How to disable or enable USB ports in Windows. How to remove write protection from a USB stick (USB-flash drive, MicroSD, etc.) Autodesk toshiba flash drive unlocking

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 consider in detail how to solve this problem in our today's article.

So, you need to record some information on a USB flash drive, you insert it and you get a message like "The disk is write-protected, remove protection or use another."

This problem can be quickly resolved, and we will talk about it a little later, but now a few words should be said about the purpose of installing download protection on.

Note! This operation is performed for only one purpose - which can spontaneously be copied to removable media without the user's knowledge.

Ways to remove 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 models of drives, as well as SD cards.

Most often, the toggle switch is located on the side edge of the drive.

Look closely at your existing drive and look for an open / closed lock icon or Lock sign 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 try the file write operation again.

The software solution involves the interaction and the controller of the flash drive, 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.

More detailed guidance on all methods given.

Removing protection with regedit

1. Press "Start", enter - in the search field. Right-click (RMB) on the program and in the context menu go to the item "Run as administrator".

2. Go to the StorageDevicePolicies section:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \\ SYSTEM \\ CurrentControlSet \\ Control \\ StorageDevicePolicies

Important!Important! If this is not the case, you will have to create it. To do this, click on the section Control - Create - 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) 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, select "Change". If the value "1" needs to be changed to "0" and click "OK".

4. Close the registry editor, remove the media and restart the computer. We insert the flash drive. Now the flash drive works as usual, allowing you to write files.

Removing protection with Diskpart

If we failed to unlock using regedit, we will 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", in the search field enter the name - cmd. Right click in the program, in the context menu we carry out "Run as administrator".

2. Now you should enter the commands: diskpart and list disk, and after entering each of them, press the Enter key.

3. In the above list, determine which serial number in the name of the flash drive.

This can be done based on the specified size, in our case an 8 GB flash drive is presented in the table as "Disk 1" with a volume 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 "create partition primary" partition, format it in NTFS "format fs \u003d ntfs" or FAT "format fs \u003d fat".

Removing Protection Using the Local Group Policy Editor

1. Open it by pressing the key combination Win + R, after which you should enter the command gpedit.msc and press "OK" or Enter.

Good day.

Recently, several users have contacted me with the same type of problem - when copying information to a USB flash drive, an error occurred, something like the following: “ The disc is write protected. Remove protection or use a different drive«.

This can happen for various reasons and there is no one-type solution. In this article, I will provide the main reasons for this error and their solution. In most cases, the recommendations in the article will return your drive to normal operation. Let's get started ...

1) Enabled mechanical write protection on a USB flash drive

The most common reason for a security error is the switch on the USB flash drive itself (Lock). Previously, something like this was on floppy disks: wrote down something you wanted, switched it to read-only mode - and you don't worry about forgetting and accidentally erasing the data. Such switches are usually found on microSD flash drives.

In fig. 1 shows such a flash drive, if the switch is set to Lock mode, then it will only be possible to copy files from the flash drive, nor write, not format it!

Figure: 1. MicroSD write protected.

By the way, sometimes you can also find such a switch on some USB sticks (see Fig. 2). It is worth noting that it is extremely rare and only at little-known Chinese firms.

Fig. 2. RiData flash drive with write protection.

In general, by default, Windows does not prohibit copying and writing information to flash drives. But in the case of viral activity (and indeed, any malware), or, for example, when using and installing various assemblies from various authors, it is possible that some settings in the registry have been changed.

Therefore, the advice is simple:

1. first check your PC (laptop) for viruses ();
2. further check registry settings and local access policies (more on this below in the article).

1. Checking registry settings

How to enter the registry:

• press the WIN + R button combination;
• then in the Run window that appears, enter regedit;
• press Enter (see Figure 3.).

By the way, in Windows 7, you can open the registry editor through the START menu.

Note. Section Control you will have, but the section StorageDevicePolicies - it may not be ... If it does not exist - you need to create it, for this simply right-click on the section Control and in the dropdown menu select the section, then give it a name - StorageDevicePolicies ... Working with partitions resembles the most common working with folders in Explorer (see Figure 4).

Further in the section StorageDevicePolicies create a parameter DWORD 32 bit : just click on the section StorageDevicePolicies right-click and select the appropriate item in the drop-down menu.

