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How to remove write protection from USB drive
How to remove write protection from a write protected USB flash drive:
Six days ago, My Kingston USB Flash Drive got Write Protected, And I couldnt write files to it, nor could I delete any files, nor could I format my USB drive.
I spent hours and hours searching on google for a solution, then on a forum, I finnally found a guide that worked for me 
(Hurray !)
Well, this guide includes edits in windows registry, but its very easy.
Here is the guide :
- Start Menu -> Run -> type ‘regedit’ (without the quotes) -> Hit Enter !
- Now take a backup of your registry, incase something goes wrong:
Right Click on ‘My Computer’ -> ‘Export’ > save it on the Desktop. - Now Browse through these tabs:
My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies - Double click on the string ‘WriteProtect’ and change the ‘Value Data’ box to ‘0’
- On Toolbar, Click on File -> Export -> Save it anywhere with any name like ‘WriteProtection01.reg’ or anything.
- You need to repeat the step 3 - step 5 with every string on folder named ‘ControlSet***’ (* = any Digit, i.e. 001, 002) - that is, instead of currentcontrolset, repeat the steps for folders controlset***
For Example :
My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\StorageDevicePolicies
- Again export it on same directory as before, named as ‘WriteProtection0**.reg’
Note : These exports are just incase you need to revert the changes in your registry, to revert, just double click on the *.reg file, and click yes when it prompts.
This method worked for me, post your results in your comments, or if you know another alternative to this method, dont forget to share it with us.
Posted on Jul 20, 2008 at 14:31:30
couldn’t find storagedevicepolicies with Windows XP
Posted on Jul 31, 2008 at 10:59:53
tnx a lot … !! it is truly works !!
Posted on Aug 20, 2008 at 13:26:28
can not find storagedevicepolicies with Windows XP
any help would really be appreactiated tyvm:)
Posted on Sep 11, 2008 at 12:14:40
couldn’t find storagedevicepolicies with Windows XP
Posted on Sep 16, 2008 at 14:58:32
it really works..thnx…wheeeew!!!
Posted on Oct 15, 2008 at 17:51:28
cant get through third step.cant find storage device policies. help pls.
Posted on Oct 23, 2008 at 06:28:11
Hello.. I counld not find the Storage Device Policies.. reply asap.. thanks
Posted on Nov 18, 2008 at 11:31:48
Try fixin’ it on windows vista
Posted on Nov 21, 2008 at 23:52:56
this is too complicated..one thing you could try is to find a little switch on the side of you USB and try to slide it the opposite direction to unlock. This worked for me. good luck.
Posted on Nov 22, 2008 at 23:28:37
thaaaaaaaaaaaaankksssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss man i thought at first that my USB broke, and was abt to throw it, but ya saved meeeeeeeeeeeee man thnxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Posted on Dec 5, 2008 at 20:37:31
Cant find the Storage device policies.
Please help,
Thx
Posted on Dec 6, 2008 at 06:23:40
followed all the steps through and it did not fix my issue w/ my ex hd. thanx neway.
Posted on Dec 9, 2008 at 22:15:31
I have Vista and after a year of no problems with my USB drive, suddenly I couldn’t write, edit or format my USB drive. I spent hours trying various regedit fixes, unsuccessfully. Your fix worked in a minute! Thank you very much!
Posted on Dec 15, 2008 at 13:43:36
cant find storage device policies
Posted on Jan 12, 2009 at 08:05:07
cant find storage device policies
Posted on Jan 20, 2009 at 12:15:51
It’s work..
Thank you so much!!!!
Posted on Feb 16, 2009 at 23:24:07
hey thanks a million my freind hurrrrayyyyy its working man thanks a tonnnnnn
Posted on Feb 25, 2009 at 14:08:23
couldn’t find storagedevicepolicies with Windows XP
Posted on Mar 5, 2009 at 03:04:22
Hey i figured out that if you have XP (not XP S2 or w/e its called) you cant find storagedevicepolicies.
I went to this site and found the answer. For those of you who dont know spanish, ill translate.
Basically go to here:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\UsbStor
on there you should see “Start”
right click it and click on Modify
change the 3 to a 0.
that should work.
good luck!
Posted on Mar 5, 2009 at 13:55:25
yeah couldn’t find storage devicepolicies with WINDOWSXP SP3 too
Posted on Mar 11, 2009 at 02:39:07
Have your tryed changing the port your plug your stick into i had that trouble just then and plug it into a different port and it worked fine.
Posted on Mar 19, 2009 at 11:54:33
This worked great! thank you so much, been searching for this for hours!~
Posted on Mar 25, 2009 at 01:03:38
salaam dear. i faced the same problem and using the procedure given here i’d say that it worked fast and furious for me brother. thanks for sharing this useful info.. by the way i got this problem after using my sony walkman with my computer.
anyways thanks again.
Posted on Mar 25, 2009 at 13:35:48
i have genx 2gb pen drive.i have problem in my usb drive to remove write protect. i have using the formula regeit.msc but still i have problem. there is no write protect button in my pen drive. what can i do.
Posted on Apr 11, 2009 at 02:33:40
check ‘hold’ key on ur usb & make sure it’s released. it worked for meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted on Apr 27, 2009 at 22:34:12
Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!I was about to chuck my mmc out of the window.The steps really helped me.Thank you so much again
Posted on Apr 29, 2009 at 16:28:57
It’s work..
