Windows 7 RC0 disk is write protected
So you’ve checked everything you can think of, and one of your drives (hard drive, usb stick, usb drive) has become write protected, and you have no idea why..
The solution my friend is "DiskPart".
Open a command prompt window (start –> run –> type in the run window cmd
In the command prompt type "diskpart"
Type "list volume"
this will list all the drives on your computer and give them all volume numbers.
Next you want diskpart to set focus on the write protected drive "select volume #" which ever volume is the disk in question.
Now enter "attributes disk clear readonly" and then type "attributes volume clear readonly"
Check the drive in question, you should now be able to access the disk with full permissions. Hope this helps.
67 Comments
Post a comment
Mark,
I really appreciate your post here. I’ve been all over the Internet looking for a solution to my issue and finally found your post.
The final key was to enter “attributes disk clear readonly” twice, which is apparently why you wrote it twice, and then all was well.
Do you know why this even happens in the first place? I’ve been going on for a long time with no issues and then just like that, it happens.
Again, thanks for your post on this.
I am having the same problem with Vista home premium. I have tried ATTRIB DRIVE:\fILE NAME -r to no avail. I have not found Disk clear listed in command line commands. I will look again. The last file added to this flash drive was via a copy of an Audio file, extent mwa. My next attempt at a later time generated the write protected message. ATTRIB with no options shows a hidden file “~WLD1180.tmp”. No idea what caused this file to be written to the flash drive. I hope this information is helpful to some one.
Thanks for the tip…
I’ve been trying forever to think what was wrong…
This helped me alot…
thanks dude! very helpful.
its not twice.. its different
Mark-
Thanks a million! I have a feeling that for every person who has left a thank you comment there are thousands more who should have.
Excellent tip – this solved my problem, but not really sure why it happened to begin with.
Thanks!
Brilliant thanks…
I just want to know does it reoccur for others?
As every time I boot I have to clear the readonly.
So much so that I went and made a batch file that runs a diskpart script…
Any ideas?
Conor
European Patent Office and by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. ,
I followed your steps but in the end it appeared: Virtual disk error: this operation is not supported for removable media (my write-protected device is a USB stick).
This is what I got too. All the steps went as described until I typed in “attributes volume clear readonly” and then I got the error message, “this operation is not supported on removable media.” I tried copying a file to that disk to see if it worked anyway and got the same write protection error.
How my volume became magically write-protected I do not know. This fixed it though. Thanks for writing clearly enough for others to understand and get promoted in the Google search results.
I’m constantly having this problem. I usually put W7 to sleep when I don’t use it, but once in a while I do a reboot, and if not every second reboot then every third reboot one of 6 hard drives become magically write protected. And it happens to a random drive, and even drives that are not in use at all…
Perhaps if we (the victims) supply some system specifications we could pinpoint the problem?
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Motherboard: BFG nVidia 680i SLI
CPU: Intel QX6700
Chipset driver: nForce v15.51
All drivers are latest and windows updated.
All hard drives are SATA 3.0
Some software that could possible affect:
Eset Antivirus v4.0
Windows Live Messenger v9
Xfire
Firefox
Thunderbird
Absolutely the BEST solution to the problem.
The external HDD connected via USB would function on XP machines but would give “Write Protected” error on my new Windows 7 machine.
This solution solved the issue. Took me two days to solve the problem all thanks to this post. Better late than never.
Thank you! MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
For me updating drivers as suggested by Ed Lau at
social . technet . microsoft . com
did fix 100% of the problem.
(sorry it doesn’t let me post a link to the topic, just search for “Vista second hard drive in read only mode” topic)
I would just like to sincerely thank you, sir. Have a nice day!
Unpluged my external WD usb drive without dimounting and windows 7 would no longer read anything on the drive. After a successfull reboot I encountered the wonderful read only issue as well. Thanks for the tip, fixed my problem.
ASUS G71G Laptop
Hi,
Win 7 ultimate with a transcend 8GB flash drive write protected.
I tried using the diskpart utility but it hasnt worked.
The “attributes disk clear readonly” works but “attributes volume clear readonly” results in a “not supported on removable media” error message.
When looking at either: “attributes disk” OR “attributes volume” the “current read-only state = yes”; then under that it says “read-only state = no”…and the drive is still write protected.
