Can't format the c: drive. it says system format is not allowed.

PC & MAC use different file systems.
It sounds like your hard disk is formatted as NTFS. NTFS will allow a MAC to read from the disk, but not write to it. You need to re-format it using FAT32 (if your MAC is older) or exFAT(if your MAC is fairly new)..
FAT32 will allow a maximum partition size of 2TB(when formatted from a MAC) and a maximum single file size of 4GB.
exFAT will allow pretty much any file size.
NB:Formatting a hard drive DELETES ALL FILES on the hard drive, so backup whatever is important before you re-format it.
1. Open Applications > Utilities
2. Choose you hard drive from the list on the left
3. Choose the "Erase" tab and choose your desired format (FAT32/exFAT)
4. Type in a new name..Click "Erase"

There is not a straight answer to your question. Multiple methods of removing write protection exist.

Many USB Pen/Flash drives have a switch built onto the unit which can be toggled to turn on or off the write protection. You can see a picture of a Flash Drive with a lock here: http://www.imation-southasia.com/about_imation/newsroom/Flash_drive.html If your unit has a lock switch - make sure it is in the correct position to allow writing.

Other methods to bypass write protection include formatting the drive. In Windows, you can open Computer (Or My Computer in XP) and right-click on the drive letter representing the flash drive and choose Format. Formatting the drive will erase the information on the drive, but it will render it back to a state that should allow you to write files to the flash drive.

Another scenario to be aware of is that some Flash drives may not allow you to write to them if they were originally formatted with a file system that is not supported by the operating system you are currently using. For example, some flash drives formatted a specific way in Windows may not be able to be written to to when you insert the drive into a Mac computer.

A last resort may be to try the unlocking software Unlocker. You can find this software here: http://www.filehippo.com/download_unlocker/ This software may allow you to unlock certain files one at a time - but it may not unlock the entire drive. It's hit or miss.

Finally - if the USB Key you are trying to unlock was locked by encryption software such as DUSK or TrueCrypt, or manufacturer locking, the only way to unlock it would be to format the drive, thus erasing the data.

If you are using windows, Open My Computer, right-click the drive you want to format, Select Format. The next pane will ask you how/what you want to format the drive into, Most drives anymore are ntfs but some external drives will only allow fat32.

you would simply have to format the pen drive, although this will erase all informationon the drive, it will allow you to copy files to it in the future, to format the drive, simple go to

My Computer>Right click the pen drive>select Format>select which Format you want>Format the pen drive.

A virus has occurred in your pen drive so that's why it is not allowing you to format a drive.
So clip off any running process from your system which is not allowing you to format your pen drive.

If you are running DOS(Command prompt) in Windows, your windows Operating System is installed in C drive and is Up and running then it is impossible to format the C drive because the whole thing is running in C drive and windows won't allow you to do so.
But if you are using a separate DOS O.S. and want to format C drive and If you want to format any other drive than c drive when your system is up and running then you can use the FORMAT command followed by the drive letter that you want to format.
here is an Examle to write in DOS..
Format C: /q
you can replace the C letter by any drive that you want to format. The /q Option is use to perform Quick Format. Here is a list of mostly used Option
Formats a disk for use with Windows.
FORMAT volume [/FS:file-system] [/V:label] [/Q] [/C] [/X]
"volume" Specifies the drive letter "/FS:filesystem" Specifies the type of the file system (FAT, FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, or UDF). "/V:label" Specifies the volume label. "/Q" Performs a quick format. "/C" volume will be compresse by default. "/X" Forces the volume to dismount first.
Hope this will help for sure.....cheers:)

hey if u have some prob wid ur pendrive then on ur pen drive icon then right click
thet change ur autorun list

Hi Grumpy
It sounds like your mainboard is not set up to allow for a SATA boot drive.
Have a look in your bios and ensure the boot order is set to the SATA drive first
Then, make sure the SATA drive is formatted and has an operating system installed.
Alternatively, boot the system from a boot disk ( your XP or Vista disk will allow this) and check to see if the board can see the drive and can read the drive if it is already formatted.
If not, format it and install the O/S onto it and make sure you answer YES to the question " do you wish to boot from this drive?"
Both my systems use SATA drives and I only had a boot fault because the "pre-formatted drive" I bought was not formatted and formatting under windows during O/S installation solved this issue..


Swoop...

allow the system to boot and insert winxp disk into your cd drive and followthe setup wizard thats come on

i recently bought a sony flash drive SSK/2GB.however the same is not working at all as it is showing RAW file system instead of FAT 32 .neither it is getting formatted nor allowing anything else to b doneto it.