How 2 FORCE Write Protection off Flash Drive

[2Shane]

HI all, I have a U beaute MMC flash based mp3 player.

The last unit I had had defective earphone jacks, and so I removed the sandisk card, and sent the player back for replacement.

The replacement came back, and when I stuck the card into it,  I tried to overwrite / delete the old tracks, and also to copy new tracks onto it.

However, the bloody thing spat back at me "Cannot delete / overwrite / format / etc. because the drive is now write protected.

I have searched through about 120 posts on the subject, and tried everything I can think of, etc., and there are lots of sites saying "remove the write protection" but none of them actually say how to do it....

There is NO clear "turn write protection off" anywhere in XP and there is as far as I can tell, no DOS commands etc., to force the disk to be overwritten / brought back into service.


It seems to be enough of a common problem with thumb drives, cameras and such like to produce many posts, but no clear, concise and working solutions.

Any one who actually knows how to crack the "write-protected" function for a flash drive?

[2k dummy]

I don't mess with pen drives but...... If the drive is present in MY Computer, right click and select properties. If the read only attribute is checked, uncheck it and "apply". From DOS you should be able to use the attrib command. attrib -r *.* after changing to the drive.

[2Shane]

EEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee (said in a low scottish accented growl)

Ok .... XP, computer management, disk management, properties.

No "read only" attribute in PROPERTIES, only "Share this folder on Network" + "Allow network users to change my files" - both checked.

Jump into "Command Prompt"  CD D: attrib -r, a pop up says: "THE DISK CANNOT BE WRITTEN TO BECAUSE IT IS WRITE PROTECTED. PLEASE REMOVE WRITE PROTECTION FROM THE VOLUME IN DRIVE D:." [cancel / try again / continue]

I hit any of the three commands and it comes back in dos:

D:\attrib -r

Unable to change attribute - D:\001 (file name).mp3
Unable to change attribute - D:\002 (file name).mp3
Unable to change attribute - D:\003 (file name).mp3

etc.

So I have tried all this and similar before... and I am honestly STUCK.

It won't format, delete, overwrite, respond to DOS commands.

There may be an issue with the card it's self, it may be a matter of having formatted the card as a FAT32 instead of a FAT filing system (we live and learn???) cause the former MP3 player was playing up and or a whole heap of causes...

But it's a 512M Kingston MMC card, reading as 483 Meg FAT32....



I might have a crack at throwing the card into a camera, or  hooking the MP3 player up to a different computer.

No good - same thing in the laptop, might try a friends camera....

Dunno... I shall send the substance of this formum off to Kingston and the MP3 player dealer, and see what they have to say about it.

[2Shane]

I think this might be it....

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/326549/?


You Cannot View or Change the Read-Only or System Attribute of Folders
View products that this article applies to.
Article ID      :      326549
Last Review      :      June 2, 2005
Revision      :      5.2
This article was previously published under Q326549
For a Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows NT 4.0, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 98, and Windows 95 version of this article, see 256614 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256614/EN-US/).
SYMPTOMS
You may experience any of the following symptoms:
•      You cannot view or change the Read-only or System attributes of a folder by using the Properties dialog box for the folder. For example, you may experience the following symptoms:
•      When you view the General tab of a folder's Properties dialog box, the Read-only check box is not available, and there is no check box to change the System attribute.
•      You click to clear or click to select the Read-only check box on the General tab of a folder's Properties dialog box. When you click OK or Apply, you receive the following message:
Confirm Attribute Changes
You have chosen to make the following attribute changes:
unset read-only
Do you want to apply this change to this folder only, or do you want to apply it to all subfolders and files as well?
If you click Apply changes to this folder only, the Read-only attribute is changed for all the files in the folder, but the Read-only attribute is not changed for the folder, its subfolders, or any files in its subfolders. If you click Apply changes to this folder, subfolders, and files, the Read-only attribute is changed for all files in the folder and all files in the subfolders, but the Read-only attribute is not changed for the folder or its subfolders.
•      Some programs may display error messages when you try to save files to a folder with the Read-only or System attribute. As a result, these programs may not be able to save files to the folder.
CAUSE
Unlike the Read-only attribute for a file, the Read-only attribute for a folder is typically ignored by Windows, Windows components and accessories, and other programs. For example, you can delete, rename, and change a folder with the Read-only attribute by using Windows Explorer. The Read-only and System attributes is only used by Windows Explorer to determine whether the folder is a special folder, such as a system folder that has its view customized by Windows (for example, My Documents, Favorites, Fonts, Downloaded Program Files), or a folder that you customized by using the Customize tab of the folder's Properties dialog box. As a result, Windows Explorer does not allow you to view or change the Read-only or System attributes of folders. When a folder has the Read-Only attribute set it causes Explorer to request the Desktop.ini of that folder to see if any special folder settings need to be set. It has been seen where if a network share that has a large amount of folders set to Read-only, it can cause Explorer to take longer then what is expected to render the contents of that share while it waits on the retrieval of the Desktop.ini files. The slower the network connectivity to the share the longer this process can take to the point where Explorer may timeout waiting for the data and render nothing or appear to hang.