By the way, such a 32-bit DWORD parameter can already be created in this section (if you had one, of course).

Figure: 5. Registry - creating a DWORD 32 parameter (clickable).

Now open this parameter and set it to 0 (as in Figure 6). If you have a parameter DWORD 32 bit has already been created, change its value to 0. Then close the editor and restart your computer.

Figure: 6. Set the parameter

After restarting the computer, if the reason was in the registry, you can easily write the necessary files to the USB flash drive.

2. Local access policies

Also, in local access policies, the recording of information to connected drives (including flash-drives) can be limited. To open local access policy editor - just press the buttons Win + R and in the execute line enter gpedit.msc , then the Enter key (see Fig. 7).

Then, on the right, notice the parameter “ Removable drives: prohibit writing". Open this setting and disable it (or put it in "Not set" mode).

Actually, after the specified parameters, restart your computer and try to write files to the USB flash drive.

3) Low-level formatting of a flash drive / disk

In some cases, for example, with some types of viruses, there is no choice but to format the drive in order to completely get rid of the malware. Low-level formatting will destroy absolutely ALL DATA on the flash drive (you will no longer be able to recover it with various utilities), and at the same time, it helps to bring back to life a flash drive (or hard drive), on which many have already given up ...

What utilities can be used.

In general, there are more than enough utilities for low-level formatting (besides, on the website of the manufacturer of the flash drive, you can also find 1-2 utilities for "reanimating" the device). Nevertheless, empirically, I came to the conclusion that it is better to use one of the following 2 utilities:

1. HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool. Simple, no installation required, utility for formatting USB-Flash drives (the following file systems are supported: NTFS, FAT, FAT32). Works with devices via USB 2.0 port. Developer: http://www.hp.com/
2. HDD LLF Low Level Format Tool. An excellent utility with unique algorithms that allows you to easily and quickly format (including problematic drives that other utilities and Windows cannot see) HDD and Flash cards. The free version has a speed limit of 50 MB / s (not critical for flash drives). I will show my example below in this utility. Official website: http://hddguru.com/software/HDD-LLF-Low-Level-Format-Tool/

An example of low-level formatting (in HDD LLF Low Level Format Tool)

1. First, copy ALL NECESSARY files from the USB flash drive to your computer hard drive ( that is, make a backup. After formatting, you can't recover anything from this flash drive!).

3. You should see a list of all connected disks and flash drives. Find yours in the list (be guided by the device model and its volume).

Figure: 9. Selecting a flash drive

4. Then open the LOW-LEVE FORMAT tab and click the Format This Device button. The program will ask you again and warn you about deleting everything that is on the USB flash drive - just answer in the affirmative.

Figure: 10. Start formatting

5. Then wait until formatting is done. The time will depend on the state of the media being formatted and the version of the program (paid works faster). When the operation is completed, the green progress bar will turn yellow. You can now close the utility and start high-level formatting.

Figure: 11. Formatting completed

6. The easiest way is to simply go to " This computer" (or " My computer«), Select the connected USB flash drive from the list of devices and right-click on it: select the formatting function in the drop-down list. Then set the name of the flash drive and specify the file system (for example, NTFS, since it supports files larger than 4 GB. See Fig. 12).

Figure: 12. My computer / flash drive formatting

That's all. After a similar procedure, your flash drive (in most cases, ~ 97%) will start working as expected ( exceptions are cases when software methods will not help a USB flash drive ...).

What is the cause of this error, what should I do to prevent it from happening again?

And finally, I will give several reasons why an error appears related to write protection (using the tips listed below will significantly increase the life of your flash drive).

1. First, always use safe shutdown: right-click in the tray next to the clock on the icon of the connected flash drive and select - disable from the menu. According to my personal observations, many users never do this. At the same time, such a shutdown can damage the file system (for example);
2. Secondly, install an antivirus on the computer with which you are working with a USB flash drive. Of course, I understand that it is impossible to insert a USB flash drive into a PC with an antivirus everywhere and everywhere - but after coming from a friend where they copied files to it (from an educational institution, etc.), when you connect a flash drive to your PC, just check it ;
3. Try not to drop or throw the flash drive. Many, for example, attach a USB flash drive to the keys, like a keychain. There is nothing wrong with that - but often the keys are thrown on the table (bedside table) upon arrival home (there will be nothing for the keys, but a flash drive flies and hits with them);

I bow to the sim, if there is something to add - I will be grateful. Happy work and fewer mistakes!

