Hi there, I have a Kingston DataTraveler 4GB, and when i try to open it, it wont let me access anything,nor can i transfer files to the usb. this link pops up: "The disk cannot be written to because it is write protected. Please remove the write protection from the volume KINGSTON in drive \Device\Harddisk\DR2" please help!! there's some info on here I desperately need,thanks so much! Jenn

Welcome.

First of all, check the flash drive if it has a slider somewhere. Some flash drive has this slider as a write protect switch. If it has none, this is a problem with XP, do the following:


1. Run an anti virus/spyware program while the USB flash drive is inserted.
2. If the above does not work, try this:

Run > type regedit > Enter - Single-click on 'My Computer' > File > Export > save it to the Desktop (Always best to have a backup!!)
- Go to the following

My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies

*There seems to be some spaces here in 'StorageDevicePolicies' in the text above, there shouldn't be, OK*

Double click on the string 'WriteProtect' and change the 'Value Data' box to '0'
- Then: File > Export > save somewhere useful as something like 'StorageDevicePolicies001.reg

- You also need to do this for the strings in any folders called 'ControlSet***' (* = any Digit, i.e. 001, 002) - for example: Everything is the same, just change 'CurrentControlSet' to 'ControlSet***

My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\StorageDevicePolicies
*There seems to be some spaces here in 'StorageDevicePolicies' in the text above, there shouldn't be, OK*
Save these to the same place as before as 'StorageDevicePolicies00*'

The saves are in case it reverts at a later date, just double click (saying 'yes' to importing these to the registry) on all of the files and it will all work again.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you need further assistance.