Note In some previous versions of Windows, you can change the Read-only attribute for folders by using the Properties dialog box for the folder, but no versions of Windows permit you to change the System attribute by using Windows Explorer.

[2Shane]

WORKAROUND
To work around this issue, use the Attrib command at a command prompt (Cmd.exe) to view or remove the Read-only or System attributes of folders. Type attrib /? at the command prompt to view the syntax for the Attrib command.

Warning If you remove the Read-only or System attribute from a folder, it may appear as a ordinary folder and some customizations may be lost. For example, Windows customizes the Fonts folder and provides a special folder view that permits you to hide variations, such as bold and italic. It also permits you to change the folder's view settings in ways that are specific to fonts. If you remove the Read-only and System attributes of the Fonts folder, these customized view settings are not available. For folders that you have customized by using the Customize tab of the folder's Properties dialog box, the folder icon and other other customizations may be lost when you remove the Read-only attribute.

If a program cannot save files to a folder with the Read-only attribute, such as My Documents, change the Read-only attribute to System by using the Attrib command at a command prompt.

For example, to change the Read-only attribute to System for the C:\Test folder, use the following command:
attrib -r +s c:\test
Note that some programs may not operate correctly with folders that have the System attribute set. To remove both the Read-only and System attributes from the C:\Test folder, use the following command:
attrib -r -s c:\test
STATUS
This behavior is by design.
MORE INFORMATION
Windows stores file and folder attributes in the file system with the file and folder name, extension, date and time stamps, and other information. The Read-only check box for folders is not available because it does not apply to the folder. You can use this check box to set the Read-only attribute for files in the folder. However, you cannot use Windows Explorer to determine if a folder has the Read-only and System attributes set. To determine the attributes that are set on a folder, or to change these attributes, you must use the Attrib command from a command prompt.

[2Shane]

Umm no actually the previous split posting doesn't work cause the constipated flash drive neither accepts nor responds to the attrib command in DOS.... - this might work.

MS Article ID      :256614 (read up on it yourself)

SYMPTOMS
You may be unable to remove the Read-Only attribute from a folder using Windows Explorer. In addition, some programs may display error messages when you try to save files to the folder.

NOTE: Some programs do not operate correctly with folders that have the System attribute configured.
1.      Start Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).
2.      Locate the following registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer
3.      On the Edit menu, point to New, click DWORD Value, and then type the following registry value name:UseSystemForSystemFolders
4.      Right-click the new value, and then click Modify.
5.      Type 1, and then click OK.
6.      Quit Registry Editor.
7.      After you make this change to the registry, you must change the Read-Only attribute for all affected folders by using the attrib command at a command prompt (Command.com or Cmd.exe). Type attrib /? at the command prompt to view the syntax for the attrib command. For example, to change the Read-Only attribute to System for the C:\Test folder, use the following command: attrib -r +s c:\test


I am going to log off and test it...... and the clock strikes 3am... (again)

[2k dummy]

Result?

[Raptor]

Result?

Dummy2K,

I looked for "Dummy2K" in the user database and was unable to find any mention of him registering or creating an account, unless he attempted to create an account under a different name I don't believe he registered. The activation e-mails are automatically sent out and should not encounter any type of issues, unless our e-mail server is down. Some users however do have SPAM filters or verification programs enabled, unfortunately we cannot verify our e-mails so users must have these disabled, otherwise they will not receive a notification.
 
If you run into him again you can always have him e-mail [email protected] and I'll see if I can do anything further for him.

[2k dummy]

Dislexia not withstanding, he looked for the wrong name. However, I will email him. Thanks Raptor.

[Raptor]

No, I must have given him the wrong name. I thought you were called Dummy2K. Actually, this is the first time I see your name as "2k Dummy"

[2k dummy]

I was joking about the dislexia. Hopefully, you were not offended.

[Raptor]

Me? Offended? Not possible.


[size=10]I need a hug now[/size]

[2Shane]

Hmm the Microsoft work around - for XP does not address the issue, the work around for 2000 does address the issue - but it doesn't work.

I contacted the teck / support / inquiries people at Sandisk - and they have been suspiciously quiet - and after a couple of emails to them, they have NOT replied.

