Can't delete files from USB device

  • Thread starter Thread starter David Sherman
  • Start date Start date
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David Sherman

I have an USB device that won't let me delete files.

When I try to delete the files, I get a message that the file is
protected.

I right click on any file on that device, the file is not protected.

So how do I delete a file on this device or how do I disable the right
protection when no protection is there?

thanks
 
Check, and make sure it isn't read only. (right click on file and go to
properties and uncheck read only).
 
Move the little "read-only" protection switch/button on the device to
the unlock position.
 
Supplying the exact error message would be helpful in determining the
cause of your problem.
 
I get a Dialog box:

Error delete

Cannot delete Filename.

The disk is writeprotected.

Remove the write protection or use anoth disk.

The USB drive is a device that Microsoft gave out an TS2/technet
event.
Label on device "Microsoft partner Program
www.microsoft.com/partner/program.

I don't remember if there was a security program that I ran on this
USB device.

Thanks
 
David Sherman said:
I have an USB device that won't let me delete files.

When I try to delete the files, I get a message that the file is
protected.
Click to expand...

See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555443/en-us
This can explain what you have.

NOTE: the registry value name in this article is WRONG.
The correct key name is
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies
and the value name is WriteProtect.

Regards,
--PA
 
Had a similar issue but referenced registry key does not exist on my system.
Running XP Pro SP 2. Any thoughts… thanks.
 
Then the file isn't write protected. You could try copying off all the
data, and then format the stick. If you don't remember whether or not
you ran protection software on the device, anything is pure guessing.
 
Most of the "files" are write protected. I can't copy nor delete them.

when I try to format the disk, I get an meesage that the disk is write
protected.

Format also failed.
 
Write protect does not prevent read or copy. I suspect that you have in
fact used some unknown software to set the security on this device.
Until you determine what you did, you may not access the contents
 
David Sherman said:
Key doesn't exist on my machine either.

Other USB devices work,
Click to expand...

Try another machine with same XP version.
If this drive is still unwritable there, the problem is with the drive.
Perhaps it is formatted with some flavor of filesystem that XP
can read, but can not modify, so it makes the drive write protected.
( this is only a guess, I have not seen this behavior before)

--PA
 
I have tried another XP machine. I also tried Vista nd Windows Small
Business Server 2003. No go.

It is a Fat drive/
 
Do I recall correctly that in an earlier post on this thread that yo
indicated that you came into possession of this drive as a give-awa
during a sponsored event of some sort?

I know that my company gives USB drives away at corporate events
pre-loaded with event-specific data. From time to time, these device
are locked, so that the drive cannot be used for any other purpose
Perhaps your situation? The really good news-1Gb drives are frequentl
available under $25...
 
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