jeffw_00 Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 (edited) My son has a 4GB USB Drive. Recently he noticed that1) although it shows as nearly full, most of the folders don't appear in windows explorer2) attempts to copy to it, or format it, are denied saying "drive is write-protected".There is no "switch" to enable/disable write protection. I believe the drive HW is fine, but the firmware is corrupted and needs to be wiped and re-formated. Does anyone know how to get past the "write-protection" to do this? (maybe a special utility?). It was frequently used in a car stereo and I suspect the insertion/removal may have been a factor. It's a Kingston DT100.I did a web-search, and though there are some proported soutions, none seemed on point.Thanks!/j Edited February 12, 2009 by jeffw_00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
striker Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 The utility I always use for formatting is here:http://hp-usb-disk-storage-format-tool.sof...e.informer.com/Works like a charme.However, reading the problem you mention above I really don't know if it can handle it in this case.Are you familiar with linux? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffw_00 Posted February 12, 2009 Author Share Posted February 12, 2009 (edited) The utility I always use for formatting is here:http://hp-usb-disk-storage-format-tool.sof...e.informer.com/Works like a charme.However, reading the problem you mention above I really don't know if it can handle it in this case.Are you familiar with linux?I can try that tonight, and yes I am familiar with linux 8-}[although - from the screenshots of the tool you propose, it looks like it sits on top of the windows formatter, which is already telling me the drive is "write-protected"] Edited February 12, 2009 by jeffw_00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
striker Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 The actual utility I use is named sp27213.exe, it's a softpaq from HP which I couldn't locate anymore at HP. I have it here on one of my discs and it's installed.Anyway, I located something that set me on track for it at :http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.as...p;enterthread=yThat leads to the link mentioned in that post. I downloaded the thing and it seems indeed to be the same as I have here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zlim Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Has he ever plugged it into a PlayStation? I ask because I've read posts where people say that PS3 shows all the files but when it is plugged into a computer, you can't see them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffw_00 Posted February 13, 2009 Author Share Posted February 13, 2009 (edited) no on the playstationno on the HP format tool (says stick is write-protected)what else you got? 8-} Edited February 13, 2009 by jeffw_00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Golden Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 no on the playstationno on the HP format tool (says stick is write-protected)what else you got? 8-}Have you tried using the Dskmgmt.msc applet in administration tools in XP (I'm assuming your talking XP here)?How about trying to format using a Linux distro or a disc like the open source (linux based) gparted, partitioning tool.http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.phpIt is also possible that the drive is damaged or has reached it read/write limit. The latter is unlikely but possibleif the drive has seen a very lot of use. If the drive has reached it's read/write limit it can't be fixed. Likewise if it's damagedit isn't repairable.It's probably time to replace it. With the relatively low price of Flash Drives these days that is definitely an option.I recently bought a Sandisk Cruzer Titanium 8 GB drive for only $32.00 US on the net.The titanium is one of the fastest drives on the market. It is made of a titanium alloy and is almost indestructible.In addition it has a retractable USB connector, no cap to lose.The one I bought has some software installed on it (it's a U3 drive) but the drive can be converted to a storage only deviceusing a free utility called U3 launch pad remover. As a matter of fact this tool could be the answer to you problem.http://wakoopa.com/software/launchpad-removal--programThis applet works great and doesn't require installation. Just D/L the file and run it with your drive plugged in and follow directions.http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015UQ5LCThe above link is to Amazon where you can get your hands on a Titanium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffw_00 Posted February 13, 2009 Author Share Posted February 13, 2009 thanks- it hasn't gotten -that- much use, and I know I can get an 8GB for like $15 or so on newegg, but it's bugging me because I suspect the hardware is fine, and it just needs the right elephant-gun software to refresh it. Already tried XP disk management, will try your other options over the weekend./j Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zlim Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 (edited) Pick your drive from herehttp://www.kingston.com/support/USBFLASHDRIVES/you can download something called secure traveler and that will allow you to format your USB drive. (I think the information is wrong after searching. Some Kingston drives include software called secure traveler but the number is 101 rather than 100). As far as formatting, the only thing I found on the Kingston site was a movie that showed you how to do this in XP and I'm sure you've tried that.If you tried everything posted and nothing seems to work, get an RMA. Five-Year Warranty:The following Kingston products are covered by this warranty for a period of five years from the date of original retail purchase: PC Card Readers and USB DataTraveler® drives.or email tech support and tell them what you've been facing. They might have a simple solution. Edited February 14, 2009 by zlim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffw_00 Posted February 14, 2009 Author Share Posted February 14, 2009 u3uninstall only appears to work on a drive on which it can detect u3install. Ok - i fold, I'll try kingston tech support.thanks anyway guys 8-}/j Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffw_00 Posted February 17, 2009 Author Share Posted February 17, 2009 Kingston is RMAing it for a replacement /j Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
striker Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Kingston is RMAing it for a replacement /j Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Golden Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Kingston is RMAing it for a replacement /jSo apparently the drive is broke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gus K Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 I gave up on Kingston. I have 2 different 4GB and both would occasionally stutter when playing back Xvids on my USB equipped Philips player. Someone gave me a dirt cheap 8GB PNY and all is good now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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