Understanding the Problem
A write-protected pen drive can be incredibly frustrating. It prevents you from adding, deleting, or modifying any files on the drive. This feature is often enabled to protect important data from being accidentally overwritten or deleted. However, if you need to format the drive, this protection becomes an obstacle. Don’t worry; this guide will show you how to format your write-protected pen drive effectively.
Steps to Remove Write Protection
1. Check for Physical Lock
Some pen drives come with a physical switch that enables write protection. Ensure the switch is in the ‘unlocked’ position.
2. Using Diskpart in Windows
Step 1: Open Command Prompt
Press Windows + R keys, type cmd, and press Enter. This will open the Command Prompt.
Step 2: Launch Diskpart Utility
In the Command Prompt, type diskpart and press Enter. This will open the Diskpart utility.
Step 3: List Disks
Type list disk and press Enter. You will see a list of all the connected drives to your computer.
Step 4: Select Your Pen Drive
Identify your pen drive from the list, type select disk [your disk number], and press Enter. Make sure to enter the correct disk number corresponding to your pen drive.
Step 5: Clear Write Protection
Type attributes disk clear readonly and press Enter. This command will remove write protection from the selected drive.
Formatting the Pen Drive
After successfully removing the write protection, you can now proceed to format your pen drive.
Using Windows Explorer
Step 1: Open File Explorer
Press Windows + E keys to open File Explorer.
Step 2: Locate Your Pen Drive
Find your pen drive under ‘This PC’ or ‘My Computer’.
Step 3: Format Drive
Right-click on the drive, select Format…, choose the desired file system (e.g., NTFS, FAT32), and click Start. Confirm any prompts to complete the formatting process.
Conclusion
Formatting a write-protected pen drive may seem daunting but, by following these step-by-step instructions, you can easily overcome the write protection and make your pen drive functional again. Always remember to back up essential data before attempting to format any storage device.