When trying to enter data on a USB flash drive, the computer may display an error message "The disk is write-protected." Therefore, it is important for any person to know how to remove the write protection from a flash drive. It is difficult for the user to check the cause of the phenomenon, but often this serves as a precaution against downloading viruses from laptops, computers, and other devices to the drive. It is difficult to clear a USB flash drive from them, it is much easier to protect it, and then remove the record.

How to unlock a write-protected USB flash drive

Unlocking is done via a lock switch on a number of flash or removable SD cards. If you find a switch, then the method of how to remove the write protection from a usb flash drive is to switch the lock lever in the desired direction of the open lock image. After that, re-insert the media into the PC port, access to it will become free, and you will be able to record information. To return to the "Flash drive is write-protected" state, switch the lever to the "Protect" position. The same applies to how to remove protection from a memory card.

Launch windows registry editor

The System Registry Editor is a way to get your flash card back up and running with simple steps. Follow simple points:

1. First, you need to click on the "Start" icon and type in the search box "Regedit", right-click on the drop-down file, press the button "Start administrator" from the menu found.
2. Select the "StorageDevicePolicies" subsection via the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \\ SYSTEM \\ CurrentControlSet \\ Control \\ StorageDevicePolicies" command channel. The absence of this section in your PC requires entering it. To do this, right-click on the "Control" subsection, click "New", select "Section". Then you can name the subsection "StorageDevicePolicies", after removing the quotes. While on this registry branch, create a "DWORD (32 bit)" element called "WriteProtect".
3. Make sure that the renamed WriteProtect element is 0. To verify this, click on the element, select "Change", correct the unit to zero, making sure the selection is OK. The change may not be required if the value is already zero.
4. Close the program, remove the media, restart the PC. Rebooting will return the inserted card to its original working state.

Command line recovery

The command line is an alternative method for solving the question of how to remove protection from a flash drive. The process includes items:

1. Click "Start", enter "cmd" in the search box, right-click on the drop-down program, find "Start Administrator" and click on the parameter.
2. Enter the command "diskpart", click "enter", then enter "list disk", click "enter" again.
3. Determine the disk number. If it is the only one, it will be "Disk 1". If you have multiple devices, knowing the capacity or memory of the USB drive will help determine the number.
4. After selecting the protected disk you want to fix by typing “select”, you need to clear the read-only attributes by typing “attributes disk clear readonly”. Additional formatting can be done if desired. For this purpose, use the input of the command "clean", create a subsection "create partition primary", format the flash drive to the desired format. Done - the disk is working again.

How to remove the protection of a transcend flash drive

Holders of Transcend flash cards can use a utility created exclusively for the brand. The file is called "JetFlashRecovery" and download it is feasible on the company's formal website. The utility is completely free in access, eliminates write protection problems and other difficulties that arise. To make it easier to find the utility, use the file name.

In addition to this utility, the already described methods of the command line or the registry editor are suitable for the Transcend brand. A means of removing the blockage by switching the blocking lever will become an alternative method of removing the write protection from such a flash drive. You can try everything, because at least one of them should be suitable and help eliminate this painful problem.

Video: what to do if the flash drive is write-protected

Read what to do if you get the message “The disk is write-protected” when you try to format a USB flash drive, memory card or hard drive. And also, how to properly remove protection and unlock any device if you cannot create or copy files to a USB flash drive or memory card because the device is write protected.

If while copying or creating files on the device you see a message: You need permission to perform this operation.

Or, when you try to format, you receive a message: You do not have sufficient authority to perform this operation.

It means you need to remove the write protection of the device in the Windows Local Group Policy Editor:

1. Run command execute, type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
2. Go to section "Computer configuration" - "Administrative Templates" - "System" - .
3. Disable property Removable Drives: Deny Write... To do this, double click on it, set the value Disabled and press OK.
4. Repeat these steps for the section "User configuration" - "Administrative Templates" - "System" - "Access to removable storage devices".

After the steps taken, try to create a file or folder on the USB flash drive. If this guide did not work for you, watch our previous videos on fixing errors on a flash drive.