NTFS changed to exFAT?

[buulecoom]

I don't know how or why but for whatever reason one of my drives changed from NTFS to exFAT and now it's saying that it's write protected? If the format change is bugging anything then I'm fine with it staying in that format, but I want to be able to add content to the drive if need be. Can anyone help please?

 

[Tom Tancredi]

Okay it makes a difference if your talking a hard drive or a memory card.

If it is the latter then there is usually a little plastic tab like part you moved accidentally and you can just push it back to make it writeable. Further it is normal for memory cards to use exFAT to be readable by many devices that can't read/write in NTFS format (digital cameras, cell phones, etc.)

If it is a hard drive, we can't validate WHO you are or your 'story' here and if a drive is write protected we will not provide steps to 'crack' the security on the drive, this violates the TOS of Toms Hardware. If you have a problem with a device you did purchase, contact the manufacturer for support / bring it back to the store so they can validate who you are / you own the said 'hardware'.

 

[Boogieman_WD]

Hey buulecoom. It's not normal for the file system to change on it's own. First I'd recommend that you try the drive with another computer to see if the same thing happens.

If it's recognized properly, I'd suggest that you backup any important data which you might have on that drive ASAP.
Then you should download the manufacturer's diagnostic tool to test the drive and see what's the situation with it.

edit: post edited because of possible security violations regarding the removal of write protection

Boogieman_WD