When attempting to copy or modify the contents of a write-protected storage device, the write-protection error will be displayed. Several factors contribute to this blunder.
The device’s owner may have purposefully set it to read-only in order to protect the privacy of the data stored there. Viruses and encryption software are additional possible contributors.
For whatever reason, you shouldn’t instantly go and format your drives. Many simple solutions exist for removing write protection.
To Secure The Device, Use The Lock Switch.
There is a lock switch on some storage devices that can be used to activate or deactivate the write protection feature. Whether you see a message saying your drive is write-protected, check to see if there is a physical lock switch on the drive.
If that’s the case, just flip the switch and plug your drive back in where it belongs. The problem with write protection should now be resolved. Continue on to the next solution if the issue persists or if your drive lacks a hardware write-protect switch.
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A DiskPart Tutorial
Windows’ built-in DiskPart software can be used to gain access to your drive. Even though this approach necessitates significant cmd scripting knowledge, you need not fear; you will be taken through the procedure every step of the way. To get started, just do what I say.
Start by checking that the computer recognises the storage device you want to repair. After plugging your device into the correct port, see if the computer recognises it in the file manager. A “USB Drive (G:)” flash drive with write protection is plugged into a computer in the following example.
If your storage device has a number of partitions, writing them down in its memory will assist you find what you’re looking for later. The flash drive we’re discussing here has a storage capacity of at least 14 GB.
Upon identifying your storage media, you will be prompted to launch the diskpart utility. This utility is already part of Windows, so there’s no need to download anything else to use it. The Run command will take you straight to it. Pressing Windows+R will launch the Run command prompt. Enter “diskpart” into the Windows Run box and then press the Enter key.
When using the diskpart utility, type “list disc” and hit Enter. With this command, your computer will list all of its storage options. You can see the hard drive (labelled “Disk 0”) and the newly inserted flash drive (labelled “Disk 1”) placed on the computer below.
Your storage device’s number can be found in the discs list. To choose your gadget, you’ll need this feature. Then, at the prompt, enter pick disc [disc number]. Disc 1 is the required hardware in the scenario presented below.
After selecting the disc with the Enter key, the diskpart utility will let you know that the disc is active.
You don’t have to check the disk’s properties, but doing so will give you a better idea of the storage device’s health in general. At the prompt, type attributes disc to see the disk’s attributes. Follow the pattern shown below as a guide.
When you’re done typing the command, hit the Enter key to see a full breakdown of the selected disk’s details. Take note that Read-only has the value “Yes” in the illustrative case below.
Setting the Read-only attribute to Yes on a disc prevents any changes from being saved to it. The disc is write-protected if the settings look like this.
The Read-only flag of the disc should be removed as a last resort. To clear it, simply set the switch to the “No” position, which will remove the write protection. To remove the read-only restriction, open a command prompt and enter attributes disc clear readonly.
Attribute clearing success will be communicated to you. You can verify that the Read-only attribute has been changed to “No” by re-running the attributes disc command.
When you’re finished, type quit to close the diskpart utility. You should no longer see the “Disk is write protected” warning while attempting to copy files or make modifications to your storage device.
Incorporating Registry Editor
The Registry Editor is the most powerful tool for eliminating the write-protected error from storage devices, but it is intended for advanced users only. If you’re just starting off, you shouldn’t use this method because you could easily break other registry keys. But in case you’re out of time, we’ve streamlined the procedure for you.
Launch Registry Editor once your storage device has been plugged in. The Run command is the simplest means of accessing this programme. To bring up the Run dialogue, hit the Windows key plus R. Enter “regedit” into this box and press Enter.
The Registry Editor window should now appear.
Locate the location where you installed the registry editor on the left side of the Registry Editor’s main window.
“HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control”.
Check to see if a “StorageDevicePolicies” folder exists from this location. Does it sound like you? If so, you can move on to the next section of these directions. If you don’t do it this way, you’ll have to make the folder yourself.
Select the “Control” folder and right-click on it. To create a new key, move the mouse over “New” and click.
The name “StorageDevicePolicies” should be applied to each new key or directory you make.
Adding a DWORD value labelled “WriteProtect” is necessary for the “StorageDevicePolicies” to function. To open the submenu, right-click the “StorageDevicePolicies” folder’s left panel. To create a DWORD (32-bit) value, hover over “New” and select it.
The new DWORD item should be renamed “WriteProtect,” as seen in the following example.
In order to disable write protection, we must first locate the “WriteProtect” entry and set its value to 0. By doing so, you will be able to remove the storage device’s write protection. If the “WriteProtect” value is not already set to “0,” double-clicking on the entry will bring up a menu where you can make the necessary changes.
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Finally, after the computer has restarted, check to see if the storage device’s write protection has been disabled.
If you’ve exhausted all other options and the write protection issue still exists, then you’ve reached the worst-case scenario. Consider the possibility of formatting the drive in this case.
