Solved Cannot format USB flash drive after using Windows 7 USB download tool

[skyu1]

Dear all

Because of an issue with my laptop, I decided to reinstall Windows 7 home premium 64-bit. To that end, I borrowed a Kingston datatraveler 4GB usb flash drive from a friend to try and make a bootable flash drive.

After downloading the prerequisite ISO image and installing the windows 7 usb/dvd download tool, I proceeded to run the program. However, at around 6% the copying fails. As a result of this there is around 256 mb of files left on my usb. I then tried to use the diskpart utility in the CMD to clean the drive. However for some reason the usb drive is now write protected, and every subsequent attempt to format it to its original state has failed. I also cannot move files into the usb. Attached below is a screenshot of the files in the usb drive



So my question is, what has the windows 7 usb download tool done to the usb flash drive to make it read only? And how can I undo what it has done so I can format it and return it back to my friend?

 

[AddRAM]

Have you tried using Partition Wizard ?

Best Free Partition Manager Freeware and free partition magic for Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista and Windows XP 32 bit & 64 bit. MiniTool Free Partition Manager Software Home Edition.

 

[gregrocker]

When the others fail the one which always works for me is UltraISO Software To Create Bootable USB Flash Drive.

Be sure to format first with Format button, then Write button.

 

[skyu1]

Nope! You'll have to excuse me as I am not very familiar with computing in general.

What I am assuming from your suggestion though is that the USB download tool has created a partition on my usb flash drive that is read only to store these files, thus making my usb drive read only in the process. However I don't know what I should do once the tool has been installed. It would be great if you could tell me what to do with the partition wizard! Thank you

 

[gregrocker]

Use the tool I gave you in the post just above. It will handle everything and is not fussy like MS tool.

 

[skyu1]

When the others fail the one which always works for me is UltraISO Software To Create Bootable USB Flash Drive.

Be sure to format first with Format button, then Write button.

I will try out your suggestion greg. At this point I am just looking to format the usb drive to its original state so I can return it to my friend. Thank you for taking the time out to help me!

 

[DocBrown]

This one (Rufus) works well, also. Maybe you had a corrupt .iso that did not install properly to the USB

:ar: Rufus - Create bootable USB drives

 

[gregrocker]

When the others fail the one which always works for me is UltraISO Software To Create Bootable USB Flash Drive.

Be sure to format first with Format button, then Write button.

I will try out your suggestion greg. At this point I am just looking to format the usb drive to its original state so I can return it to my friend. Thank you for taking the time out to help me!

There's no worry about that. After you install your licensed version just rightclick on the USB stick in explorer and Format and it will be ready to return to your friend.

But you really should have the installer for repairs and reinstall, or you can burn a System Repair CD - Create

 

[skyu1]

Hey greg! Sorry to bother you again but I am running into a problem: the usb drive won't format when I use ultraISO. Following the steps outlined in your link I am able to reach step 5, however when I click the format button a message pops up telling me that the disk is write protected. How should I proceed?

 

[AddRAM]

Did you try Rufus ? Is it still not letting you ?

 

[skyu1]

Did you try Rufus ? Is it still not letting you ?

That is correct. When I run rufus I also get a write error. Checking the log reveals the problem:

Clearing MBR...
write_sectors: Write error - [0x00000013] The media is write protected.
Wrote: 0, Expected: 65536
StartSector:0, nSectors:0, SectorSize:1
unable to zero MBR

 

[AddRAM]

Found this:

Can't format USB mass storage drive [Solved] | Kioskea


I guess it won`t let you delete the partition either ?

 

[skyu1]

Found this:

Can't format USB mass storage drive [Solved] | Kioskea


I guess it won`t let you delete the partition either ?

That's right. None of the solutions in the link worked either. The repair tool suggested in the first post does not detect my flash drive, and the second solution does not work either, the option to delete partition (it actually says delete volume when I right click it) is greyed out.

I'm sorry to bother you some more, but do you have any ideas as to why the usb drive could be doing this?

 

[AddRAM]

No clue. If you go into computer and right click on the usb drive properties is there anything in there saying read only or write protected or anything like that.

And it`s no bother, we`re here to tryin help you.

This is such a dumb thing, I don`t understand it either. You should be able to do whatever you want with a flashdrive. What make and model is it ?

 

[skyu1]

Heh thats nice! Thank you for being so helpful

The properties do not say anything about the flash drive being read only. However I have noticed a few things:

1.) If you look at the picture posted on the first page, the icon next to removable disk is not a 'normal' icon. It is an icon that would be displayed if it was a Windows 7 installation disk, I think. Does that mean the usb is not being recognized as a normal flash drive and instead as an installer?

2.) The folders boot, efi and sources are all read only, and any attempt to change that results in a write protection error. However the other files are not read only.

3.) The diskpart utility tells me that the current read only state is yes, however the read only state is no. I have found solutions to this problem on these forums and on google, however they have failed to solve my problem.

edit: believe it or not its a kingston datatraveler

 

[DocBrown]

By any chance there wasn't a small switch or slide tab to lock it from being written to ?



Edit: Also did you try Brink's Tutorial to clean a disk ? It should work on USB Drive also.

:ar: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html

 

[AddRAM]

That`s the normal icon you get after you turn a usb into an installer.

Have you tried formatting on another pc ? Try that.

 

[gregrocker]

Hey greg! Sorry to bother you again but I am running into a problem: the usb drive won't format when I use ultraISO. Following the steps outlined in your link I am able to reach step 5, however when I click the format button a message pops up telling me that the disk is write protected. How should I proceed?

No prob, run Diskpart Clean Command on the stick to clear all formatting code, then try again.

 

[skyu1]

Hey AddRam, I havent tried your suggestion yet.

DocBrown and Greg, I've tried the suggested solution but the response is the same: the media is write protected, so the operation cannot be completed.

 

[gregrocker]

You wiped the drive with Clean command?