How to erase a thumb drive - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

questone · 01-02-2007, 08:48 PM

A company sent me a promotional thumb drive. Along with advertisement, it has some software that makes it show up as a read-only drive when attached to the computer.
So far I have tried a number of things to erase it and make it for personal use, but unsuccessful. I have even hooked it up to a Mac and a PC with Linux in it, but to no avail.

Any ideas to erase and/or format it?

Manic_Skafe · 01-02-2007, 09:12 PM

What sort of drive is it? If it's the annoying sort of software that won't erase with a simple format then you'll usually find a tool to permanently remove it buried somewhere on the manufacturers site.

Try a few Google searches until you find what you're looking for.

Dilbert1234567 · 01-02-2007, 09:14 PM

I’ve had some drives that had a switch on the side that enables / disables write access. open it up and see what’s inside, but for the most part, you may be stuck, its a hardware lock, not software.

Kadath · 01-05-2007, 10:10 AM

Is it the U3 stuff?

01-02-2007, 08:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
questone Crazy	How to erase a thumb drive A company sent me a promotional thumb drive. Along with advertisement, it has some software that makes it show up as a read-only drive when attached to the computer. So far I have tried a number of things to erase it and make it for personal use, but unsuccessful. I have even hooked it up to a Mac and a PC with Linux in it, but to no avail. Any ideas to erase and/or format it?

01-02-2007, 09:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
Manic_Skafe More Than You Expect Location: Queens	What sort of drive is it? If it's the annoying sort of software that won't erase with a simple format then you'll usually find a tool to permanently remove it buried somewhere on the manufacturers site. Try a few Google searches until you find what you're looking for. __________________ "Porn is a zoo of exotic animals that becomes boring upon ownership." -Nersesian

01-02-2007, 09:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
Dilbert1234567 Devils Cabana Boy Location: Central Coast CA	I’ve had some drives that had a switch on the side that enables / disables write access. open it up and see what’s inside, but for the most part, you may be stuck, its a hardware lock, not software. __________________ Donate Blood! "Love is not finding the perfect person, but learning to see an imperfect person perfectly." -Sam Keen

01-05-2007, 10:10 AM	#4 (permalink)
Kadath Muffled Location: Camazotz	Is it the U3 stuff? __________________ it's quiet in here