'Disk is write protected' on removable media

[forthbridge]

Try this:
http://www.ziddu.com/download.php?uid=a ... iZ7CWlpmr7

Just before you do - have you looked at the drivers for the drive - is windows reporting OK? (Through properties?)

[hinch]

I checked for updated drivers and no dysfunctional messages appear.

That link looked good, it was a shortcut to me manually editing the registry (scary) however it has had no effect =(

[forthbridge]

Try and get a *known* completely empty card/stick - format it any way you can. Disconnect from the net, and turn off ALL security on Vista, including UAC, any AV AND firewall, and make sure you are running as admin. Try two or three different cards, in various slots. For the USB stick, try different USB ports.

See if this makes any difference to begin with.

[TSR2]

Rather than turn off security features, lets think logically about it.

1. Have you got a memory stick that used to work on this machine and now doesn't?

2. If so, does the memory stick work in another machine (XP or Vista, doesn't matter) - I know your girlfriend said it worked fine, and not casting dispersions on her, but could you use her laptop and do some tests yourself?

3. The only time I've seen behaviour like this in win2k, win2k3, XP or Vista is when a disk from one system is transfered to another, but where the source system had provided security on the files. Example. On my work laptop files are registered to my user ID. If I take the physical hard disk out of my laptop and plug it into my home PC I can read and move files about, but cannot delete or change them. This applies to files that have the everyone-full control permission set as well as ones with more granular security. This is because the security within the file system is registered to my work laptop and not to my home PC, so to overcome this I have to take ownership of the files, and reset the security so that my home PC is now in control. The snag is, I don't think this functionality is available on the "home" products, I think it has to be Business, Enterprise or Ultimate. If you can, format the card using your camera and try again. This issue would only arrise (to the best of my knowledge) where the card had been installed in another computer which doesn't understand that a usb memory device or card is removable storage, and as a result had put all the security tagging on the files it had copied to it.

Just had a thought.... Bitlocker Drive encryption???

[basys]

Hi Folks

Hinch -
Silly question time.

By any chance
does your USB stick, or card reader,
have mechanical locks fitted ?
i.e.
A read only/read & write switch on the device(s).

Otherwise Ben's option 3 is most likely,
where inherited permissions from the initial data writing PC useraccount
have been applied, (possibly where initial PC was a domain member).

HTH
ATB
Paul

[Chris Sykes]

just to add to this, i know some Data sticks have programs that you have to sign into before you can access/change files...

[forthbridge]

Rather than turn off security features, lets think logically about it.
3 This is because the security within the file system is registered to my work laptop and not to my home PC, so to overcome this I have to take ownership of the files, and reset the security so that my home PC is now in control. The snag is, I don't think this functionality is available on the "home" products, I think it has to be Business, Enterprise or Ultimate.
Just had a thought.... Bitlocker Drive encryption???

'Ownership' is 'workable' on Vista home premium (which I have) - I had issues with the two drives from my old PC, in which I could not do anything to any file.

1: right click drive in question (Properties)
2: security tab
3:This will show you what permissions are 'granted' to any particular user on the machine. There are Edit and Advanced buttons which can be used to alter permissions.
4: If you attempt a change it will ask if you want to take ownership of a file, or the lot depending on what you are doing.
*However* - 'taking ownership' did not work for me - I had to move all the files onto my machine drive, then format the empty drive, and move back.
This removed all the issues. I could also write to the drive - but, 'ownership' would not let me manipulate any file (for instance I could not unzip an FS9 file or open a word document).

[TSR2]

Hi Jim, its a 2 stage process, Ownership doesn't give you rights to it, but it does give you access to change rights, so you take ownership, then grant access ;-)

[forthbridge]

HI Ben

Yup, I 'gained ownership' and gave myself full access. For some reason or other, although it all looked OK, I still was unable to maniplulate anything, so the workaround was move off then back on and all was OK.

[hinch]

Just to let you know the problem got fixed. PC Specialist sent me a new card reader (what a bugger they are to put in with this case, required some wire re-organisation) and all is well again.