Write protected hard drive.

[711]

I wish to do a complete PC system restore to original factory settings, clearing hard drive C. After loading the support CD and following on screen instructions, I am eventually told "Hard disc HD Copy is write protected. Please undo the write protection" How do I do this? I have Windows XP. Thanks. 711

[vehelpfulguy]

Are you booting the PC from the recovery CD, or are you starting the recovery CD while Windows is running ?

You MUST boot from the recovery CD and start the recovery that way, if you dont some Windows files will be protected and cannot overwrite themselves.

To boot from the CD make sure the CD Drive is BEFORE the hard disk in the boot order (in the BIOS)

Also make sure you are selecting the main hard drive to be overwritten, and not by accident trying to replace the files on the CD (which is obviously write protected).

This sort of thing is easy to do (not trying to insult your intelligence, just trying to think of everything).

[711]

Thanks, vehelpfulguy, but it`s still no go. The recovery CD is in before booting. After powering up, I select "boot from CD" option, then follow instructions until - "beware drive C will be erased", then after accepting this, and clicking "start" restore, message re - write protection comes up. To the best of my knowledge, I`ve never done anything which would write protect anything on the PC. 711