thumb drive is write-protected

[gallicbear]

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.

 

[mickey megabyte]

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.

 

[Dwarf]

See if this helps:

Try following this Tutorial: USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create

Omit Step 10 and finish with Step 16. Note that Step 7 may take some time to complete. Please be patient. You might be better of omitting the quick option in Step 11 (in other words, just use format fs=ntfs).

 

[gallicbear]

Thumb Drive write-protected.

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.