USB flash write protect

[James Knott]

Peter wrote:
> 
> 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.

I've never heard of that, and one thing I've learned in life, is to not 
believe what store clerks tell you.  ;-)

Incidentally, I reformatted mine to FAT32 recently.  Works fine.

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