hole-of-embarrassment now

 

I agree with PeteC. Where would this BBS be, (or the entire internet for that matter), if no one was looking for any solutions?

Good to hear the problem's been solved.