USB flash write protect

[Peter]

On Fri, 8 Apr 2005, Jason Shein wrote:

> I have 2 USB memory sticks that belong to a client that have a strange
> problem.

I have been warned by merchants not to format certain usb keys because 
things like you describe are known to happen. I do not know about your 
make.

My theory: the flash memory inside has some protection registers which 
can be set to enable write protection. When you format the drive you set 
a combination of write protect bits that cannot be erased using known 
means. Apparently the manufacturer-supplied software can recover some 
such drives but I am not sure about which make and I have no direct 
experience with it. The merchant's warning is clear, though. I have had 
no problems with no-name drives.

hope this helps,
Peter
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