I have a memory stick that I picked up free at a conference. It's only
got the presentation on it, which I don't want, so I'd like to use the
stick for routine purposes. However I can't write to it, although the
write protect tab is off. When I try to reformat it I get "Invalid media
or track 0 bad - disk unusable".

Obviously locked somehow by the people who distributed it. Any ideas for
unlocking it? I don't know the manufacturer. Google is no great help.

--
Les

I have a memory stick that I picked up free at a conference. It's only
got the presentation on it, which I don't want, so I'd like to use the
stick for routine purposes. However I can't write to it, although the
write protect tab is off. When I try to reformat it I get "Invalid media
or track 0 bad - disk unusable".

Obviously locked somehow by the people who distributed it. Any ideas for
unlocking it? I don't know the manufacturer. Google is no great help.


I have re used these simply by re formatting them.

Mike

Muddymike wrote:
I have a memory stick that I picked up free at a conference. It's only
got the presentation on it, which I don't want, so I'd like to use the
stick for routine purposes. However I can't write to it, although the
write protect tab is off. When I try to reformat it I get "Invalid
media or track 0 bad - disk unusable".

Obviously locked somehow by the people who distributed it. Any ideas
for unlocking it? I don't know the manufacturer. Google is no great help.


I have re used these simply by re formatting them.

Mike
That does not help the OP, Mike

Bob Minchin wrote:

Muddymike wrote:

Big Les Wade wrote:

I have a memory stick that I picked up free at a conference. It's only
got the presentation on it, which I don't want, so I'd like to use the
stick for routine purposes.
Obviously locked somehow by the people who distributed it.

I have re used these simply by re formatting them.

That does not help the OP

There are various manufacturer's toolkits out there on random Chinese
websites to tinker with the controllers on USB memory sticks, either to
"carve-off" a chunk of memory for CD-ROM emulation e.g. in this case the
presentation might be on such a read-only area, possibly leaving the
rest available as read/write storage

They can also be used by the unscrupulous to make sticks appear to be
larger than the total amount of flash they actually have

But unless you know the exact controller and memory chips on the thing,
you're more likely to end up bricking it, or losing work stored on it at
some future time when a mistake in the re-programming becomes obvious.

On 15/12/2014 15:13, Big Les Wade wrote:
I have a memory stick that I picked up free at a conference. It's only
got the presentation on it, which I don't want, so I'd like to use the
stick for routine purposes. However I can't write to it, although the
write protect tab is off. When I try to reformat it I get "Invalid media
or track 0 bad - disk unusable".

Obviously locked somehow by the people who distributed it. Any ideas for
unlocking it? I don't know the manufacturer. Google is no great help.


Unless it's 4GB or more, which seems unlikely, it's hardly worth the
effort - they are under £3 (inc postage).

--
Reentrant

On 15/12/2014 15:13, Big Les Wade wrote:
I have a memory stick that I picked up free at a conference. It's only
got the presentation on it, which I don't want, so I'd like to use the
stick for routine purposes. However I can't write to it, although the
write protect tab is off. When I try to reformat it I get "Invalid media
or track 0 bad - disk unusable".

Obviously locked somehow by the people who distributed it. Any ideas for
unlocking it? I don't know the manufacturer. Google is no great help.



Try HP USB Disk Storage Format utility which can format USB disks/sticks
that have previously been formatted in a propriety way. It works when
Windoze format fails.

http://download.cnet.com/HP-USB-Disk-Storage-Format-Tool/3000-2094_4-10974082.html


--
mailto: news {at} admac {dot] myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

On 15/12/2014 19:53, alan_m wrote:
On 15/12/2014 15:13, Big Les Wade wrote:
I have a memory stick that I picked up free at a conference. It's only
got the presentation on it, which I don't want, so I'd like to use the
stick for routine purposes. However I can't write to it, although the
write protect tab is off. When I try to reformat it I get "Invalid media
or track 0 bad - disk unusable".

Obviously locked somehow by the people who distributed it. Any ideas for
unlocking it? I don't know the manufacturer. Google is no great help.