Any help would be sincerely appreciated!!
Ben
Hi,
I have the same problem as Ben. I have usb flash 16GB (Kingston DataTraveler). Ive tried many SW but result is the same. USB is still write protected. USB is working properly in other Win OS (XP, NT).
I tried using the diskpart utility mention above but it hasnt worked.
The “attributes disk clear readonly” works but “attributes volume clear readonly” results in a “not supported on removable media” error message.
but the usb is still protected. Any idea how to solve this problem?
Ben, did you ever solve your write-protected USB problem at http://blog.eternalnetworx.com/2009/05/29/windows-7-rc0-disk-is-write-protected/
I have the exact same error message.
Thank you….
That worked..
Worked perfectly. Thanks
I looked for a solution all day.
why it wont work on me?
I’ve the same problem as Ben & Radim
and i tried every thing that you said above but it doesn’t worked
so, if you (or anyone) have a solution.. I’ll be thankful
I’ve the same problem as Ben, Radim & Mohammed,
The “attributes disk clear readonly” works but “attributes volume clear readonly” results in a “not supported on removable media” error message.
but the usb is still protected. Any idea how to solve this problem?
THANKYOU! It does seem the trick is clearing the DISK’s attributes before the VOLUME, since trying to clear the volume just gives “disk is write protected”.
Hey, I am having the same issue as Ben, Radim, Mohammed and Hans. The first command works, but the second gives an error, and the SD card is still unwritable. Any suggestions?
im having same problem in 2nd step pls help!!
Hi, I am have the same problem as Ben, Radim, Mohammed, Hans, John M. and Khizer … any solutions on how to fix it?
Oh. Thank You. I looked for a solution all day.
Thank you for this solution. However, I’m throwing in with the Ben, Radim, Mohammed, Hans, John M, and Khizer gang. No workies for removable media.
Thanks, it did work for me. I have Windows 7 and got this problem many times with my external (USB) HDD. I do use the sleep function in Windows so maybe that has some influence. Didn’t need to clear the writeprotect on volume, just disk. Still no idea what actually caused it.
Had same problems as Ben…. Formatted under Linux *Ubuntu* and all was OK…
This is not a permanent solution. However, do the following things and you are done for good.
1. Open start menu, in the search bar type regedit and press enter. This wil open the registry editor.
2. Navigate to the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies
Note:
If the registry key StorageDevicePolicies does not exist, you will need to create it manually.
3. Double click the key WriteProtect in the right window and set the value to 0 in the Value
Data Box and press OK button
4. Restart your computer and try copying files into your USB drives.
Worked on this Seagate External for almost 6 Hours. After finding your site its fixed in two minutes. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!
I get same issue as Victor. The “attributes volume clear readonly” CMD only returns ” Virtual disk error: this operation is not supported for removable media
My USB is still write protected
thank u! it worked…
HUff,,,anyone can help…
the same problem with another here..
“Virtual disk error: this operation is not supported for removable media”
Pliss help…
Let me know where to send the check I owe you for this. Worked perfectly.
Had this problem a couple of times using Copy+ for copying Sky+ box hard discs. Adding this comment primarily so others using copy plus who find they cannot format a drive afterwards find this page. Many thanks!
-Haz
Used Diskpart under Vista Home Premium. “Attribute disk clear readonly” reported success but the attribute was not reset. ” Volume clear readonly” reported “not valid for removable media”.
Created registry key “StorageDevicePolicies” but found no read only key.
Deleted the newly created key.
wel, i did watever u all mentioned but ultimate result wz an utter failure ………
ultimately i got success by using a free repair application ……..
u can use it by simply downloading thru d following link and then format ur usb no matter its write protected or not, this application means business
http://www.apacer.com/en/support/d [...] .9.1.1.zip
u just run it for a minute and then reinsurt ur usb again n either it will b formatted or woud no more show write protected ….
You are just another shit eating faggot that doesnt know jack shit about fucking anything that they think they fucking know you useless gook suckling reindeer raping tapeworm.
thanks, but it’s not working with me..
i followed all stips carefully, but the removable disk still write protected..
so if you can help more,, that will be great of you
P.s: my OS is win7
Make sure you follow the steps very carefully. It seems you can making the same task twice, but the command is different.
Also reboot directly after you make the change. Is this a portable drive? Or a internal local drive?
