Can't format USB mass storage drive

Solved/Closed
malkosas - May 27, 2008 at 07:05 PM
 sscharania - Oct 21, 2012 at 12:13 PM
Hello,

I get a message telling me my USB key needs to be formatted, I click ok, try to format and I get a message saying , disk is write protected, the problem is I've been using that key for over a year with no problem, can anyone help please
Related:

26 responses

Control Panel - Admin Tools - Disk Managment - Wizard will (Init the Disk, Assign Drive Letter, and Format)
417
wow man, I knew it was lack of partition considering I accidently deleted the partition when setting up xp lol. just didnt know how to set up primary partition, it was all unallocated. thanks alot, works great now
0
www.try2stopus.com
Oct 19, 2008 at 10:08 AM
thank you alot you was a big help matter a fact you fixed my prob not me :) I spent 3 days trying to fix it and just wow your are very good thanks alot
0
Dude your Disk Management trick helped me alot.. thank you very much....!!!!!
0
Hi,
try this tool:
HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool


Juraj
412
excellent worked first time kingston traveler 8gb
0
Excellent the HP format utility worked perfectly on my USB Drive.

Thank-you for the tip
0
Thank You Very Much ......................
You are helping me................
0
Thanks this solved my problem.Finaly I format usb flash drive
0
This tool worked very well, thanks for making it avaliable.
0
I would like to share what worked for me after downloading endless software programs, to try and remove write protection
Try this one out
Just copy and past it into your Browser
http://www.apacer.com/en/support/downloads/Repair_v2.9.1.1.zip
You will have a winrar, winzip ect… pop up
Unzip to a folder on your desktop
Unzip the zip file, and with your usb flash drive plugged in, run the program
In my case the end result was format failed, I closed the program removed the usb flash drive and then plugged it back in
then windows asked me if I would like to format this device, the windows format WORKED YES YES YES BABY
The flash drive is as good as new.
I hope this helps someone.
412
It worked. Blessings to you and your loved ones.
0
For USB drives:

1. Open Start -> Run...
2. type
diskmgmt.msc
and press enter
3. right click on the partition you want to format (where the letter and size is)
4. select 'Delete Partition...' and confirm
5. right mouse button in the same place and select 'Create partition'
6. select primary partition
6. select size, file format, disk letter, label etc should be all right if you leave defaults.
7. click ok

This will recreate the partition and format it in proper way. Helped me and will help to most of you if you have problem with MBR.

Good luck
412

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thanks alot computer management fixed the problem it didnt have partition..now it works..
21
my Pen drive is formating fist Windows was unable to complete the format this error is coming
how to this problem completde
0
Try http://emea.apacer.com/en/support/downloads.asp

Keyword search: "AH320 LFormat Utility" and download it.
18
Dude... Eera... U are a genius... that tool worked perfectly alright for me.... too good man... rock on... keep helping...
0
Hi!... Eera... U are a genius... that tool worked for me.... u r such a gOOd guy... keep helping... :)
0
Thanks, excellent worked.
0
THIS WORKED FOR ME :)

CONTROL PANEL

ADMINISTRATIVE TOOLS

COMPUTER MANAGEMENT

DISC MANAGEMENT

AND CLICK ON THE PROBLEM DRIVE


AND I THINK THEN I FORMATED IT
14
Hey Folks: I messed up my 16GB XPORTER drive
installing a linux .img file to boot from USB PEN method

tried bunch of tools mentioned
I even did a low level format and did a FAT format under Linux .
Windows still did not recognize the drive. HP utility kept telling me it was
write protected....

What worked for me was using partition manager 9
I first assigned a DRIVE letter to the USB drive and then did a FAT32 format
after it completed and no errors reported. I then tried the HP tool
again and this time it worked!!! I was so stocked!

good luck
14
I just want to say that after a year looking for answers I finally fund it. with the download posted in this site. thanks
10
dear sir first of u check u login user account or administrator account or check virus in ur syytem .
8
guys look for HP usb format utility
IT solved my problem.Cheers..
6
Best link for USB format & write protected problem solved.

this link is very helpful for every one

http://www.transcendusa.com/products/online_recovery_2.asp?dw=1
6
hey thanks for the help !!! it seems my sd card had a little yellow swith that turn the write protection off...
you people should search for it on your usb or sd card
5
Afsana pyaar ka
Apr 19, 2010 at 06:46 AM
Hi I thnk this is the solution for it..
on ur usb at the side there is a small tiny button which u can make it "up/down"
just push thats small button to the other side in that usb and try it on ur p.c
5
In pen/flash drive write protect error can remove by some tips given by our friends in answers page.But it wont work some time,
My personal opinion and suggestion is
go to your product official website
say for transcend pen drive go to www.transcend.com
and down load formatting software,
click on the downloaded software,
it will release the protection key and formats the your pen drive.
okkkkkk...enjoy..
5
Installing software directly onto the USB storage device often results in the installation program re-formatting the USB storage device, most USB storage devices run on a FAT32 format, the installation usually re-formats to the FAT format, this formatting results in loss of storage space, and/or security errors, you must re-format the USB storage device to a FAT32 format to fix the loss of storage and/or security errors, to do so, open 'my computer', right click on the storage device, click 'format...', and re-format to FAT32, if it is already FAT32, try formatting to FAT.
2
Hi Everyone,

the link http://www.apacer.com/en/support/downloads/AH320_Utility_LFo­rmat.zip
really works for kingston usb mass storage devices..

thnaks for saring the souce..

Regards
Mithun malur
2
it not work too cannot find the usb
0
I fixed my the problem it would seem was my drive space was not allocated sd
step by step
considering the drive is conected to pc and running vista

right click my computer manage
disk
managment
then right click the unallocated drive then allocate ok this will then allocate ya drive and format it
this should be enough if you have the same problem I had

xp users use partion magic BE CAREFUL powerfull software can destroy your hdd's if you select wrong one
2
Some usb keys or flash drives have a little switch that locks it & makes it read only. Try looking for something like this.
0
thnx that wrkf fr mee.... LOL!
0
Hi,
I have a flash disk 1Gb DataTraveler.

i xant formated it, but a message error appear :

The memory card is write-protected. please release the write protect switch.

there is not a switch lock/unlock

please, help me.
0
THANK YOU SO MUCH JACK!!
I would never have thought to look for a switch!
It worked. thankyou thankyou thankyou.
You just saved my homework assignement!
0
sam > Elhou80
Apr 8, 2009 at 05:39 PM
I cannot format pendrive error occuring "cannot format drive it is write protected"

Can u help me out to resolve this problem.

Regards,
Rakesh
0
Harish > Elhou80
Jun 2, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Hi everyone,
I have the solution for the Usb storage device. If u receive the message Write protected or Format not complete, You right click on the task bar and go to TaskManager and close all the unwanted process, I tried it by closing the process named searchindex.exe. click on the particular process and then click end task . Close other process which starts with "t" . If still it is not working you can try by closing other process . Its working try it. If you have any queries u can mail me Email Id removed for security
by Harish
0
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