How to format FAT32 Memory Stick that says it's Read Only

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Level 1

136 points

How to format FAT32 Memory Stick that says it's Read Only

I have an 8Gb USB memory stick (straight from the supplier) that I cannot write to or re-format. Under sharing and permissions of the USB drive it says my access is Read Only. If I try to Erase it via Disk Utility I get an error message to say it has failed - I can see by looking at the 'details' that permission has been denied.

I've tried to re-format the USB drive on a windows machine as well without success.

Suspect it may be faulty and have gone back to the supplier but was wondering if anyone has something else to suggest.

Thanks in advance,

Cliff

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.2)

Posted on Apr 28, 2016 9:50 AM

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Answer 1

Apr 28, 2016 10:19 AM in response to Cliff Drew1

If you can't select the drive and Erase and reformat it, then it is a bad drive. No new flash drive would come from a manufacturer as read only anyway. Even your mac should write to that format.

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Answer 2

JimmyCMPIT

Level 7

29,306 points

Apr 28, 2016 10:03 AM in response to Cliff Drew1

is the disk locked? some mfg's put a sliding tab on the device, try moving it or see if it clicked slightly out. otherwise as stated it could be a bad batch or it went to flash drive limbo.

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Answer 3

Cliff Drew1 Author

Level 1

136 points

Apr 28, 2016 10:21 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT

Hi Jimmy,

I did consider this but, no. I've gone over the stick with a fine tooth comb and there is no switch on it at all. I'm pretty sure it was R/W initially and them something happened as I copied files to it. Whatever happened changed the attributes to the drive.

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Answer 4

Cliff Drew1 Author

Level 1

136 points

Apr 28, 2016 10:24 AM in response to Glenn Leblanc

I'm beginning to think so too Glenn.

I did start to copy files to it (about 300 JPEGs) and then got an error code -36, which stopped the transfer. I managed to erase the USB drive this time and started to copy again but this also failed. After this I could not eject or Erase the disk so I think it's (insert rude word here!) and I will have to get another one.

I decided to bite the bullet and try the second (identical) drive and this works fine.

Thanks and regards,

Cliff

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Answer 5

Apr 28, 2016 10:26 AM in response to Cliff Drew1

Shouldn't matter what you do to it, you should still be able to erase and reformat it. The fact that you can points to a bad drive.

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