Stuck with 2 32GB usbs that won't function!

Hello everyone,

I have 2 usbs that I got from my dad. He mentioned that weren't working.
The first one just won't format, it says that the disk is right protected.



And the second one says that the USB device is not recognized. It shows this in the device manager.




Would appreciate if I could get some help with these or are they done and dusted?
They appear to be of strange brands, the first being from '7dayshop.com' and the 2nd from 'conteck'.

I am an a-level student and heavily reliant on the capacity of these USBs, and have to use an 8GB sandisk (which isn't too bad).

Cheers

Go to Computer, and right click on your USB drive and click on 'Properties'. Once there go to the 'Security' tab (top of window). Below 'Permissions for authenticated users' there is an 'Advanced' button. Click on it. On the 'Owners' tab, there should be an 'Edit' button. Now, select your username in the bottom box, and make sure the checkbox at the bottom is checked. Click on okay, then once it has changed ownership, click on Ok on all 'Properties' windows. You should now have full control of your USB memory stick.

Hi salmanftw, welcome to the forums try this free proggy for checking the USBs Download H2testw 1.4 Free - Check your USB for errors with this tool. - Softpedia

Hello,
In case above steps do not work then you would need to edit registry or run check disk for for this issue providing link for reference: Remove Write Protection On USB Pen Drive or Memory Card or iPod

I dont see a security option when i click properties on the usb,

Hi Salmanftw,

(My last post of the day before retiring.)

I shall limit myself to the "write-protected" pendrive.

If the pendrive has been used for quite sometime, has been behaving normally for that time, and has turned "write-protected" one day all of a sudden, it means only one thing. It has become unusable.

The theory behind:

All pendrives have a certain fixed and finite number of reserved sectors wherein the bad sectors are remapped automatically as and when weak cells are generated due to normal wearing of the cells. When the reserved sectors are exhausted and it cannot take in any further bad sectors, the flash controller chip's safety mechanism is triggered and makes the drive write protected. You can no longer write to it since the data integrity cannot be ensured. With more bad sectors created and no reserve sectors available any longer, your files will only get corrupted, if you are allowed to write.

So .....throw it away.

If you still insist, there is a recent program mUSBfixer which says it can remove write protection. Download it and try. Be aware that during installation it will ask for installing many other crapware, search/tool bars. Say no to them.

mUSBfixer.in



Even if you succeed in removing write-protection , be aware that data integrity cannot be guaranteed. You do at your own risk.

Thanks for your response.

I dont have any data on either usbs. I just want to virginfy them both.

That tries to install a load of unwanted crap.

Try this:
View attachment USBfix.zip

Tried it, it claims to be formatted but the same issue arises.

Might be fake usb sticks - it happens.

There may be one or two other utilities you could find by googling , but it's a long shot.

SIW2 said:

Might be fake usb sticks - it happens.

There may be one or two other utilities you could find by googling , but it's a long shot.

Click to expand...

Yep I agree, they both seem to be from un-reputable manufacturers.

Thanks for your help!