Almost every windows user face "drive is write protected" error once in a while. This error prevents the user from deleting any data from the flash drive/memory card and also user cannot write data either. This process makes the flash drive read only. Most of the time it happens on Sandisk pen drive you will see the error this disk is write protected. Also occurs on some of the Kingston drives and others(you name it. Samsung, Adata, hp, sony blah blah blah). This write protection error also occurs on external memory cards. There are several ways to fix write protection error from your pen drive. Some of them work and some don't.
Here I am going to tell you the most working and reliable procedures that will work.
But first, you should know?
Read Also: 5 Ways To Stop Additional Data Usage In Windows
What is disk write protection?
According to a philosopher if you are going in a battle than first you should know your enemy. (Nice line by the way).
So here we should know what are we dealing with(creepy..!).
Disk write protection is a virtual lock for the flash drive.
It puts the flash drive into a state where no data can be edited or deleted, and if a user tries to format the flash drive it can't be formatted.
In plain English it makes the flash read only. The data which exist in the flash drive can only be read and can't be edited or deleted.
There are several ways to fix write protection error but I am going to share some of the most working procedures to ensure that the error has been solved.
So let's get started, shall we?
Requirments:
1. A windows PC.
2. The flash drive/memory card (on which you have the error).
3. A smart and intelligent person with a working brain of his own (I think you got that covered).
4. Nothing else. :p
I will write the easy procedure first. If easy procedure doesn't work then try a little harder one. (Just kidding every procedure is easy).
1. Using Write Protection control software.
I just found this awesome software and it works too(believe me). This software is developed by Softpedia. It is an easy 2 button interface for enabling and disabling Disk write protection.
With this software, you can enable or disable windows write protection of any drive.
First of all download the software from given link below.
Download Write Protect Control
Password is humptechtips.com
After downloading the above software extract it using WinRAR or any software you have for archives.
Now follow my lead.
Step 1. Open the folder in which you extracted the software.
Step 2. You will see a file named "Enable_Disable W.P". Right click on the file and click "run as administrator".
Step 3. Once the application is loaded you will see an interface as shown in the below picture. As you can see there are two main functions, enable write protection and disable write protection. As you are here to disable it then press disable write protection button.
Step 4. Once the above process is completed then go back and format your flash drive.
Tada ! Isn't it awesome now your write protection error has been solved? (Wait! It didn't work? Oh, come on seriously? Aren't your pen drive the stubborn one.)
Don't worry if the above procedure didn't work then you can always go with the next procedure.
2. Disable disk write protection using Registry Editor.
If the above procedure doesn't work for you then try this one.
This procedure doesn't require any extra software or application. We ill disable disk write protection using the registry editor.
First, you should know how this works. It will make the process easy.
In registry editors, there are functions called keys. Some of these keys work as switches.
What we ill do, we will disable the function key of disk write protection.
So let's get started,
Important notice! This process will only work if your windows PC is powered on. Hahaha :p just kidding.
Step 1. Power on your PC and go to windows desktop. (Works on all windows e.g XP, 7, 8, 8.1, 10)
Step 2. From your keyboard press, Win+R to open Run.
Step 3. Once run is open type in the box"Regedit" and press enter. You will see a window will open in the registry editor.
Step 4. Now Goto HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>> SYSTEM>> CurrentControlSet>> Control>> StorageDevicePolicies.
Step 5. You will see the writeprotect function. Double click to open it. It will open a popup small window.
Step 6. In the window change the value data from 1 to 0 and press OK button to save the setting. After that restart your computer.
Taaadaaa! I hope your disk write protection has been disabled.
If this also doesn't work for you then don't lose hope. Follow the next procedure.
Read Also: How To Unhide files Hidden by Viruses Easily Without Command Prompt
3. Fix disk write protection using the command prompt(diskpart).
This is one of the most used methods and it also works if your pen drive or memory card is corrupted.
Follow the process below.
Step 1. Turn on your computer and press win+R to open run window.
Step 2. Type "Diskpart" in the box and press enter to open command prompt window.
Once diskpart is open, insert the flash drive.
Step 3. Now type "list disk" in the box and press enter. You will see a list of disks appear in the window.
Step 4. Now, look up for your flash drive. If you are using 1 hard drive in your PC then your flash drive will be disk 1. But you should look up first which is the flash drive. You can easily find your flash drive by looking at the size of the drives. See the example below.
Step 5. Once you have confirmed the name of the drive then type "select disk (type the drive number)". E.g disk 0, disk 1, disk 2.......!
Step 6. After selecting the disk drive type "clean" and press enter.
Step 7. Now type "create primary partition" and press enter. Again type "select partition 1" and press enter. Now type "active" and press enter again.
Step 8. Once the above process is completed then type "format FS=NTFS label=Humptechtips.com" in the command box and press enter.
And there we go. If you have performed the above process completely then your flash drive should me working now.
Must Read: Install Windows 7 Photo Gallery in Windows 10 Using Windows Live Essential
Conclusion: The above article "3 ways to fix disk is write protected error in removable media". In the above article, we learned 3 different procedures to solve disk is write protected error. one was by using write protection control software which can enable or disable write protection from any drive. 2nd is by using registry editor from which a write protection key can be modified and last one by using windows diskpart, from which cleaning the full flash drive by using commands . all of the above processes solves the disk write protection errors in any pen drive or memory card.
Feel free to drop your comments in the comment section below. Stay tuned to humptechtips.com for more tips and tricks.
COMMENTS