Maxtor OneTouch4 Plus write protection message

[mikeo45]

Hello,
My Maxtor OneTouch4 Plus 1TB drive won't allow me to read or write data any more from my PC. It keeps coming up with a 'remove write protection' message, for reading or writing! The drive is about 3/4 full. Any ideas?
Thanks.

 

[RealBeast]

Check in your registry to see if the write protection key is on (=1) in this registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies

If there is no key you can create one and set it to = 0, which should allow writing to USB drives.

 

[mikeo45]

Check in your registry to see if the write protection key is on (=1) in this registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies

If there is no key you can create one and set it to = 0, which should allow writing to USB drives.

Hi, Thanks for your response. I don't think it's a USB problem because I can use my USB printer and connect to my phone with a USB port. I think it's the Maxtor drive, everything else seems to be ok. Also, I don't know how to access the registry on Windows 7!

 

[RealBeast]

I did not say that it is a USB issue. That key is not something that affects anything other than write protecting USB drives, think of it this way: MS put it in there so companies can turn off the ability to copy files to USB devices to improve security -- has absolutely nothing to do with any other USB device function.

Accessing the registry is quite simple and this key change will not change anything else. Here is a step by step how to in the second answer listed by a Microsoft tech: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-security/usb-hard-drive-is-write-protected-and-will-not-run/a413d47c-6586-484b-92fb-ce77d7821bbb

 

[mikeo45]

I did not say that it is a USB issue. That key is not something that affects anything other than write protecting USB drives, think of it this way: MS put it in there so companies can turn off the ability to copy files to USB devices to improve security -- has absolutely nothing to do with any other USB device function.

Accessing the registry is quite simple and this key change will not change anything else. Here is a step by step how to in the second answer listed by a Microsoft tech: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-security/usb-hard-drive-is-write-protected-and-will-not-run/a413d47c-6586-484b-92fb-ce77d7821bbb

I tried, but without success! I opened 'diskpart' in a command window and then listed the volumes. The last volume, number 8, was the maxtor drive. Then I selected volume 8 and this was accepted. However when I entered 'attributes disk clear readonly', I got a failure message. Then when I again listed the volumes, volume 8 was missing! That was yesterday. I switched off my pc overnight and tried this again today, but with the same results. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[RealBeast]

attributes disk clear readonly? If you entered that of course it didn't do anything. You have to create the StorageDevicePolicies key in the correct location that I listed and set it equal to 0.

 

[mikeo45]

attributes disk clear readonly? If you entered that of course it didn't do anything. You have to create the StorageDevicePolicies key in the correct location that I listed and set it equal to 0.

No success! This is exactly what I did:
I opened the registry by typing regedit in the Start/search box. I navigated to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\
and then created the key StorageDevicePolicies with the value set to 0. Then I restarted the pc. I opened a command window and entered 'diskpart'. Then I entered 'list volume' and found that the Maxtor drive was volume 8. I selected volume 8 and this was accepted. However, when I then entered 'attributes disk clear readonly', I got a failure message. And then, as before, when I again listed the volumes, volume 8 was not there any more.

 

[RealBeast]

Did you name the value key with the 0 value inside the StorageDevicePolicies WriteProtect as described in the link?

 

[mikeo45]

Yes, but I get:
'An error occurred applying attributes to the file ...
The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error.'
I'm still trying Realbeast's suggestions, but thanks anyway.

 

[mikeo45]

Did you name the value key with the 0 value inside the StorageDevicePolicies WriteProtect as described in the link?

When I created the StorageDevicePolicies key, all it had in the right window was:

Name Type Data
ab(Default) REG_SZ (value not set)

The link said I was to 'double click the key WriteProtect in the right window'. But there was none, so instead I double clicked 'ab(Default)' and set the value to 0. The right window now was:

Name Type Data
ab(Default) REG_SZ 0

Then I restarted the pc and tried the diskpart sequence, but it did not work.

So I went back to the StorageDevicePolicies key, and this time I created a WriteProtect key in the right window and set it to 0. So now the StorageDevicePolicies key had the following in the right window:

Name Type Data
ab(Default) REG_SZ 0

And the WriteProtect subkey had the following in the right window:

Name Type Data
ab(Default) REG_SZ 0


Again, I restarted the pc and tried the diskpart sequence, but it did not work. I'm obviously doing the registry editing wrong but I don't know how.

 

[RealBeast]

Are you logged in as an administrator?

StorageDevicePolicies should have two keys default without any value set and WriteProtect with a value of zero.

If that doesn't seem to work and you want to use the diskpart method you also need to be logged in as an administrator AND right click run the command prompt as an administrator.

Right click run command prompt as administrator
type in the window "diskpart"
type in the window "list volume"
type in the window "select volume #" where # is the problem disk
type "attributes disk clear readonly" and then type "attributes volume clear readonly"

Then restart and try the disk.

