Can't format USB mass storage drive Solved/Closed

Question

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

toddus · Accepted Answer

Control Panel - Admin Tools - Disk Managment - Wizard will (Init the Disk, Assign Drive Letter, and Format)

jack · Answer

Some usb keys or flash drives have a little switch that locks it & makes it read only.  Try looking for something like this.

Rol · Answer

Hi! I need a help please! My external hard disk can't be seen on my computer but visible on device manager. I know that it needs formatting but vista o/s is not posible maybe there's a way but don't know how. I've done formatting a drive with xp o/s & works when used on vista. I just wanna learn some other way with vista o/s a way of formatting a drive. Your expert advice will be greatly appreciated....

Eero · Answer

Try http://emea.apacer.com/en/support/downloads.asp

Keyword search: "AH320 LFormat Utility" and download it.

Nietzsche · Answer

As jack said, "Some usb keys or flash drives have a little switch that locks it & makes it read only. Try looking for something like this".

I had this problem yesterday. Covered that place of missing (probably broken) small switch with adhesive tape, the same way used to do with copy protected floppies some decades ago, and voilÃƒï¿½ ! Problem solved.

kemal · Answer

thanks alot computer management fixed the problem it didnt have partition..now it works..

chanderhass · Answer

dear  sir  first  of  u check   u  login  user  account  or administrator  account or check  virus  in  ur  syytem  .

vlade · Answer

guys look for HP usb format utility
IT solved my problem.Cheers..

chepemiller · Answer

I just want to say that after a year looking for answers I finally fund it. with the download posted in this site. thanks

jim · Answer

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

Joedanger · Answer

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

mahi · Answer

hi
u have to put the pendrive into usb port
 u have to boot from windows 98 bootable cd then next it will show the command promt  from command promt u have to type format space corresponding drive leeter and put the (:) 
click the enter button

Georgo · Answer

Hi,
try this tool:
HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool


Juraj

The Overseer · Answer

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.

zxcvb531 · Answer

Thanks for the answer, it work for my flashdrive,

Mike · Answer

Hey guys I found a good answer.  Change the Drive Letter and that's it.  Really worth a try.  Sometimes Vista gives a double use for one drive letter.  Then you will not see it to be opened although it is seen in Drive Management, which is under management, when you right click 'Computer'.

Natya Natyanam.

MITHUN MALUR · Answer

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

Woohoo · Answer

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

sirmark75 · Answer

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.

Dhinvin · Answer

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

peterlucas · Answer

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

Jimmy John · Answer

Problem Solved by Authorised...... 

http://www.transcendusa.com/Support/DLCenter/index.asp?Func1No=11&Func2No=182 

Regards

Kazoo · Answer

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

Afsana pyaar ka · Answer

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

satya · Answer

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..

Jahwere · Answer

Thanks alot. Just had to move the small button to the opposite direction and there I am. Again workin.
Thanks again n again.

Can't format USB mass storage drive

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