One SanDisk Ultra USB 3.0 32GB drive decided it was time to be write protected. Diskpart showed that the disk was currently in a read-only state.
C:\WINDOWS\system32\>diskpart Microsoft DiskPart version 6.3.9600 Copyright (C) 1999-2013 Microsoft Corporation. On computer: MEINCOMPUTER DISKPART\> list disk Disk ### Status Size Free Dyn Gpt -------- ------------- ------- ------- --- --- Disk 0 Online 111 GB 0 B Disk 1 Online 465 GB 0 B Disk 2 Online 1863 GB 0 B Disk 3 Online 698 GB 0 B Disk 4 Online 28 GB 0 B Disk 5 No Media 0 B 0 B Disk 6 No Media 0 B 0 B Disk 7 No Media 0 B 0 B Disk 8 No Media 0 B 0 B DISKPART\> select disk 4 Disk 4 is now the selected disk. DISKPART\> attributes disk Current Read-only State : Yes Read-only : No Boot Disk : No Pagefile Disk : No Hibernation File Disk : No Crashdump Disk : No Clustered Disk : No
After a number of attempts suggested by Internet I decided that it was time to give up and give in to the dark side.
This was a FAQ entry at EMTEC:
My flash drive doesn't work / My flash drive is write protected HOME › FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS › USB FLASH DRIVES
You can try restoring flash drive by using that "Restore" tool (backup data before): Download link: http://www.emtec-international.com/sites/default/files/drivers/restore.zip If it doesn't fix the issue, flash drive should be returned to the store where it has been purchased to get a replacement. Process to restore: 1) Plug the flash drive (certify that only the EMTEC flash drive is plugged) 2) launch restore.exe 3) Press the button RESTORE 4) A warning message is displayed about erasing data. Press RESTORE to continue. 5) A confirmation message is displayed, then press the YES 6) A message RESTORING DEVICE ... appears. Do not unplug the flash drive and wait for the restoration (1 to 2 minutes).
The download link is also dead but I found a program that fit the description. Ignoring the “certify” part and following the instructions I now have a working SanDisk USB drive. An empty one but at least I can use it to unimportant file transfers.
This is a copy of the program. Use at your own risk…
in that case the drive is defective and needs to be replaced:
Yes. I will try and see if they grant me RMA of a “currently” working drive that is without a proof of purchase.-) I am trying to get it to fail again using “H2testw” endless write/verify.
This is not the first time a SanDisk drive has given me problem. It has been drives that have identified themself as “Local Disk” instead of the expected “Removable Disk” which created a lot of problem with programs that apperantly only works with a “Removable Disk”. Drives that suddenly stopped working in any USB input on one computer but continued to work in other computer. Drives that sometime didn’t work in a certain USB port when every other USB drive always worked.
All of this I have never seen from any other “brand” USB drive. No more SanDisk for me
If your USB drive is showing a “write-protected” error, you won’t be able to copy, delete, or format files. Then try the some free workhound that I use in 2015. But before starting any process, always safely eject your USB drive after use. Improper removal can sometimes trigger write protection errors.
Use Diskpart in Command Prompt:
Press Windows + R, type cmd, and press Enter.
In Command Prompt, type: diskpart
enter
Then type: list disk Identify USB drive number.
Select it: select disk X (replace X with your USB disk number)
Remove write protection: attributes disk clear readonly
Type “exit” to close Diskpart.
If this method also not work then try the BLR Data Recovery Tool. This dedicated application remove write protection from a USB drive. This tool offer a more user-friendly interface and advanced features for diagnosing or fixing issues. Also, it’s allows formatting, resizing, or repairing corrupted USB drives. Try the free demo edition now.
Have you tried using the Diskpart tool on your Windows PC to remove write protection? [For detailed steps, please refer to this guide article: How to Remove Write Protection from an SD Card] If the problem persists, it may mean that the flash drive’s internal controller detected a hardware failure or that the write cycle has been exhausted. SanDisk flash drives are hardcoded at the firmware level to permanently lock into read-only mode in the event of a failure. This is a safety feature designed to allow you to back up your data before the flash drive is completely destroyed.
You’re both late (9 years..) to the party. Of course I have used Diskpart to try to remove the write protection but it didn’t do anything. The same with any ordinary disk recovery tool. The only thing that worked were to EMTEC tool:
One more thing to try is checking whether the USB has a physical write-protect switch if it’s an older model. If not, and DiskPart still can’t clear the read-only attribute, it’s usually a sign the controller has locked the drive to protect the remaining data. At that point, I’d copy off anything important if possible and replace the drive.
