thumb drive is write-protected

Hi there. This isn't specifically Windows 7, but I hope I have more possibilities with Windows 7. My thumb drive, which I hate to have to throw away, has become write-protected. It's a 16 GB thumb drive, so nothing to toss easily. It has no physical switch on it. I read about all sorts of solutions, like low-level format or registry editing. Nothing helps. I always come back to square one: Can't format because of write-protection. Registry doesn't do a thing. I also found out that there is a virus on it. Maybe it caused the problem. However, the virus program can't remove it, because of the write-protection or because it is a 'non-local disk'. Vicious circles...
Does anyone have a fool-proof solution? I'd love to hear it.
Thanks in advance.

have you tried it (carefully) in another computer?

or even better, in another os?

you could try downloading something like ubuntu, booting off a disc, and inserting your drive then - that way you're much less likely to pass on any infection.

or try downloading an antivirus boot-disc.

good luck - we are here if you need more help.

Thanks for trying. Should make clear that I can get into the drive. I am able to READ the files, but not add to it. Formatting or creating partition with an administrator command prompt doesn't work. It keeps reporting that the media is write-protected. Also, I had tried the thumb drive with ubuntu. Same difference. It detects the write-protection.