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turn off write protection

Questions & Answers > Windows
Miguel on December 27, 2009
RE: turn off write protection

¡Que no hay magdalenas!
Indrajit Sar on January 1, 2010
RE: turn off write protection

I can not find storage device policies help????????
E-mail indra_sar2007@yahoo.co.in
Solution on January 16, 2010
RE: turn off write protection

Download the following zip and run the executable in it. It will
format your usb storage device (so you should backup all your files
before you run the executable) and then you can write and delete any
file in it.

Only connect the usb device with the problem, no other usb device
should be connected.

http://www.apacer.com/en/support/downloads/Repair_v2.9.1.1.z ip

It worked for me.
:-)
romeo on January 21, 2010
RE: turn off write protection

i use the repair_v2.9.1.1.zip but it appear usb disk not found...i tried also the regedit but it seems it didn't work, what will i do next?
tnx... email me at stranger_20@lycos.com
UncleCom on January 25, 2010
FOUND IT IN "WIN7"

I found the slove for SD CARD :
1.Click right-mouse on computer and choose MANGE.
2.On the left choose disk management
3.Click right-mouse on the drive that your SD CARD connected to and choose properties
E.G "i have it "DISK 2 ""
4.In the tabs choose " Policies " and change it to " better perfomnce " and apply\ok
Now you can Format it ..after you finish back to " policies " and put it back again to " quick removal (default)
DONEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE ^_^
UncleCom on January 25, 2010
RE: turn off write protection

MAYBE IT WOULD WORK FOR USB too..JUST FOLLOW THE STEPS UP
UncleCom on January 25, 2010
RE: turn off write protection

I found the slove for SD CARD :
1.Click right-mouse on computer and choose MANGE.

2.On the left choose disk management

3.Click right-mouse on the drive that your SD CARD connected to and choose properties
E.G "i have it "DISK 2 ""

4.In the tabs choose " Policies " and change it to " better perfomnce " and apply\ok

Now you can Format it ..after you finish back to " policies " and put it back again to " quick removal (default)
DONEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE ^_^
Mike Kerslake on February 11, 2010
RE: turn off write protection

Like everyone else who has asked the question I have followed the register opening advice thru to finding StorageDevicePolicies. As others have said "mine isn't there". Has anyone answered the question of how to get it, recover it, find it etc. This is a problem months old as all the messages show and as all worked well for me before December I assume it used to be there. Where do we go from here?
How did it vanish, how do we all get it back?
Tony Parran on March 28, 2010
Turn off write protection

I am running Vista Home Premium and yep, like everyone else I am having the write protection error.
1. I wish people would read the description of the error before responding. Those running VISTA like myself do not have the StorageDevicePolicies in Regedit.
2. There appears to be a slight change in how to get to the Disk Manager but once there I found the Properties button, and changed the suggested radials; this too did not fix the problem.
It says the disk is healthy. and can read it, but it cannot be written to.
Since I can add or remove the SD card, no matter what card I use, I get the same error so this is a HARDWARE issue and not is not associated with a software or virus.
Tony Parran on March 28, 2010
Turn off write protection - addendum

Before someone responds without reading, yes in each case the write-protection slide is in the unlock position on each SD Card.

By the way, I can take the SD cards out and put them in the SD slot on my notebook and I can read and write to them, reinforcing my earlier statement that this is a hardware issue and not software..
SK on May 10, 2010
RE: turn off write protection

HP pen drive sucks!!!
ME on June 4, 2010
RE: turn off write protection

in vista bussiness. Go to computer right click on your device and click open as portable device, then you can delete and save stuff from there.

