SanDisk USB Drive Stuck in Write-Protected Mode – University IT Department Unable to Resolve

A university student contacted Brighton Data Recovery after their SanDisk USB flash drive became permanently write-protected, preventing them from modifying, deleting, or transferring files. The reported issues included:

  • The USB drive was detected but showed an error: “This disk is write-protected. Remove the write protection or use another disk.”
  • The student took the drive to their university IT department, but they were unable to remove the write protection.
  • The drive contained critical coursework, research papers, and personal study materials.
  • The student had no backup, making recovery urgent.

Since write protection issues can be caused by firmware corruption, NAND degradation, or logical errors, a forensic-level USB recovery approach was required.

Our Expertise in SanDisk USB Write Protection Removal & Data Recovery

With 25 years of experience, Brighton Data Recovery specialises in:
✔ Removing write protection from SanDisk USB drives with firmware corruption
✔ Forensic NAND chip extraction for damaged or locked USB drives
✔ Advanced data recovery techniques using Acelabs PC3000, DeepSpar imaging, and chip-level tools

Diagnosis & Recovery Process

Upon receiving the SanDisk USB drive, our engineers conducted a detailed forensic assessment. The key findings included:

  • The drive’s firmware was corrupted, causing the write protection error.
  • The NAND memory chips were intact, meaning data recovery was possible.
  • The USB controller was in read-only mode, preventing modifications.

To successfully recover the student’s lost files, we implemented a multi-step forensic USB recovery strategy:

Step 1: Firmware Repair & Write Protection Removal

  • Used Acelabs PC3000 Flash Edition to analyse and repair USB firmware.
  • Reset the controller’s read/write settings to remove the write-protected state.

Step 2: NAND Chip Dump & Data Extraction

  • If firmware repair failed, we planned to remove and read the NAND memory chips manually.
  • Used a Memory Chip Reader to extract raw data from the SanDisk USB flash drive.

Step 3: File System Repair & Data Recovery

  • Repaired damaged FAT32/exFAT file system structures to restore missing directories.
  • Extracted and validated all coursework, research files, and study materials.

Step 4: Data Integrity Check & Secure Transfer

  • Conducted final validation checks to confirm all recovered files were intact.
  • Successfully transferred the restored data to a new high-performance USB drive.

The Result

We successfully recovered 100% of the student’s lost data, including:
✅ University coursework, research papers, and assignments
✅ Study notes, presentations, and academic materials
✅ Backup files and downloaded resources

The student was able to resume their studies without losing important work, ensuring a successful academic recovery.

Why Choose Brighton Data Recovery for SanDisk USB Write Protection Issues?

✅ 25 Years of Expertise – Specialists in USB firmware repair and NAND-level recovery.
✅ Forensic-Level Data Extraction – Recovering files from locked or non-functional USB drives.
✅ Fast & Secure Process – Ensuring complete confidentiality and successful recovery.

If your SanDisk USB drive is stuck in write-protected mode and cannot be fixed, contact Brighton Data Recovery today for expert USB data recovery services!