As generally unscrupulious as MS are in releasing bad (aquired) software, there is some really good stuff they have done and occasionally I have run across some really good support / tech services, to fix up the BUGS in their software, while avoiding getting ripped off in the process (which I usually had to fight for).

So I sent this email to assorted depts in Sandisk and MS:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi, I have a U beaute MMC based mp3 player. I have a Sandisk 512MB MMC in it and yes the card is unlocked. One of my fathers sent it over from Canada - brand new, in the pack, about 2 months ago.

The last MP3 player I had, had defective earphone jacks, and so I removed the Sandisk card, put that on the shelves and sent the player back for replacement.

The replacement came back, and when I stuck the card into it,  I tried to overwrite / delete the old tracks, and also to copy new tracks onto it.

However, the bloody thing spat back at me "Cannot delete / overwrite / format / etc. because the drive is now write protected.

And after trying everything I can think of, etc., I searched through about 120 posts on 120 websites on the subject, there are lots of people and sites saying "remove the write protection" but none of them actually say how to do it....

There is NO clear "turn write protection off" anywhere in XP and there is as far as I can tell, no DOS commands etc., to force the disk to be overwritten / brought back into service.
 
It seems to be enough of a common problem with flash disks in cameras and USB drives and such like to produce many posts, but no clear, concise and working solutions.

And I can't find anyone who actually knows how to crack the "write-protected" function for a flash drive? (online or elsewhere).


This is some of the stuff I have done to crack the "write protected" issue.


It won't format, delete, overwrite, cut, paste, or respond to any the XP GUI commands or DOS commands.

There may be an issue with the card it's self, it may be a matter of having formatted the card as a FAT32 instead of a FAT filing system (we live and learn???) cause the former MP3 player was playing up and or a whole heap of causes...

But it's a 512M Kingston MMC card, reading as 483 Meg FAT32....

And I have tried.... XP, computer management, disk management, properties.

No "read only" attribute in PROPERTIES, only "Share this folder on Network" + "Allow network users to change my files" - both checked.

Jump into "Command Prompt"  CD D: attrib -r, a pop up says: "THE DISK CANNOT BE WRITTEN TO BECAUSE IT IS WRITE PROTECTED. PLEASE REMOVE WRITE PROTECTION FROM THE VOLUME IN DRIVE D:." [cancel / try again / continue]

I hit any of the three commands and it comes back in dos:

D:\attrib -r

Unable to change attribute - D:\001 (file name).mp3
Unable to change attribute - D:\002 (file name).mp3
Unable to change attribute - D:\003 (file name).mp3

etc.

So I have tried all this and similar before... in the XP GIU and in XP DOS and I am honestly STUCK.


It player plays just fine tho.....

I had a crack at hooking the MP3 player into a different computer - same problem.

Any ideas on the subject?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A twat as MS sent this reply:


Dear Shane

I have not received a response from you and therefore will be closing and archiving the case at this point in time.

It was my pleasure to work with you on your Windows Update issue. Should you require any further assistance in relation to this case please feel free to reopen it.

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Online Assisted Support.

Kind regards,
Sunny Cheok
Microsoft Australia & New Zealand Technical Support
http://support.microsoft.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Which is quite an interesting thing to say - "Response? what response?"

Slap that mans head for imbecielity...

So I told him so.

Better upload this.... stay Tuned for part 2.

[merlin_2]

Fell asleep due to boredom............yawn.........

[2Shane]

Hmmm so much for "stupid" service from Microsoft...

It just really *censored*'s me how "software" decideds to make it's own attributes as "Acrhived" and then set it's self as "READ ONLY" and "write protected".....

And hence "un-deletable", "un-erasable", "un-formatable (/u)" and "un-alterable" in any form......

The attributes can't be altered, no commands in the XP GUI or DOS work...

But there is something in this, that is both thrilling and engaging.

I am going to crack this..... no matter what.

I get the feeling that it's something to do with a) the formatting to fat 32, b) registry settings on protected files and c) a combination of read only and write protected settings and) the way XP defines flash drives or recognises them as hard drives...

Something in that lot holds the key to cracking the "locked up" flash cards issue.

Perhaps I should tell the clowns in Microsoft, that I might go to open source software - Oh wait a minute, I have to just download another 210 security patches and software updates... and yeah the folks at Sandisk?, I might just ask thier competitors at Kingston or some other flash card maker, what crap service the Sandisk people are giving to their customers, in respect to a KNOWN FAULT with FLASH CARDS, and while asking for their help, resolve to only buy the most helpful companies flash cards in the future.

Yeah, be a winner, get rid of the losers.......

I shall ask around for some more expert help, and when it and or an illumination comes, or I have more time to reseach it, I shall post it here.

Mean, as a pussywhipped *censored* - while I have housework to do.....