Removing Write Protection on USB HDD

[chanstan00]

When trying to save a file to an external USB Hard Disk, I encountered the following:

The disk is write-protected

Remove the write-protection or use another disk

This error message kept coming up no matter how many times I tried. I unplug the hard disk, reboot the system, did a virus scan to the drive, and all don't work. But there is no toggle switch that I can just enable the drive to be written. Please help!

Thank you,
Stan

 

[RealBeast]

There is a registry key that controls that -- look over this and it will show you the key and how to delete the key or add it back if you want write protection (must be logged in as admin): http://www.ghacks.net/2011/03/18/how-to-enable-write-protection-of-usb-devices-under-windows/

 

[chanstan00]

Dear Realbeast,

I have tried it, but it didn't work.

Regards,
Stan

 

[RealBeast]

There is one other thing that I use if that fails in Windows 7 (older versions use a different syntax), and it has always worked. Plug the device in, perhaps into a different USB port, then use diskpart to change its attributes:

Open the command prompt box with right click and run as administrator

Type each of these commands one at a time in this order:
diskpart
list volume
select volume n (where n = the problem volume)
attributes disk clear readonly
attributes volume clear readonly

After each of the last two you should get a response that it was successful.

 

[chanstan00]

Dear Realbeast,

It works. Thank you so much.

Kind regards,
Stan

 

[chanstan00]

Best answer selected by chanstan00.

 

[gaston555]

diskpart ?

 

[gaston555]

diskpart ?

 

[mscir]

...
Open the command prompt box with right click and run as administrator
Type each of these commands one at a time in this order:
diskpart
list volume
select volume n (where n = the problem volume)
attributes disk clear readonly
attributes volume clear readonly
After each of the last two you should get a response that it was successful.

That worked perfectly for me to, thanks very much.

 

[chihtasham]

thanks a lot bro,it really worked.again thanks a lot.

 

[jerone]

There is one other thing that I use if that fails in Windows 7 (older versions use a different syntax), and it has always worked. Plug the device in, perhaps into a different USB port, then use diskpart to change its attributes:

Open the command prompt box with right click and run as administrator

Type each of these commands one at a time in this order:
diskpart
list volume
select volume n (where n = the problem volume)
attributes disk clear readonly
attributes volume clear readonly

After each of the last two you should get a response that it was successful.

but theres no letter "n"
in list volume

 

[FIROAZM]

it doesn't work for me

DISKPART> attributes disk clear readonly

Disk attributes cleared successfully.

DISKPART> attributes volume clear readonly

DiskPart has encountered an error: The media is write protected.
See the System Event Log for more information.



Any Suggestions?

 

[Tito Balazon Jr]

attributes disk clear readonly works for my WD My Passport 1TB Black. Thanks a lot.