 

[mikeo45]

Are you logged in as an administrator?

StorageDevicePolicies should have two keys default without any value set and WriteProtect with a value of zero.

If that doesn't seem to work and you want to use the diskpart method you also need to be logged in as an administrator AND right click run the command prompt as an administrator.

Right click run command prompt as administrator
type in the window "diskpart"
type in the window "list volume"
type in the window "select volume #" where # is the problem disk
type "attributes disk clear readonly" and then type "attributes volume clear readonly"

Then restart and try the disk.

HI,
As of yesterday, this is how the StorageDevicePolicies key looks in the right window:


Name Type Data
ab(Default) REG_SZ (value not set)
abWriteProtect REG_SZ 0

When I powered up my pc today, I still had the same write protection error message as before when I tried to access the Maxtor drive files. So, I tried the diskpart method, as you suggested. Here is the command window dialogue:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>diskpart

Microsoft DiskPart version 6.1.7601
Copyright (C) 1999-2008 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: MIKE-PC

DISKPART> list volume

Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info
---------- --- ----------- ----- ---------- ------- --------- --------
Volume 0 D DVD-ROM 0 B No Media
Volume 1 RECOVERY NTFS Partition 13 GB Healthy System
Volume 2 C OS NTFS Partition 359 GB Healthy Boot
Volume 3 E MyData NTFS Partition 1023 GB Healthy
Volume 4 I Removable 0 B No Media
Volume 5 J Removable 0 B No Media
Volume 6 K Removable 0 B No Media
Volume 7 L Removable 0 B No Media
Volume 8 H OneTouch4 P NTFS Partition 931 GB Healthy

DISKPART> select volume 8

Volume 8 is the selected volume.

DISKPART> attributes disk clear readonly

DiskPart failed to clear disk attributes.

DISKPART> list volume

Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info
---------- --- ----------- ----- ---------- ------- --------- --------
Volume 0 D DVD-ROM 0 B No Media
Volume 1 RECOVERY NTFS Partition 13 GB Healthy System
Volume 2 C OS NTFS Partition 359 GB Healthy Boot
Volume 3 E MyData NTFS Partition 1023 GB Healthy
Volume 4 I Removable 0 B No Media
Volume 5 J Removable 0 B No Media
Volume 6 K Removable 0 B No Media
Volume 7 L Removable 0 B No Media

DISKPART>


As you can see, the 'attributes disk clear readonly' command did not work and now the Maxtor drive, volume 8, is no longer in the volume list.

 

[RealBeast]

And you are both logged is an administrator and running the diskpart stuff in a command prompt window that is opened with a right click run as administrator? If so, I am stumped, as here is the output you should see (also I do not see your system reserved partition listed):

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Main>diskpart

Microsoft DiskPart version 6.1.7601
Copyright (C) 1999-2008 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: MAIN-PC

DISKPART> list volume

Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info
---------- --- ----------- ----- ---------- ------- --------- --------
Volume 0 G DVD-ROM 0 B No Media
Volume 1 H DVD-ROM 0 B No Media
Volume 2 D Movie Stora NTFS Partition 1863 GB Healthy
Volume 3 F 2 TB Storag NTFS Partition 1863 GB Healthy Pagefile
Volume 4 System Rese NTFS Partition 100 MB Healthy System
Volume 5 C NTFS Partition 223 GB Healthy Boot
Volume 6 E My Book 3.0 NTFS Partition 931 GB Healthy

DISKPART> select volume 6

Volume 6 is the selected volume.

DISKPART> attributes clear disk readonly

Microsoft DiskPart version 6.1.7601

VOLUME - Manipulate volume attributes.
DISK - Manipulate disk attributes.

DISKPART> attributes clear volume read only

Microsoft DiskPart version 6.1.7601

VOLUME - Manipulate volume attributes.
DISK - Manipulate disk attributes.

DISKPART>

 

[mikeo45]

And you are both logged is an administrator and running the diskpart stuff in a command prompt window that is opened with a right click run as administrator? If so, I am stumped, as here is the output you should see (also I do not see your system reserved partition listed):

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Main>diskpart

Microsoft DiskPart version 6.1.7601
Copyright (C) 1999-2008 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: MAIN-PC

DISKPART> list volume

Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info
---------- --- ----------- ----- ---------- ------- --------- --------
Volume 0 G DVD-ROM 0 B No Media
Volume 1 H DVD-ROM 0 B No Media
Volume 2 D Movie Stora NTFS Partition 1863 GB Healthy
Volume 3 F 2 TB Storag NTFS Partition 1863 GB Healthy Pagefile
Volume 4 System Rese NTFS Partition 100 MB Healthy System
Volume 5 C NTFS Partition 223 GB Healthy Boot
Volume 6 E My Book 3.0 NTFS Partition 931 GB Healthy

DISKPART> select volume 6

Volume 6 is the selected volume.

