Flash Drive Help

[Jedo the Jedi]

So, I received a flash drive with some pre-loaded content that I don't really care about. I want to use it for my own files, but the computer keeps telling me it is "write protected." Stupidest thing I've ever heard of. I can't delete the files, and I can't put any of my own on there.

I've searched the web some, but I don't think I really understand the directions I found. Could somebody tell me how to make this a functional flash drive again instead of a really tiny paperweight? There is no external switch signifying it being locked that I can see. I have Windows 7 if that makes a difference for the commands at all.
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[MNOWAX]

Plug it in, right click the drive when it pops up, then click "Format"

If the format command doesn't work, There are other ways.
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The Man The Myth The Legend
MNOWAX

[Jedo the Jedi]

That's probably something I should have covered...I've done that.
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Paragon Tally: 18 mafia, 3 SKs (1 twice), 1 cultist, numerous chat scum...and counting.

[Jack_Ian]

Here's a good article about Flash Drives: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/272402-14-flash-drive

According to this site…

[MNOWAX]

Wow.. you don't have to reboot the computer to get into DOS.

If you want to do what is says, First know which drive your flash drive is on,ignore Steps 1-4, and instead press the start menu and put into search "cmd.exe" right click the link it gives you and click "Run as Administrator"

Then continue with step six.
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The Man The Myth The Legend
MNOWAX

[Jedo the Jedi]

You have got to be shitting me. It also told me the flash drive is write protected. I never knew about that stuff though, so I at least appreciate the information.

Next?
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Paragon Tally: 18 mafia, 3 SKs (1 twice), 1 cultist, numerous chat scum...and counting.

[Death Mage]

Go to K-Mart, buy an 8 GB Maxell flash drive for $5.99+tax?
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[Jedo the Jedi]

At least tell me a fun way to destroy the useless one I have first.

It's not so much that I need the space, but it's the principle of the matter that it should work properly.
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Paragon Tally: 18 mafia, 3 SKs (1 twice), 1 cultist, numerous chat scum...and counting.

[Death Mage]

It sounds like it IS working properly...

I am assuming this is a flash drive that was given out as some kind of promo? It's meant to hold the data it has, and nothing more. Therefore, it IS write protected so that ti can't be erased and reused, it's just for the give-away.
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[MNOWAX]

you COULD crack it open and see if there is a jumper you can short out to make it not write protected.
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MNOWAX

[Jack_Ian]

I assumed the Safe-boot mode was to prevent the USB stick's driver from being loaded allowing you to access the disk with a standard driver which could set the attributes.
It's highly unlikely that the only reason was to get a DOS prompt.

[Jedo the Jedi]

It's a 1 GB drive that came with maybe 50 mb of content. I don't think they had in mind that it wouldn't be used for other things.

I'll try your way later, Jack_Ian. Thanks for the help so far.
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Paragon Tally: 18 mafia, 3 SKs (1 twice), 1 cultist, numerous chat scum...and counting.

[MNOWAX]