wiping/formatting read-only usb stick

[AS]

a) when plugging in the device
b) when trying to dd

Not sure what you mean
when plugging in the device manager comes up like it always does--normal
when dd.....Read-only file system
Please note: I have done the dd command before, because I found them by googling, but with same negative result

It's OK thanks, the answer to question (a) resulting in write-protect ON explain it all ...

Please go to the apacher web site, check your exact model as I've found on the net some do have a "switch", additionally there should be a "utility" program to turn off the write protection, to be found in the download section ..

http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/46202/

[Xenaflux]

AS

thanks a lot.
I will either follow it up tomorrow morning or call my BIL and tell him where to go and what to do.
if it is an EXE thing, he has to do it on his computer. mine is linux.

Thanks a lot, and unless someone want to do some experimenting , I will mark it solved tomorrow.

Thanks again

and last but not least......in future I will mind my own business

[AS]

 

Let us know how it will end, I'm rather curious 

[Xenaflux]

I will. promise !

[Just17]

Sounds to me like the flash drive has a physical problem which is duplicating a read-only switch .....  this has been known to be caused by bad solder joints on the PCB.

I would run testdisk on it to see what is present.

There may be a hidden partition at the beginning of the drive which holds some control software that is causing the problem.

If all else fails use a big hammer   or have BIL do that 

[marian]

Yesterday I solved a read only usb stick problem. I checked the stick with Gparted and it found some problems with 2 files and fixed them.

[djohnston]

Let us know how it will end, I'm rather curious 

+1

[Crow]

Xenaflux  googled a little an it seems there is a lot of problems about that, apparently apacer offers a solution here www.apacer.com/en/support/downloads/Repair_v2.9.1.1.zip  but it fails frequently, here is another http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/external-link/?link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.apacer.com%2Fen%2Fsupport%2Fdownloads%2FHS2.0_Utility_LFormat.zip that seems to work better and here  http://en.kioskea.net/faq/4214-remove-write-protection-on-pen-drive people offers a possible solution using a windows machine.

It seems a common problem with apacer 

[Xenaflux]

Thanks guys
But first thing first
0--gather some strength and get out of bed
1--check email from friends
2--go to the bathroom
3--have breakfast
4--have an extra coffee to wake up brain completely

and then......
5--.read emails again and act upon them

so, see you in an hour or so after my stretching exercises

thanks 

[Old-Polack]

Thanks guys
But first thing first
0--gather some strength and get out of bed
1--check email from friends
2--go to the bathroom
3--have breakfast
4--have an extra coffee to wake up brain completely

and then......
5--.read emails again and act upon them

so, see you in an hour or so after my stretching exercises

thanks 

You might try, from a terminal, as root;

[root@fatman ~]# hdparm -r /dev/sdb

/dev/sdb:
 readonly      =  0 (off)

If your results show

/dev/sdb:
 readonly      =  1 (on)

try...

[root@fatman ~]# hdparm -r0 /dev/sdb

/dev/sdb:
 setting readonly to 0 (off)
 readonly      =  0 (off)

Post your results.

[Crow]

@Xenaflux  Provecho 

[Xenaflux]

@ OP
done as you asked:
[tony@localhost ~]$ su
Password:
[root@localhost ~]# hdparm -r /dev/sdb

/dev/sdb:
 readonly      =  1 (on)
[root@localhost ~]# hdparm -r0 /dev/sdb

/dev/sdb:
 setting readonly to 0 (off)
 readonly      =  0 (off)
[root@localhost ~]#


@ Crow
First link
I had tried the little Repair_v2.9.1.1.xxx already and also it's successor v2.9.2.8A
There was no success.
2nd and 3th link I will follow up if the " Linux-way " fails to deliver a solution

I think we all automatically agree that we turn to a windows-based solution if everything else fails and this exercise , at least for me, is more about knowledge than " I did it with click-click "
Hope you agree

[Xenaflux]

@Xenaflux  Provecho  Grin

You make me search for my dictionary that early in the morning ?
 

Yes, we all learn and benefit ( if that is what it means )
My Italian is weak................very...
See what I mean, can't even tell the difference between Italian and Spanish anymore.

[Old-Polack]

@ OP
done as you asked:
[tony@localhost ~]$ su
Password:
[root@localhost ~]# hdparm -r /dev/sdb

/dev/sdb:
 readonly      =  1 (on)
[root@localhost ~]# hdparm -r0 /dev/sdb

/dev/sdb:
 setting readonly to 0 (off)
 readonly      =  0 (off)
[root@localhost ~]#


@ Crow
First link
I had tried the little Repair_v2.9.1.1.xxx already and also it's successor v2.9.2.8A
There was no success.
2nd and 3th link I will follow up if the " Linux-way " fails to deliver a solution

I think we all automatically agree that we turn to a windows-based solution if everything else fails and this exercise , at least for me, is more about knowledge than " I did it with click-click "
Hope you agree

According to your results the drive now has readonly turned off. Did you try to reformat the drive yet?

[AS]

Thanks guys
But first thing first
0--gather some strength and get out of bed
1--check email from friends
2--go to the bathroom
3--have breakfast
4--have an extra coffee to wake up brain completely

and then......
5--.read emails again and act upon them

so, see you in an hour or so after my stretching exercises

thanks 

You might try, from a terminal, as root;

[root@fatman ~]# hdparm -r /dev/sdb

/dev/sdb:
 readonly      =  0 (off)

If your results show

/dev/sdb:
 readonly      =  1 (on)

try...

[root@fatman ~]# hdparm -r0 /dev/sdb

/dev/sdb:
 setting readonly to 0 (off)
 readonly      =  0 (off)

Post your results.

Wow! 
I read the hdparm manpage so many times ... and missed completely this feature!