DISKPART> attributes clear disk readonly

Microsoft DiskPart version 6.1.7601

VOLUME - Manipulate volume attributes.
DISK - Manipulate disk attributes.

DISKPART> attributes clear volume read only

Microsoft DiskPart version 6.1.7601

VOLUME - Manipulate volume attributes.
DISK - Manipulate disk attributes.

DISKPART>

I am logged in as Mike with administrator privileges. I'm the only user on the system. If I try to switch user, Mike is the only user available. When I open the command window, I right click and open it as an administrator.

 

[RealBeast]

My bad -- I forgot that the syntax changed with Win 7 -- change the order of the instruction line to exactly these:

attributes disk clear readonly
attributes volume clear readonly

I was looking at my old diskpart command syntax and there have been some recent changes: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc770877%28v=ws.10%29.aspx

 

[mikeo45]

My bad -- I forgot that the syntax changed with Win 7 -- change the order of the instruction line to exactly these:

attributes disk clear readonly
attributes volume clear readonly

I was looking at my old diskpart command syntax and there have been some recent changes: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc770877%28v=ws.10%29.aspx

I have been using this order of syntax from the start - and it hasn't worked. If I use the order in your diskpart example, I get the following:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>diskpart

Microsoft DiskPart version 6.1.7601
Copyright (C) 1999-2008 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: MIKE-PC

DISKPART> list volume

Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info
---------- --- ----------- ----- ---------- ------- --------- --------
Volume 0 D DVD-ROM 0 B No Media
Volume 1 RECOVERY NTFS Partition 13 GB Healthy System
Volume 2 C OS NTFS Partition 359 GB Healthy Boot
Volume 3 E MyData NTFS Partition 1023 GB Healthy
Volume 4 I Removable 0 B No Media
Volume 5 J Removable 0 B No Media
Volume 6 K Removable 0 B No Media
Volume 7 L Removable 0 B No Media
Volume 8 H OneTouch4 P NTFS Partition 931 GB Healthy

DISKPART> select volume 8

Volume 8 is the selected volume.

DISKPART> attributes clear disk readonly

Microsoft DiskPart version 6.1.7601

VOLUME - Manipulate volume attributes.
DISK - Manipulate disk attributes.

DISKPART> attributes clear volume readonly

Microsoft DiskPart version 6.1.7601

VOLUME - Manipulate volume attributes.
DISK - Manipulate disk attributes.

DISKPART>

It seems to be saying that the syntax is wrong in both commands. If I use the other syntax order, the one I have been using from the start, it seems to accept the command but the command fails, and the volume disappears from the volume list.

 

[RealBeast]

Here is an example of the expected output with correct command syntax (run on my Win 7 x64 machine:

DISKPART> list volume

Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info
---------- --- ----------- ----- ---------- ------- --------- --------
Volume 0 G DVD-ROM 0 B No Media
Volume 1 H DVD-ROM 0 B No Media
Volume 2 D Movie Stora NTFS Partition 1863 GB Healthy
Volume 3 F 2 TB Storag NTFS Partition 1863 GB Healthy Pagefile
Volume 4 System Rese NTFS Partition 100 MB Healthy System
Volume 5 C NTFS Partition 223 GB Healthy Boot
* Volume 6 E My Book 3.0 NTFS Partition 931 GB Healthy

DISKPART> select volume 6

Volume 6 is the selected volume.

DISKPART> attributes disk clear readonly

Disk attributes cleared successfully.

DISKPART> attributes volume clear readonly

Volume attributes cleared successfully.

DISKPART>

 

[mikeo45]

Here is an example of the expected output with correct command syntax (run on my Win 7 x64 machine:

DISKPART> list volume

Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info
---------- --- ----------- ----- ---------- ------- --------- --------
Volume 0 G DVD-ROM 0 B No Media
Volume 1 H DVD-ROM 0 B No Media
Volume 2 D Movie Stora NTFS Partition 1863 GB Healthy
Volume 3 F 2 TB Storag NTFS Partition 1863 GB Healthy Pagefile
Volume 4 System Rese NTFS Partition 100 MB Healthy System
Volume 5 C NTFS Partition 223 GB Healthy Boot
* Volume 6 E My Book 3.0 NTFS Partition 931 GB Healthy

DISKPART> select volume 6

Volume 6 is the selected volume.

DISKPART> attributes disk clear readonly

Disk attributes cleared successfully.

DISKPART> attributes volume clear readonly

Volume attributes cleared successfully.

DISKPART>

Ok, it seems I am at a dead end because this is the syntax that I have been using from the start, and it fails on the 'attributes disk clear readonly' command. Can you suggest anything else?

 

[mikeo45]

Best answer selected by mikeo45.