USB Thumb Drive Issues?

[Lisa Kachold]

On Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 5:53 PM, unixprgrmr01 at gmail.com <
unixprgrmr01 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Mike,
>
> Copying your files to your home directory MAY perpetuate the problem to
> other USB drives that you plug into that box, it depends on the nature of
> the problem.  If the problem is a virus there is good chance that it will.
> If you want to do root cause analysis don't reformat your USB drive.
>
Copying the files to your WINDOW$ home directory MAY perpetuate the problem
to other USB drives.

Most often the causes of write protection to USB drives are NOT viri.


>
> If you don't want to spend the time to do the analysis I suggest writing a
> little program to write binary 0's (NULL's) to the drive a few times to
> clean it up, then format it as you want.  However, note that just by
> plugging the drive in you may have infected the computer you plugged it
> into.
>
Well, I don't believe he can WRITE TO THE DRIVE?

>
> Again,
> Good Luck
> Lynn
>
> On Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 8:17 AM, Lisa Kachold <lisakachold at obnosis.com>wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Oct 19, 2009 at 3:16 PM, mike Enriquez <mylinux at cox.net> wrote:
>>
>>> I have a 4GB PNY thumb drive that has issues? It has become "Write
>>> Protected". It is an Optima pro Attache. I searched the net and nothing
>>> that I have found has helped me out.
>>> Has any one in the group had this happen to them and how did you remove
>>> the write protection.
>>> I cannot see any special files on it except 2 of my own.
>>> Any suggestions out there?
>>> Thanks
>>>
>>> Mike Enriquez
>>>
>>
>> Hi Mike!
>>
>> There are a load of Window$ type repair suggestions here (Since this is a
>> known bug in Xp SP2):
>>
>> http://www.techspot.com/vb/all/windows/t-18654-USB-Flash-Drive-Write-protection.html
>>
>> Linux solutions are going to be basic drive management:
>>
>> plug in usb flash drive and mount (if you don't have automouter)
>>
>> dmesg to verify the device:
>>
>> # dmesg
>> # mkdir /mnt/usbwork
>> # mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/usbwork
>> (it might whine that you didn't specify the type if so:)
>> # mount -t vfat (or NFS) /dev/sda1 /mnt/usbwork
>> # cd /mnt/usbwork
>> Copy off your old files
>> # cp -r * $HOME
>> # umount /mnt/usbhome
>> # fdisk /dev/sda
>>
>> Remove all the partitions using  the "d" command.
>> create new partitions using the "n" command (you only really need one big
>> one)
>> set the file type "W95 FAT32 (LBA)"  (or ext3 if making a bootable Linux
>> distro) "t" (types will display)
>> if this is going to hold a distro set the bootable flag "a"
>> check your work:  "p"
>> save "w"
>>
>> Lay on a file system (that matches your file type):
>>
>>
>> mkfs.vfat -I -n USBDRIVE /dev/sda1
>>
>>
>> Your drive should work now just fine!
>>
>> Reference:  http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=346737
>> --
>> Skype: (623)239-3392
>> AT&T: (503)754-4452
>> www.obnosis.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
> --
> Best Regards,
> Lynn P. Tilby
> Ph: 480 632-8635
> unixprgrmr01 at gmail.com
>
>
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