Windows 10: External Hard Drive Write-Protected

Discus and support External Hard Drive Write-Protected in Windows 10 Software and Apps to solve the problem; I am trying to use my external hard drive on my Windows 11 machine, but it says it is write-protected now all of a sudden. I tried some of the fixes... Discussion in 'Windows 10 Software and Apps' started by ark8991, Nov 27, 2022.

  1. ARK8991
    ark8991 Win User

    External Hard Drive Write-Protected


    I am trying to use my external hard drive on my Windows 11 machine, but it says it is write-protected now all of a sudden. I tried some of the fixes online uncheck read-only in properties, regedit, diskpart, sfc scan, & chdisk, but they didn't work. Any USB I plug in is also write-protected as well. I have been trying to fix this for a week so any help is appreciated.

    :)
     
    ark8991, Nov 27, 2022
    #1
  2. YASHWANTH KOTAKURI
    Yashwanth Kotakuri Win User

    Gettign error "device is write protected" for External Hard drive in Windows 10

    Hello Neil,

    Thank you for contacting Microsoft Community.

    We understand the inconvenience you have experienced.

    Are you getting the same error when you access the External Hard drive on another computers?

    When you see the message "Device is Write Protected", then it indicates that you have limited set of privileges for performing operation on the Hard disk. In simple, you're not allowed to write the drive, apart from reading it. This because the drive is
    write-protected. Suggest you to try with the below steps and check it they help you.

    1. Right-click on Start button and select Command Prompt(Admin).

    2. Type diskpart and press Enter.

    3. Now type list volume and press Enter. Now see the volume number the external drive.

    4. Then type select volume #, where # is the number of the drive which is showing "write-protected" error. Example,
    select volume 3.

    5. Type attributes disk clear readonly and press Enter.

    • Executing the above command line will reset the Hard drive USB's properties by clearing the Read-Only behavior, so that it is no longer read-only.
    6. Type exit and press Enter. Now check if it allows you do access the drive for writing the content.

    Keep us posted if you require further assistance.
     
    Yashwanth Kotakuri, Nov 27, 2022
    #2
  3. COLAS11
    Colas11 Win User
    Why external hard drive becomes write protected

    Hi Sumit,

    That's the exact opposite: I can't write to the external hard drive anymore since the Kernel data inpage error (blue screen) happened. But I can read the files from it. As if the external hard drive is now write-protected or locked.
     
    Colas11, Nov 27, 2022
    #3
  4. WILLIAMJ78
    williamj78 Win User

    External Hard Drive Write-Protected

    hard drive not accessible stating "The media is write protected."

    Hello,

    I sent an external hard drive to a tape backup company.

    The company stated that the drive is not accessible with the error message, "The media is write protected."

    Any suggestions?

    williamj
     
    williamj78, Nov 27, 2022
    #4
Thema:

External Hard Drive Write-Protected

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