• Hi there and welcome to PC Help Forum (PCHF), a more effective way to get the Tech Support you need!
    We have Experts in all areas of Tech, including Malware Removal, Crash Fixing and BSOD's , Microsoft Windows, Computer DIY and PC Hardware, Networking, Gaming, Tablets and iPads, General and Specific Software Support and so much more.

    Why not Click Here To Sign Up and start enjoying great FREE Tech Support.

    This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Solved all external usb/sd storage devices get locked

Status
Not open for further replies.
Hello everybody,
2 years ago i bought a new usb flash drive that i needed to use on my printer, so I went ahead and downloaded some files on it (using my windows 10 PC) and i plugged it into the printer. Every thing worked fine untill I tried download some new files onto it and it just would not work because it was locked in read only (there is no read only switch). Then I tried to solve the problem by watching several tutorials to unlock it but it only made things worse...(used cmd etc)
Nowadays i can't use any external drive because of that problem and it is getting realy annoying:mad:, i once found a thread from an other windows 10 user that had the same problem and a microsoft employee said he had to try using a different win10 account so I tried it and it made no difference...:confused:
(I tried every usb port, none of them is obsolete)
Does anyone have a solution to my problem, I would be very gratefull:giggle:
(btw sorry for my bad english, I live in France)
 
Lets clean up all the old drivers related to your USB devices.


  • Remove All usb connected items from the computer, only leave the mouse and keyboard installed.
  • Download drivecleanup.zip to your desktop.
  • CLICK HERE to determine whether you’re running 32-bit or 64-bit for Windows.
  • Once the determination has been made, open either the 32-bit or 64-bit folder.
  • Right Click the .exe on the inside of the folder, and Run as Administrator.
  • A command prompt window will open, telling you what has been removed upon completion.
  • Reboot your machine.
  • Check the issue.

 
Actually I do @Bruce I tried malnutrition's method and it dd not work...
maybe the problem is clear when I say that when I try to delete one of the files it gives me an error message saying File Acces Denied you require permission from all users to perform this action
1643302815038.png
 
Hello @Rustys
-This problem occures with any file stored on the storage device
-I have tried pluging in the usb drive in an other pc and it worked without any problems
-I am using windows 10 professionnal
-I don't know if i am logged in as the admin on my system
 
Since you are using Windows 10 Pro then it sounds as is the permissions are incorrect then on that system.

Which now we need to look at the GPO which is the Group Policy Manager.
-I have tried pluging in the usb drive in an other pc and it worked without any problems
If the USB drives were locked, then they would be showing the same issue with other systems.

-I don't know if i am logged in as the admin on my system
You will have to be logged in as an administrator on the system to make these changes.



They also include how to with registry tweaks which unless you know what you are doing may end up having a nice door stop.

Some systems have setting in the BIOS that can be used to disable the USB Ports.
 
I just tried the method and it worked! I must have changed that setting when I was desperatly trying to solve the problem on my own.
But everything is back to normal now I can use all the usb flash drives again thank you very much🙂
 
Status
Not open for further replies.