Mark.
i did all step perfectly & the device is a 4 GB kingston flash memory , memory card, and 8GB sony fladh memory..
by the way.. i tried to do all steps again now but the second commend “attributes volume clear readonly ” gives me ” this operation is not supported for removable media “..
that’s it.. now i dont now what to do and i think of reinstall win 7.. if you have any help tell me before i reinstall the windows..
Same problem with my 8gb. transcend usb-flash and nothing helps.
Solution is-put your flash in PC with windows XP and format it-that works for me and I am using 7 too
Thanks alot! Worked perfectly. Wonder why this isnt fixed yet by MS.
OMG …. it worked !!! days looking and downloading bullthings with no solution ….
Thank you a lot !!
Worked for me on a WD 320G from a Sky+ HD box. Win XP Diskpart doesn’t have the options though, but the one from Win 7 Home Edition did the trick.
Thanks!
Thanks !!!! Very useful procedure.
same problem Virtual disk error: this operation is not supported for removable medi
I am using W7 Home Premium version 6.1 build 7600.
‘dispart’ opens another dos window, after permission granted through AVG user account control. But whilst the curser flashes in the diskpart dos window the key board has no effect. I have disabled every part of AVG but I am not able to type into the diskpart dos window. Any ideas?
I have managed to defeat AVG and got diskpart to operate. It would seem to be a particular 4G USB stick I bought from 7 Day Shop. I will try sending it back.
I find it strange that this problem still exist. My USB Drive get writeprotected all the time. Ive changed the keys in the registry that MS tells u to (Which they should have fixed already with an update, but noo) And I tried dikpart, but no matter that Diskpart now says its not write protected, it still is. I even formated the drive but no difference. This is one problem that annoys the hell out of me since I need my external drive as a backup.
HUff,,,anyone can help…
the same problem with another here..
“Virtual disk error: this operation is not supported for removable media”
Pliss help…
Mark,
Thank you very much indeed for your advise. felt very proffessional and worked like a charm. Also learnt ssomething new.
Just wanted to take time out in THANKING YOU
)
I’ve been virtually every where on the net, asking mates, in the last 10 days…and this easily followable instructions were SPOT ON!!
At one point i was thinking of returning the hard drive i bought from eBay, even though the seller told me it was ok!…i’m assuming it was write protected because it had either windows on it, and he was the administrator, or some window files etc, which were still present on the drive.
Thanks anyway and all the best
Nothing works…
I am still facing the same, I tried everything possible, seems nothing is working out for me, I am struggling from past 2 days, please help..
seems no one can solve the problem of ” this operation is not supported for removable media “… anyone with a solution?
Hi!
I got the same message you did after the second command ” this operation is not supported for removable media” , but then I:
Cleared the cache with ccleaner.
I have pretty much everything checked off to be cleaned so I do not know which specific thing needed clearing, but it helped.
Maybe the system “remembers” that USB stick or SD card as protected until your clear its “memory”…
By the way, the way I got this problem seems to have something to do with trying to make recovery usb and SD images for my Chromebook which isn’t working out so well either…it affected two USB sticks and an SD card.
Thank you so much!
New it was something to with the attributes, but I didn’t know how to fix the problem.
Thank you for this article. I was encountered the same issue with my removable SD flash drive. I tried the above and at first it didn’t work because I still got “the operation is not supported on removable media” error. So this is what I did.
1. command prompt
2. diskpart (then this should call out another DISKPART prompt, from step 3 onward, type commands in new prompt)
3. list volume
4. select volume 7 (i.e. suppose the volume I want to select is #7)
5. attribute volume clear readonly
6. list disk
7. select disk 3 (i.e. suppose the disk I want to select is #3)
8. attribute disk clear readonly
9. after all the above steps done, then check your disk attributes and volume attributes
10. attribute volume (and then you should see read-only should be “NO”)
11. attribute disk (and then you should see read-only should be “NO”)
Hope this would help.
Wow! Thank you so much! It really worked!
I have an usb stick “Kingston DataTraveler” 2GB and i can’t format it. The windows can see it but with no space. I tryed to format it with a program and — “Device madia is write-protected”.
“list volume” in cmd can see only the HDD partitions and DVD-ROM.
Any solution? or just throw away the stick…
Worked for me