Write Protected

[andy-hughes]

I am trying to transfer some MP3's from one portable hard drive to another, for backup.

Some of the files flash a message saying 'The file is write protected, remove the write protection or use another file'.

As usual with technology, it tells me what the problem is, but not how to fix it!

How do I remove the write protection from the affected MP3's please?

[barry1010]

This should help, easier than me trying to explain it
https://www.lifewire.com/remove-write-protection-windows-10-8-7-4586905

The section headed 'How to Remove Write Protection From a Single File' may be particularly relevant

[Old_Geezer]

Weird. I'd have thought that write protection was to prevent modification or overwriting rather than copying. Maybe it's moaning about the delete part of the 'move', perhaps ?

[barry1010]

Are these on a portable hard drive or a memory stick?

[andy-hughes]

A memory stick.

[jno]

as OG says - what you're doing shouldn't fall foul of write protection. Will it block a simple Ctrl c?

[bhg481]

Andy says he wants to transfer the files; this implies they will be deleted from the original source once the copies have been created. Deleting a file means that an information file on the source disc has to be altered to show that the space is now free; with a write-protected disc this file cannot be altered, therefore the deletion cannot be made. It should be possible to copy the files and then, later, deal with clearing the source.

[jno]

he just says he wants to do it as a backup, bhg, so it doesn't sound as if he needs to delete the original. (Indeed, if he did it wouldn't be a backup.)

[bhg481]

jno - agreed. We need andy to tell us exactly what he is trying to do.

[Etch]

Given what seems to be a similar problem with your memory stick:
https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Technology/Question1829765.html
I would try restarting the computer (laptop?) to see if this sorts things out.

[andy-hughes]

No joy etch, but thank you.

I am normally able to empty memory sticks by simply highlighting the file and selecting the 'Delete' option.

For some reason, I am not given a 'Delete' option, and the keyboard 'Delete' has no effect.

It appears that the stick is 'write protected', I have no idea how or why, and simply want it to function as a normal USB stick.

[10ClarionSt]

Is it a new memory stick? Maybe it just needs formatting.

[Etch]

If you right-click on one of the files (or folders, if used) and select 'Properties' what is the state of the 'Read-only' checkbox next to 'Attributes:'?

[barry1010]

Andy, look very carefully at the memory stick. Can you see a teeny tiny switch?

[jno]

andy, have you tried just copying it? Just the document, or the words in it, and not trying to move or delete the original?

[andy-hughes]

Jno - I use the stick to store copies of MP3's.

I want to clear the stick and repopulate it with an updated list from another portable hard drive.

[ToraToraTora]

If there is nothing on the USB target drive you need then reformat it and then you should be able to drag and drop.
https://www.kingston.com/unitedkingdom/en/blog/personal-storage/how-to-format-a-usb-flash-drive

[andy-hughes]

There is material on the target drive, that's what I am trying to delete.

[ToraToraTora]

OK then format it, that will delete it.

[bhg481]

TTT - he says on the other thread that it won't let him re-format because it's write-protected.
I'm not familiar with W10/W11 but on W7 you can display the whole computer. Right click on the drive containing the stick and view Properties. Under that there is a security option - check that for write permission for all.

[ToraToraTora]

Ok here's how to remove write protection:
https://www.diskpart.com/articles/cannot-format-usb-drive-write-protected-1881.html