943,769 Members | Top Members by Rank

Hardware and Software > PC Hardware > Storage > USB External Suddenly Becomes "Write Protected"
Ad:
  • Storage Discussion Thread
  • Marked Solved
  • Views: 25159
  • Storage RSS
You are currently viewing page 1 of this multi-page discussion thread
Permalink
Jul 27th, 2008
0

USB External Suddenly Becomes "Write Protected"

Expand Post »
My external Western Digital Elements 500GB USB drive occasionally sets itself to "Write Protected" and I can't alter any of the files on the drive until I reboot and the write protection is reset. This usually happens after a day or so, and rebooting is the only way of unlocking the drive again. Why does it do this and how can I stop it?

I've run a full surface scan using Western Digital's own diagnostic software, and it completed successfully without any errors, as did the "quick scan" option.

I'm using Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 x64. I have no idea why the drive is doing this, so I'm not sure what information may be required from me besides my operating system, so feel free to ask!

Cheers!
Reputation Points: 20
Solved Threads: 3
Posting Whiz in Training
Paddy is offline Offline
219 posts
since Sep 2004
Permalink
Aug 1st, 2008
1

Re: USB External Suddenly Becomes "Write Protected"

Your registery might have been modified so that the writing on the usb device is disabled.

Try this :
Enable/Disable USBWrite
gtd
Reputation Points: 18
Solved Threads: 4
Light Poster
gtd is offline Offline
31 posts
since Jul 2008
Permalink
Aug 1st, 2008
0

Re: USB External Suddenly Becomes "Write Protected"

Click to Expand / Collapse  Quote originally posted by gtd ...
Your registery might have been modified so that the writing on the usb device is disabled.

Try this :
Enable/Disable USBWrite
Interesting! I haven't had the problem since I posted here (it happened several times over the course of a week prior to my original post), but I'll bookmark your URL and check to see if the registry changes when the problem happens, and if I can change it back if it does. I'll report back if/when the problem occurs again.

Cheers!
Reputation Points: 20
Solved Threads: 3
Posting Whiz in Training
Paddy is offline Offline
219 posts
since Sep 2004
Permalink
Aug 6th, 2008
0

Re: USB External Suddenly Becomes "Write Protected"

Following the instructions given in the URL you provided didn't help the problem when it arose again.

Any other ideas? haha

I have a few other bits of info that might help identify the problem:

When I open a text document on the drive and make a change to it, then try to save it, I get this error - "The media is write protected".

When I try to run ChkDsk on the drive I get this error - "The disk is write protected".

I think the issue is with Windows rather than the drive, because if I reboot the problem stops, but if I unplug the drive's power cable then plug it back in, Windows finds it again, and the write protection is still active.
Last edited by Paddy; Aug 6th, 2008 at 9:22 am.
Reputation Points: 20
Solved Threads: 3
Posting Whiz in Training
Paddy is offline Offline
219 posts
since Sep 2004
Permalink
Aug 6th, 2008
0

Re: USB External Suddenly Becomes "Write Protected"

Update: The drive now remains write protected even after several reboots, and even when I boot into Safe Mode.

Please tell me this isn't a hardware fault haha, I already had to get my last drive replaced because it went tits-up (that problem completely different, however).
Reputation Points: 20
Solved Threads: 3
Posting Whiz in Training
Paddy is offline Offline
219 posts
since Sep 2004
Permalink
Aug 7th, 2008
1

Re: USB External Suddenly Becomes "Write Protected"

I am sorry, I can't help you, since I don't know the USB device very well, but you don't seem to be the only one experiencing this problem...

I know this is not of any help but at least it might mean that this is not a problem related to YOUR hard drive in particular.

EDIT : have you browsed the FAQ concerning your product on the official WD website ?
Last edited by gtd; Aug 7th, 2008 at 5:33 am.
gtd
Reputation Points: 18
Solved Threads: 4
Light Poster
gtd is offline Offline
31 posts
since Jul 2008
Permalink
Aug 7th, 2008
0

Re: USB External Suddenly Becomes "Write Protected"

Click to Expand / Collapse  Quote originally posted by gtd ...
I am sorry, I can't help you, since I don't know the USB device very well, but you don't seem to be the only one experiencing this problem...

I know this is not of any help but at least it might mean that this is not a problem related to YOUR hard drive in particular.

EDIT : have you browsed the FAQ concerning your product on the official WD website ?
Hello again,

I've read through the Western Digital website's support pages (nothing relevant was there) and I also contacted them through their website about the problem. So, let's see what they have to say about it!

Thanks mate.
Reputation Points: 20
Solved Threads: 3
Posting Whiz in Training
Paddy is offline Offline
219 posts
since Sep 2004
Permalink
Aug 7th, 2008
0

Re: USB External Suddenly Becomes "Write Protected"

I'm an idiot...here's why:

I found a tool called "Thumbscrew" that switches storage devices' write protection on or off. When I read their website they said that the only thing they do is change this value:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies\WriteProtect

1 for "on" and 0 for "off". I tried that, then rebooted, and it has apparently unlocked the drive again. I double-checked the URL you sent me and I realised that (partly owing to a typo on the part of the author) the instructions were exactly the same, but I mistakenly used the "on" value instead of "off".

All this aside, I still haven't figured out why my drive sets itself to write protected to begin with. But hopefully this Thumbscrew tool will help out in the meantime.

Cheers mate!
Reputation Points: 20
Solved Threads: 3
Posting Whiz in Training
Paddy is offline Offline
219 posts
since Sep 2004
Permalink
Aug 7th, 2008
0

Re: USB External Suddenly Becomes "Write Protected"

You're welcome, I was a bit surprised when you said that it didn't solve your problem since it really seemed to be closely linked.

Et voila ;-) !
gtd
Reputation Points: 18
Solved Threads: 4
Light Poster
gtd is offline Offline
31 posts
since Jul 2008
Permalink
Aug 20th, 2008
0

Re: USB External Suddenly Becomes "Write Protected"

I've read that the problem may be caused by the fact that I'm using a hard drive that was formatted in XP with Vista. If this is the case, is there any way to correct this problem without actually reformatting it?

Thanks!
Reputation Points: 20
Solved Threads: 3
Posting Whiz in Training
Paddy is offline Offline
219 posts
since Sep 2004

This thread is solved

Either the thread starter or a moderator has marked this thread as solved. You can most likely trust the responses and answers given. There is most likely no reason for any further responses to be posted here. If you have a related question, please start a new thread in this forum instead.

This thread is more than three months old

No one has posted to this discussion for at least three months. Please let old threads die and do not reply to them unless you feel you have something new and valuable to contribute that absolutely must be added to make the discussion complete. Otherwise, please start a new thread in this forum instead.
Message:
Previous Thread in Storage Forum Timeline: flash drive menus
Next Thread in Storage Forum Timeline: what will be the best hardware configuration for this server?





About Us | Contact Us | Advertise | Acceptable Use Policy
Forum Index | Build Custom RSS Feed


Follow us on Twitter


© 2011 DaniWeb® LLC