Worked 4 me. ;.1
HF on July 2, 2010
RE: turn off write protection

Guys, I can't format, delete or send anything to my mp4.. It says its write-protected, and I did all the steps(run>regedit.....)I found everything but the write-protected thing doesn't show up !!!!!!! wtf??
pleeeeaze help me :"(
A on July 19, 2010
RE: turn off write protection

U PPL ARE DUMB! THERE IS NO "StorageDevicePolicies" STOP GIVIN THIS AS AN ANSWER CAUSE IT CANNOT BE FOUND. CAN'T ANY OF U READ???!!!!!!
delec on August 1, 2010
RE: turn off write protection

On this Windows 7 box it too one of a sudden (all automatic updates r
turned off since it is an offline machine behind a firewall) was no
longer able to write to several SD cards that had previously worked on
it.
Adding the StorageDevicePolicies/WriteProtect with a DWord of 0
to all 3 did solve the problem.
Although merely ejecting and reinserting the SD card did NOT do the
trick. It was actually even more bizarre. Adding the above to:
ControlSet001 and ControlSet002 was straight forward, and the added
keys were immediately visible. However adding the above to
CurrentControlSet was not immediately visible. Figuring that windows
failed w/o error message I tried to add it again, but got an error
that it already existed, even though the key StorageDevicePolicies was
not visible (so typical M$ crap)!
Restarting Regedit did finally show the key. And then ejecting and
reinserting the SD-Card did solve the erroneous write protect problem.

I would like to add, that no one has access to this machine
(physically and virtually), and as a computer engineer I doubt that I
did anything to cause several SD Cards that had previously worked to
fail in this manner.
Well, this is my last Windows box. All my other machines are no longer
and will never be M$ Mickey Mouse stuff again and run a real operating
system (most of them some form of Linux). It is a pity, I used to be a
true blood Microsoft fan back in the MS-DOS days, but after 25+ years
of screwing around with this failed experiment the only conclusion I
can draw is that either the design of Windows is so fundamentally
flawed or more likely the Corporate $tructure (greed) is so
fundamentally flawed that there will never be a flavor of win7 or
whatever they call it next time that deserves the title Operating
System and should be called Mickey Mouse toy 7 ....
Unfortunately since the marketing budget is considerably larger than
the engineering budget, the masses will continue to blindly fall for
the same old trick again and again.
The silver lining: albeit annoying, it is perfect for the job security
of us computer professionals!
Mega on August 2, 2010
RE: turn off write protection

Guys ...
I found it finally I am keeps on banging my head for past one hour y my new sd card is not accepting the files it says write protected?....
WRITE PROYECTION may be shown because my CARD IS LOCKED in the position...I didint noticed and keep on searching sites to solve my issue...I finally moved to unlock position its workkng ... hmm this is very funny.....This is also one reason pls guys check it out.....
Sian on August 30, 2010
RE: turn off write protection

@ delec please can you say that in english, i've no idea what all the computer jargon means so would just love easy steps for me to solve this problem, i am running Vista too....

Many thanks

Sian
jonny on September 8, 2010
RE: turn off write protection

StorageDevicePolicies cant find this to sort out my usb stick
jonnym12345@hotmail.com
rsc on September 25, 2010
RE: turn off write protection

Go to control panel - administrative tools - computer management - disk
management -
on your usb name - right click - change the drive letter (if f then h or
WE)
Now it is ready to format in any software.
arvind mehra on November 4, 2010
RE: turn off write protection

the usb disk is run but only run the disk is write-protect and not formet then read messege write-protect and use another disk.
Rachael on November 9, 2010
RE: turn off write protection

Hey, I own a CENTON USB pro Datastick. Only a 4GB. I try to move my documents on and off for work, but suddenly out of no where it wouldn't let me delete, copy, move, etc anything off and on. It tells me it's write-protected and I need to remove it. I've read most of the replies, but none helpful to me. Can anyone help? I tried formatting; won't let me since it is write-protected. I can't find anything. Please help. E-mail me at: r.e.worth@live.com

Thank you.
Subhendu on November 10, 2010
RE: turn off write protection

I hav tried many ideas as discussed in the above, but till now not yet
succeded to remove write protection from my USB drives.

What i have Tried:
1)Go to control panel - administrative tools - computer management -
disk
management -
on your usb name - right click - change the drive letter (if f then h
or
WE)
Now it is ready to format in any software.

