Compact Flash Drives

Question

Level 1

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Compact Flash Drives

I have recently recieved a compact 64MB flash drive from a company as a promotion. The only problem is that it is unusable since it is set as "read only". I have gone into disk utility to erase the disks contents but since I do not have access privileges, it will not let me change anything. Is there anything I can do to use this for my own storage purposes or should i just throw it away.

Thanks

ibook, Mac OS X (10.4.4), flash drive is generic with no manufacturer name

Posted on Feb 10, 2006 12:47 PM

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Answer 1

John Huber1

Level 6

17,745 points

Feb 10, 2006 2:20 PM in response to recer

Hi recer,

Welcome to the Discussions.

Highlight the drive and go to File>Get Info. You can change the permissions there.

John

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Answer 2

recer Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 10, 2006 4:31 PM in response to John Huber1

Hey,

My flash drive is a read only and when I go to File>Get Info and look under Permission, it says "you can only read" and I cannot change it. When I go to disk utility to delete the contents, it says that I do not have permission to change the disk. Is there anything I can do to change the permissions on the flash drive so I can use it.

Thanks

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Answer 3

Duane

Level 10

124,293 points

Feb 10, 2006 5:06 PM in response to recer

recer, Welcome to the discussion area!

Some flash drivers have a physical switch on them that prevents writing to the drive. Check your device to see if it has such a lock.

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Answer 4

recer Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 10, 2006 5:29 PM in response to Duane

Ok,

This one is a real problem, there is no physical switch on the outside.

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Answer 5

John Huber1

Level 6

17,745 points

Feb 10, 2006 5:58 PM in response to recer

In the Get Info window what does it show when you click the Details disclosure triangle?

John

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Answer 6

recer Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 10, 2006 6:18 PM in response to recer

Hello,

Under permissions, there are no details, all it says is "you may only read"

The flash drive MAY be a toshiba

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Answer 7

John Huber1

Level 6

17,745 points

Feb 10, 2006 7:05 PM in response to recer

It may be formatted NTFS, that's why it's Read Only. You may be able to reformat it on a PC. It will need to be FAT (MS-DOS) in order for you to be able to write to it on your Mac.

John

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