Try HP USB Disk Storage Format utility which can format USB disks/sticks
that have previously been formatted in a propriety way. It works when
Windoze format fails.

http://download.cnet.com/HP-USB-Disk-Storage-Format-Tool/3000-2094_4-10974082.html



That is what I use on some USB sticks, and it does the job of showing
the full size of the stick

alan_m wrote:
On 15/12/2014 15:13, Big Les Wade wrote:
I have a memory stick that I picked up free at a conference. It's only
got the presentation on it, which I don't want, so I'd like to use the
stick for routine purposes. However I can't write to it, although the
write protect tab is off. When I try to reformat it I get "Invalid media
or track 0 bad - disk unusable".

Obviously locked somehow by the people who distributed it. Any ideas for
unlocking it? I don't know the manufacturer. Google is no great help.



Try HP USB Disk Storage Format utility which can format USB disks/sticks
that have previously been formatted in a propriety way. It works when
Windoze format fails.

http://download.cnet.com/HP-USB-Disk-Storage-Format-Tool/3000-2094_4-10974082.html



Thanks for the link to the HP tool.
I have a number of old sticks marked 1GB which would only store up to
512m as delivered.
Having reformatted one of them, they now take the full 1GB
Result!

He said he could not do that. There is a tool around made by hp that is
supposed to format them as often, the operating system cannot get in.
Of course I guess it could be some kind of prom and thus not be of much
use.

Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"Muddymike" wrote in message
om...
I have a memory stick that I picked up free at a conference. It's only
got the presentation on it, which I don't want, so I'd like to use the
stick for routine purposes. However I can't write to it, although the
write protect tab is off. When I try to reformat it I get "Invalid media
or track 0 bad - disk unusable".

Obviously locked somehow by the people who distributed it. Any ideas for
unlocking it? I don't know the manufacturer. Google is no great help.


I have re used these simply by re formatting them.

Mike

alan_m posted
On 15/12/2014 15:13, Big Les Wade wrote:
I have a memory stick that I picked up free at a conference. It's only
got the presentation on it, which I don't want, so I'd like to use the
stick for routine purposes. However I can't write to it, although the
write protect tab is off. When I try to reformat it I get "Invalid media
or track 0 bad - disk unusable".

Obviously locked somehow by the people who distributed it. Any ideas for
unlocking it? I don't know the manufacturer. Google is no great help.

Try HP USB Disk Storage Format utility which can format USB
disks/sticks that have previously been formatted in a propriety way. It
works when Windoze format fails.

http://download.cnet.com/HP-USB-Disk...3000-2094_4-10
974082.html


Thanks for that suggestion. Looks like a useful utility, but sadly it
didn't work on this occasion.

I know these things are cheap now, but I remember when they were
expensive ... breaks my heart to waste anything

--
Les

Brian Gaff wrote:

He said he could not do that. I guess it could be some kind of prom
and thus not be of much use.

From the messages displayed, it sounds like the flash memory has been
presented over USB as though it's a CDROM, therefore you need to
reprogram the USB controller first, which might be possible if the O/P
can decide which is the correct utility from the dozens on offer at the
link I gave.

I've tried that with a similar stick, unsuccessfully; buying another
stick is much easier.

On Tuesday, 16 December 2014 08:55:37 UTC, Big Les Wade wrote:
alan_m posted
On 15/12/2014 15:13, Big Les Wade wrote:
I have a memory stick that I picked up free at a conference. It's only
got the presentation on it, which I don't want, so I'd like to use the
stick for routine purposes. However I can't write to it, although the
write protect tab is off. When I try to reformat it I get "Invalid media
or track 0 bad - disk unusable".

Obviously locked somehow by the people who distributed it. Any ideas for
unlocking it? I don't know the manufacturer. Google is no great help.

Try HP USB Disk Storage Format utility which can format USB
disks/sticks that have previously been formatted in a propriety way. It
works when Windoze format fails.

http://download.cnet.com/HP-USB-Disk...3000-2094_4-10
974082.html


Thanks for that suggestion. Looks like a useful utility, but sadly it
didn't work on this occasion.

I know these things are cheap now, but I remember when they were
expensive ... breaks my heart to waste anything

I still save old Stanley knife blades. What a prick!

What gets me is that I have a diamond hone that could sort them in situ but I don't have to temperament these days. What is the best way to whet them?

I just tilt the stone on edge and whip the blade down it a couple of times. It isn't quite the dogs lickables. What is the correct term for a stone made of iron?

Weatherlawyer wrote:

I still save old Stanley knife blades. What a prick!

looks at shoes and whistles tunelessly