Flash Drive - Write Protected - Format


  1. HC1Gunner
    Posts : 35
    10 Pro
       New #1

    Flash Drive - Write Protected - Format


    I have (3) Microsoft brand 32 GB thumb drives that have Win 8.1 and preload software for my HP laptop, I have no use for them, and I'm certainly not ever going to put Win 8.1 back on my laptop, I spend most of time on my Surface and desktop PC, laptop is a backup device that rarely is used. The drives do not have any type of write protect button on them. I've tried one app, and several commands in diskpart, but I can not find a way to get past the write protection to format them. Right now my desktop PC is hard down waiting on new mobo to arrive, I could use the temporary storage space they would provide.
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  3. Wiley Coyote
    Posts : 1,097
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 1809 (OS Build 17763.437)
       New #2

    Have you tried the Disk Management tool. I had a similar thing and I was able to accomplish my chore with it.

    Good luck ...
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  4. HC1Gunner
    Posts : 35
    10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    It won't format with any tool that is part of Windows.
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  6. Bree
    Posts : 31,630
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       New #4

    As I understand it, the USBs Microsoft supply when you buy their software are write-protected at the hardware level. You cannot undo this and reuse such a USB.
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  7. NavyLCDR
    Posts : 18,432
    Windows 11 Pro
       New #5

    Bree said:
    As I understand it, the USBs Microsoft supply when you buy their software are write-protected at the hardware level. You cannot undo this and reuse such a USB.
    Yep, what @Bree said!
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