2)1. Click Start->Run.

2. Type regedit and click OK.

3. Save your registry settings by clicking file > Export > save. This
is the bacup taken in case something messes up.

4. Open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE by clicking on the + sign next to it.

5. Open SYSTEM by clicking the plus sign next to it.

6. Open CurrentControlSet.

7. Open Control.

8. Open StorageDevicePolicies

9. Right click on WriteProtect and click modify.

10. If the value data is 1 change it 0 and click ok.

11. Repeat steps 7 to 10 for ControlSet001 and ControlSet002 .

12. Close Registry editor and its done. You might have to reboot.


I had tried but not succeded in removing the write protection. Please
help me out..............Plzzzzzzzzzzzz
Dont ask on December 7, 2010
RE: turn off write protection

Cant find StorageDevicePolicies bcuz there is no such thing
as SDP.Wil Fooled us.

My Transcend usb doesnt works i try to put files in
the pen drive it says cannot find the specified file
this is pissing me offff! Its an 8GB drive Plzz help
thanks
Abhilash on January 5, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

I got solution. If you don't have the option "StorageDevicePolicy", You have to create it.

cd\
reg add "HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies" /t Reg_dword /v WriteProtect /f /d 1

Copy the above code to a text file and save it with .bat extension and then run it. It will create "StorageDevicePolicy". Then, you can continue with above process
dsfds on January 21, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

why it dosnt create StorageDevicePolicy file?
Erkin on January 21, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

i DID as you said but it didnt appear in regedit. what must i do?
SURESH on January 23, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

YOU CAN FORMAT WRITE PROTECT PEN DRIVE WITH REPAIR NAME SOFTWARE
Beelie on February 27, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

OK,

NOTHING here worked on my Dane-elec 4 gig usb flash drive when it went "write protect". The reg edit did not work, even when I created a the new "StorageDevicePolicy", The repair download did not work. Safe mode reformat did not work, Command line access was no good.

Now I do believe that I fucked it up by not safely removing it from either my Umbuntu (Linux) box or my XP box.

Just for grins I connected it to a Win 7 machine. It did complain a little, but I was able to remove some files. Then the machine scanned it for errors and isolated some corrupt files. Then I reformatted and at the moment the little bastard works.

Methinks if you do not safely remove the stick from the machine, it screws up the file attributes for THAT machine. Just try it in another machine and see if you can erase or reformat. It may or may not work, but it's worth a try.
Ashok on April 28, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

i can not do off the write protection
i am in window 7 version
plz. help
Eric Exodus on May 24, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

http: //www.apacer.com/en/support/downloads/Repair_v2.9.1.1. zip

Download the file in the link and just run it while your pen drive is still stuck in your computer...
It should say formatting and voila! Done! work the best for me!

Homesickeric . blogspot . com
kaif on June 9, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

i cannot find storage device policies
jel on June 16, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

my 4gb pendriv says write protected
im nt getin tis storage devic policies.
im unable to proceed
plz help me..
say t procedure to
fgjelbin93@yahoo.in
Jastine on June 30, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

Wtf... None Of This Bullshit Worked..!! Abhilash Where The Hell Are You Supposed To Find A Text File To Copy That Code To..?
jack on July 6, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

I tried all the stuff like hp disk format tool,safe mode ,disk mgmt,Repair_v2.9.1.1.zip,even win 98 bootable disk ,,bt nthng worked...wer the hell storagedeviceplolicy is,,,,hope the god knows...
JM on July 17, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

I cant turnoff write protection on my Image nano 4GB...pls. help me
Trouble on July 18, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

Ok I have tried everything on here and under the sun to fix this and not getting anywhere. I have to get this fixed ASAP my homework is on this flash drive. It is a purple capless Dane-Elec 4 GB drive, can anybody please help me tabitha.volmer@gmail.com. Thanx bunches
Kip on July 21, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

