Cant remove write protection on sd card using command prompt

[GlueWizard]

I'm trying to add some files to my 3ds' sd card but it won't let me and the laptop says that the card is write protected. I tried using command prompt as administrator to take off the protection like some youtube videos recommended to but it doesn't work. I can't even delete any files in the SD or format it because of the write protection. What can I do?

 

[ihaveahax]

Usually an SD card locks itself up when it is near the end of its life. So this means you should get a new SD card.

 

[KleinesSinchen]

In addition to the flimsy slider on full-sized SDs asking the SD reader/writer to not write, there is the possibility to set SD cards to read-only (temporarily or permanent) with RAW commands a normal reader can't send. This is actually a really powerful feature hardly used.

As mentioned above sometimes SDs do this themselves if they decide internally that they have a problem.

Please try another SD reader on the computer. This can be a point of failure as well.

You can also write some file to SD with GodMode9 -- then turn off the 3DS afterwards, boot into GodMode9 again and see if the file is actually present. Sometimes an SD pretends to write and after a reboot all changes are lost.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[NerdBird]

I can't even delete any files in the SD or format it because of the write protection. What can I do?

Most SD Card Adapters will have a write-protection switch on the side of it. Check to see if it is "Enabled." To turn off write-protect you'll want to move it to "Disabled" or "OFF" however it's labeled.

 

[GlueWizard]

Most SD Card Adapters will have a write-protection switch on the side of it. Check to see if it is "Enabled." To turn off write-protect you'll want to move it to "Disabled" or "OFF" however it's labeled.

The little slider is on the "disabled" side and nothing still works

 

[NerdBird]

The little slider is on the "disabled" side and nothing still works

Ok. Strange behavior noted.

I know I can't post links but there is a thread on Reddit r/3DS I just found that states the following:
Thread Name:

Write-protection is enabled on the SD Card​

Fluffy-Reading-3993 said:
There's a !@#$%^& IDIOT solution for it, you just have to put a TAPE on the sd card slide (on the unlocked way) and make sure that the tape doesn't touch the copper

Give that a shot and see how it does. Is the adapter getting snagged in the port, I wonder? Weird.

Good Luck

 

[Kwyjor]

What can I do?

As other posts have mentioned, your SD card is probably dying.

Before you try anything else, you'd better back up the contents of the card while you can still read it. I recommend Roadkil's Unstoppable Copier.

You'll probably want to get a new SD card. (They're cheap enough.) All you have to do is make sure it is formatted correctly, test it with h2testw (just to be safe), and copy the backed-up files to the empty SD card.

I tried using command prompt as administrator to take off the protection like some youtube videos recommended to but it doesn't work.

Also, don't follow Youtube videos. They tend to be outdated and incomplete.

If you must follow Youtube videos, then at least be prepared to offer some explanation about what you did if you have further questions, because I have absolutely no idea what Youtube videos you might have seen or what they might have recommended, and I certainly don't want to waste time trying to find those videos, much less watching them.

 

[KleinesSinchen]

Ok. Strange behavior noted.

Nothing too strange. Happens all the time. SDs going read-only because they decide they are end of life and readers/writers that have an internal problem noticing the slider position defaulting to "locked".
I have had to bridge some solder joints to get rid of permanent write protection on a USB SD card reader.

Taping over the complete area of the slider might sometimes help (after all it works in a similar way like on music cassettes and floppy disks -- the SD itself is not write protected by the piece of plasic on the side), but if the little mechanical switch inside the reader responsible for detecting the position is bad... it is just time for this guy:
====

@GlueWizard
Please do the process of elimination:

• Questionable SD in another reader
• Another SD in your main reader

 

[LangdonL]

If the lock switch is off and diskpart didn’t work, use a different adapter or reader. If it still won’t write, the card is likely worn out. replace it!!

 

[GlueWizard]

Nothing too strange. Happens all the time. SDs going read-only because they decide they are end of life and readers/writers that have an internal problem noticing the slider position defaulting to "locked".
I have had to bridge some solder joints to get rid of permanent write protection on a USB SD card reader.

Taping over the complete area of the slider might sometimes help (after all it works in a similar way like on music cassettes and floppy disks -- the SD itself is not write protected by the piece of plasic on the side), but if the little mechanical switch inside the reader responsible for detecting the position is bad... it is just time for this guy:
====

@GlueWizard
Please do the process of elimination:

• Questionable SD in another reader
• Another SD in your main reader

The "taping the slider" Idea worked amazingly! I dont get a write protection notification anymore and everything is now accessible! Thank you very much

 

[NerdBird]

The "taping the slider" Idea worked amazingly! I dont get a write protection notification anymore and everything is now accessible! Thank you very much

Glad it worked out. Never know until you try...