Thank you so much!!!!
Posted on May 2, 2009 at 19:50:06
i couldnt find currentcontrolset
Posted on May 11, 2009 at 13:38:36
COULD’NT FINE STORAGE DEVICE POLICE ON WIN XP
Posted on May 13, 2009 at 15:24:36
I have the same problem with my 8 GB Transcend JF V10 there isn’t a write protect button and i didn’t install any program that might write protect a storage device. My OS is windows vista home basic it doesn’t have StorageDevicePolicies but it has UsbStor with a subfolder 05AC12xx and 05AC13xx both with DeviceHackFlags REG_DWORD. What am I going to do? Need help please.
Posted on May 15, 2009 at 09:08:54
ya, it really works over
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\UsbStor
on there you should see “Start”
right click it and click on Modify
change the 3 to 0.
Posted on May 24, 2009 at 13:50:16
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\UsbStor
on there you should see “Start”
right click it and click on Modify
change the 3 to 0.
when I do all that what I do next,,,,,pls help me
Posted on May 28, 2009 at 17:40:57
hi all , i tried but ther is no storage devices.is it works in vista?
Posted on May 28, 2009 at 17:42:12
any body gets this solution means mail me @ gowthamveera@rediffmail.com
Posted on May 29, 2009 at 12:05:55
i have a usb which is dell, i couldn’t find ‘Export’ on my laptop and until now, my usb still have a write protected error, i want to remove this error but how? help me…
Posted on Jun 1, 2009 at 18:02:02
it worked
thanks man
Posted on Jun 5, 2009 at 14:57:53
This problem kept happening repeatedly in my Comp. This forum had the answer. Successfully removed Write protection. Hope it doesnt repeat.
The reasons for this problem could be many. I found two.
1) Virus changes this setting in the registry. It removes write protection only when it wants to write to the USb. Antivirus removes this, but keeps doesnt change back the setting.
2)McFee Antivirus for example sometimes write protects the USB while scanning. When u remove the USB while scanning is on or due to some other trouble, it fails to remove write protection. Such AVs are a pain in the neck.
Posted on Jun 5, 2009 at 14:59:37
Also download Regalyzer. Helps when regedit is blocked(”by administrator”)
Posted on Jun 7, 2009 at 14:15:24
i diid as you instructed but there is no storage device found in the regestry tree
Posted on Sep 9, 2009 at 22:56:19
couldn’t find storagedevicepolicies with Windows XP
couldn’t find storagedevicepolicies with Windows XP
couldn’t find storagedevicepolicies with Windows XP
couldn’t find storagedevicepolicies with Windows XP
how????
how????
how????
how????
how????
Posted on Sep 12, 2009 at 08:16:33
Thanks a lot!!! it really really works!! Thank you man!!! Thank you!!!! More power and God bless!!
Kurt Morris
From Philippines
Posted on Sep 14, 2009 at 19:41:14
the problem can be sorted out easily . the procedure explained above is quite a complicated one….just c if there is a button or lock on the side of ur flash drive…if it is there then move it in the opposite direction…im sure it will work coz it worked for me.
Posted on Sep 20, 2009 at 17:52:18
salam (hi) everyone,I realized something that might be useful. in the case you go to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies
but there is no “WriteProtect” string in folder “StorageDevicePolicies”, you should create it this way:
right click on “StorageDevicePolicies” and select “New”, then select “DWORD (32-bit) value” and rename the new string to “WriteProtect” (without the quotes), do not change the value data and let it be ‘0′.
Now do the same for every string on folder named ‘ControlSet***’ (* = any Digit, i.e. 001, 002) - that is, instead of “CurrentControlSet”. (Create the same string in these folders).
now remove your Flash and connect it to PC again for changes to take effect.
Have fun
Posted on Sep 25, 2009 at 20:38:00
cant find storage device policy on xp
Posted on Sep 28, 2009 at 13:01:15
yeah couldn’t find storage devicepolicies with WINDOWSXP SP2 too
Posted on Sep 30, 2009 at 06:25:16
It worked!!!! Just like you said… life-saver - thank you!!!!
Posted on Oct 12, 2009 at 18:05:48
to sheff
your solution does’nt solve my problem…it does not work
Posted on Oct 14, 2009 at 21:21:29
couldn’t find storagedevicepolicies with windows xp
Posted on Oct 14, 2009 at 22:21:22
hi,
i can’t find the storage devices policies
Posted on Oct 26, 2009 at 04:24:15
gosh…it worked. i used the currentcontrolset/services/usbstor and it worked. now i can write and rename my mp3 player, i’m relieved. thnx guys.
i found difficulties because my mp3 player was locked so it kept giving me that trouble until i unlocked the keys. it then worked. u could also try that.
Posted on Oct 26, 2009 at 21:36:58
Cant find the ‘Storage device policies’.
Please help,
Thx
Posted on Oct 30, 2009 at 11:54:16
i goto current controlset but there i could nt find storagedevice policies
Posted on Nov 4, 2009 at 14:39:21
I couldn’t find the StorageDevicePolicies. I am using Windows XP.