On Windows 7, just change the drive letter in Disk Management and it should work. I had the same issue and the letter change did the trick. I agree with a previous poster that if improperly removed, the drive causes issues and corrupt files within the drive (hidden configuration files).
yogesh on July 24, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

i have not find to Storage Device Policies pls help mi
stup on August 15, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

I have been trying all the methods that were listed here. And guess what NONE OF IT WORKS!
Cion Okiya on August 18, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

do i need to unplugged my flash drive before i restart the computer?
Phade on August 25, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

USB drive is a removable mass storage device which is generally used to store and transfer data. This portable storage device is lightweight and handy to use which makes it a more preferred storage option as compared to CD, zip drive disk or floppy disk.

It is possible that you disable USB (Universal Serial Bus) drive’s access to the various USB mass storage devices such as USB key, pen drive, portable hard disk, flash drive and thumb drive while allowing the USB hardware devices such as keyboard, printer, mouse, webcam and scanner linked to USB ports to work normally, using a registry hack.

However, this registry hack disables the access to USB drive completely preventing the user from copying data to USB disk storage and reading files/ documents from USB storage device.

If you wish to disable only the write access to external removable USB disk drive, you need to use a different registry hack of registry entry “WriteProtect” in the registry key “StorageDevicePolicies” for restricting Windows from writing onto the USB drive, thereby preventing the user from copying any sensitive information from the computer to the USB drive.

This registry hack works in a manner very much similar to write-protect aspect used in backup tape and floppy disk which makes the disk “read-only”. However, the system wide implementation of this registry trick blocks any recording/ writing of data to the removable USB device.

Just follow the simple steps mentioned below for disabling write access to all USB drives and allowing read-only access only:

1> Choose “Run” option from the Start Menu. Type “regedit” into the run command box and press “Enter” to open the “Registry Editor”.
2> Locate the registry key mentioned below:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control

3> Then create a new registry key and name it as “StorageDevicePolicies”
4> Select and highlight the key “StorageDevicePolicies” and create a new DWORD value. Name it as “WriteProtect”.
5> Double-click on “WriteProtect” and fix its value data as ‘1′.

Once the setting is done, no user on the PC will be allowed to copy, transfer or write any data or files/ documents to the USB drives. If you attempt to copy or download files from the computer to the removable USB drive, an error message will appear notifying you that the disk and media is write-protected and you need to either utilize another disk or eliminate the write protection.
If you wish to revert the setting or enable write access to all USB drives in future, you simply need to delete the registry key “StorageDevicePolicies” or the registry entry “WriteProtect” or alter the “WriteProtect” value data to 0.
The Dude... on September 1, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsXP/tune-28.html

hey guys.. does who r not able find “StorageDevicePolicies”.... check
out this linkkk.... u hv ur ans. there... :)
Name on September 2, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

Tried every single trick and solution on about 20 or 30 web pages and guess what. NOTHING WORKS. EVERY SINGLE TIME I DO SOMETHING IT SAYS THE DISK IS WRITE PROTECTED PLEASE HELP PLEASE I DONT WANT TO THROW THIS USB AWAY IT HAS MY NAME ENGRAVED ON IT PLEASE HELP ME PLEASE I BEG YOU FIND A PROPER SOLUTION HELP MEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
siddique on September 28, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

please help me.
Abhilash Kumar on October 24, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

in my computer there is no option of "storege device policy".then how i
remove write protection.please mail me.
email id-abhilash080191@gmail.com
Santhosh on October 24, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

Guys, if u r a window 7 user, don't waste ur time searching or adding "StorageDevicePolicies".

That method works on Windows XP Service Pack 2 only!
AMIT on October 29, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

CANNOT FIND StorageDevicePolicies
satnam singh on December 11, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

i can not find Storage Device Policy
ravi on December 23, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

turn off write protection
bradwood on December 28, 2011
RE: turn off write protection

i did everything but i cant find Storage Device Policy and using windows xp what else do i try
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