Write protection in flash drive is part of the mechanism put in place to reduce unauthorized access to your files. It makes the files non-transferable to another storage device. It is normal to have write protection in any storage device especially the flash drive. However, sometimes this writes protection could become an obstacle to us when we want to collect files from the storage device, though it was meant to prevent external tempering of the files, it will still affect us if we are using it someone for transfer. A write-protected flash drive will not allow you to copy its files to your computer even if the flash drive belongs to you.
This post will be discussing issues that have to do with the write protection on flash drives and how to remove it. If that is your purpose in reading this post then you are in the right place. The following topics have been discussed extensively:
Common Problems with Flash Drives
How to know if your flash drive is Write-Protected
How to Remove write protection on your flash drive
COMMON PROBLEMS WITH FLASH DRIVES
There are problems you may be seeing often if you are a regular user of flash drives. Depending on the quality of the flash drive, you may likely experience problems that could make you discard the flash drive thinking that it is faulty.
Here are few problems you may notice in flash drive:
Unrecognized device
An unrecognized device can occur if the flash drive has gone bad especially from its connection ports. If this happens your computer will not be able to see the flash drive when it is connected to it. The next cause of this can be a major virus attack or damaged unit in the flash drive board.
SOLUTION
The first solution is to use volatile liquid to clean the ports of the flash drive. This will remove any obstruction hindering connection with the computer USB port. If that did not solve the problem then it is likely the flash drive needs to be discarded.
Corrupt Memory storage
Have just once inserted a flash drive in a computer and got a response that says ‘Corrupt Memory Storage, please format before use!’ this is very common if you are using a flash drive regularly. The problem can be caused by wrong permission settings on the flash drive, the presence of a corrupt file in the flash drive, damaged file/files in the flash drive, the presence of a virus in the flash drive, or other factors.
Sometimes flash drive with write protection will only show ‘Corrupt Memory Storage, please format before use!’ on the computer screen the moment you plug it into the computer.
SOLUTION
Use the technics that will be discussed here to remove the write protection on the flash drive.
In the absence of write protection, you may decide to format the flash drive if you already have back up for your files.
Write protection lock
The next possible problem you may experience with a flash drive is the lock protection on your flash drive files or the flash drive folder. This could indicate a sign of activation of encryption on your device using the BitLocker.
SOLUTION
The solution to this problem is to remove the encryption of the BitLocker individually from the files.
HOW TO KNOW IF YOUR FLASH DRIVE IS WRITE-PROTECTED
Your flash drive is write-protected if you discover you cannot make any changes to files in it and the data in the flash drive. Some flash drives can indicate the write-protection message by saying “The disk is write-protected. Remove the write-protection or use another disk” the message is a clear indication that your flash drive has write-protection on it.
Sometimes you may get a message that says “The disk is write-protected error stops you from formatting, removing, copying & pasting files to the USB stick. Learn how to fix the ‘disk is write-protected, remove the write-protection…’ error now ”. This message obviously indicates that a well write-protected flash drive cannot be formatted, file removal will be impossible, copying and pasting of files may not be possible.
You will also know if your flash drive is write-protected when you observe any of the common problems mentioned in the common problems of the flash drive. Issues that practically hinder your access to your flash drive could indicate possible write protection on the flash drive.
SOLUTION
The main solution is to follow the steps discussed in the subsequent topic ‘How to Remove Write protection on your flash drive’.
HOW TO REMOVE WRITE PROTECTION ON YOUR FLASH DRIVE
REMOVE WRITE-PROTECTION USING SWITCH ON THE FLASH DRIVE
Removing the protection may be very easy or difficult depending on how the write-protection was made. For instance, some write-protection on a flash drive can be done with a switch by the side of the flash drive. The switch can be pushed forward and backward to activate ON and OFF write-protection commands respectively. To remove such write-protection just push the button on the flash drive backward.
REMOVE WRITE-PROTECTION USING DISKPART COMMAND
Press “Win + R” and type ‘cmd’ to access ‘command Prompt’ then type ‘Diskpart’ and tap the ‘Enter’ key. From the opened, folder type ‘list disk’ and tap ‘Enter’. Then type ‘select disk 2’ and tap ‘Enter’ and replace ‘0’ with the write-protected device number and tap Enter. Type ‘attributes disk clear readonly’ and tap Enter. Then type ‘exit’ to exit and close the diskpart window as the protection lock is removed.
USE THIRD-PARTY USB WRITE PROTECTION REMOVAL TOOL
There are online tools you can download to help remove write-protection on any flash drive. Please be careful as well when downloading and installing any free software on your computer because some may contain malware.
Meanwhile, for the right software, install it into your computer and launch it. On its interface, there is a list of folders. Select the flash drive folder and click on the software option for ‘Disable write-protection’. A good example is the EaseUs tools M.
USE REGISTRY EDITOR TO DISABLE WRITE-PROTECTION ON YOUR FLASH DRIVE
This is effective and likely the best option when every other option has failed. But unfortunately, this method requires good computer background knowledge because your computer functionalities may be impelled if something goes wrong.
Let us assume you have the necessary computer knowledge.
Plug your flash drive into your computer USB port, and launch the ‘Registry’ by doing the following:
Type ‘Regedit’ in search space and click ‘Enter’
When the ‘Registry’ folder opens, click on the ‘HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE’ then expand ‘System’ and click on the “Current Control Set” in the system folder.
In the list of items in the ‘Current Control Set’, click on ‘Control’
In the Control, check ‘Storage Device Policies’ and put ‘0’ in the DWORD value data then press ‘OK or Enter key’ afterward, the computer will restart when the process completes your flash drive write-protection will not be in it again.
DISABLE YOUR BitLocker ON THE FLASH DRIVE
BitLocker is a modern computer application that enables you to encrypt the files in your computer and protect them from unauthorized use. By default, BitLocker is always off. However, someone using your computer may mistakenly turn BitLocker ON or you may do so mistakenly without knowing it. Write-protection from this type of method can be disabled/removed by simply turning the BitLocker OFF. To do so, open your file window and right-click on your BitLocker partition or USB, and click on the ‘Manage BitLocker’. Highlight the locked device ‘flash drive’ and tap the ‘Turn off BitLocker’ and give the BitLocker time to decrypt on its own. The next thing will be a sign on your flash drive showing that BitLocker is off.
With the above methods, your write-protection on any Flash drive can be removed all you need is to try one method first if it does not work then you can move to the next method. Be very careful when following the steps and don’t try what the post didn’t specify so you don’t destroy your flash drive or cause problems to your computer.
