Problem with Windows 7 and an external hdd

I have a small external hard drive which has worked previously perfectly well with windows vista.

I now have windows 7. I need to format the recently unused drive, but Windows will not allow me to do this as it insists that the drive is write protected.

How can I get around this? I need the drive to be accessible, its not because Windows wants me to format it, I cannot because it is write protected.

Any ideas please?

GarnetFeith said:

I have a small external hard drive which has worked previously perfectly well with windows vista. I now have windows 7. I need to format the recently unused drive, but Windows will not allow me to do this as it insists that the drive is write protected. How can I get around this? I need the drive to be accessible, its not because Windows wants me to format it, I cannot because it is write protected. Any ideas please?

Garnett Welcome to SevenForums.

Use the DiskPart clean all command on the external.
I think we have a tutorial on this but here's the procedure:
1. Make a System Repair Disc
2. Bootup your computer from the System Repair Disc
3. Use the diskpart clean all command.

Now let's see what notes I have on this:

DISC - CREATE A SYSTEM REPAIR DISC

START | type System Repair | Enter key | Create Disc button

COMMAND PROMPT - GO TO A COMMAND PROMPT USING A SYSTEM REPAIR DISC

1) Insert System Repair Disc into optical reader.
2) Shutdown your computer.
3) Boot up your computer from the System Repair Disc
If your computer doesn’t boot from the optical drive, then
Immediately after pushing your Power ON button, start tapping the F2 key to get to the BIOS to change the boot order.OR
Immediately after pushing your Power ON button, start tapping the F12 key and choose CD/DVD to change the boot order only for this time.
4) Wait while a mini-version of Windows is loaded and finally the System Recovery Options dialog appears.
5) SYSTEM RECOVERY OPTIONS dialog |
Select a keyboard input method |
NEXT button
6) SYSTEM RECOVERY OPTIONS dialog
will search your system for installed versions of Windows.
7) SYSTEM RECOVERY OPTIONS dialog |
select the Use recovery tools that can help fix problems starting Windows radio button |
NEXT button
8) SYSTEM RECOVERY OPTIONS |
Choose a recovery tool |
9) Click on command prompt from the list shown

Run any desired commands and type EXIT when finished.
Remove the System Repair Disc.
Shutdown your computer.
Power on your computer.


WIPE A DISK CLEAN
· type DiskPart, Enter key
· type List disk, Enter key
note the numeral of the disk you want to clean
for example purposes, I’ll be using the numeral 2
· type Select disk 2, Enter key
· type Detail disk, Enter key
this info will let you know if you selected correctly
· type Clean ALL, Enter key
your entire disk is being overwritten with zeros.
This can take a considerable amount of time
· type EXIT, Enter key (only after Clean is finished)
· type EXIT, Enter key (this gets you back where you were)