I'm trying to over-write a Windows 8 Restore flash drive. I sold that machine - have no use for the Restore function.

It HAD 2 partitions on it, and I was able to delete ONE partition.

I cannot delete the SECOND partition thereon, in GParted, nor can I delete the files in Nautilus.

Is it PHYSICALLY assembled to not be written to? Since I was able to delete the FIRST partition, I imagine not???????

Help?

Some specifics on what you tried might help. Is the flash drive mounted? What happens when you try to delete? Did you try to simply create a new partition table?

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Thanks there yancek; every task results in 'Error - Read Only', 'Disk is Write-Protected', etc, here...

zerofill with DD command, CP from an IDENTICAL partition (both from CLI) Nautilus access, tried everything with partition mounted, and un-mounted, even tried to change the partition table.

I booted windows, CLI as ADMIN, tried disk attributes clear readonly, 'successful', but cannot delete the partition, or files thereon.

yancek?

I think I have to flash the drive???

What is the make of the drive?. There are some like SanDisk U3 that contain a read only partition which looks like a cron drive. They can not be deleted with the usual utilities. They require special software from the manufacture to delete.

You're meaning a flash utility michaelk? THat's what I'm thinking here...

Trying to modify Windows Registry now...

I'm not sure exactly sure how they work but but for lack of better words, yes. So what is the type of flash drive?

You're on the right track boss, but how do I ID the chip, to flash it?

So what is the type of flash drive?

The output of dmesg might help.

Windows Registry Edit to create Write Enable / Disable did not work.

It's gonna' take a Flash Utility, if available.

COnsider this one 'Solved'; I think it's beyond the capability of all on the boards here.

Please prove me wrong???

Unless you tell us the drive manufacture not much else we can do.

The output of the lsusb command or dmesg might provide a clue.

Not all manufactures provide such a utility.

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Bus 002 Device 003: ID 0930:1400 Toshiba Corp. Memory Stick 2GB

[ 1.527373] usb 2-2: New USB device found, idVendor=0930, idProduct=1400
[ 1.527377] usb 2-2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[ 1.527379] usb 2-2: Product: MSFT NORB
[ 1.527382] usb 2-2: Manufacturer: TOSHIBA
[ 1.527384] usb 2-2: SerialNumber: MSFTNAKTM103C8161C16001F

Does this tell me anything?

--------------
Found a Windows utility that has worked on some of the W8 Recovery Drives / MSFT NORB

See - I TOLD you guys manufacturer name would help! Don't listen to me tho'; smart folks dont . Thanks!
(is there a Linux Utility to accomplish this, so I can keep the Windows closed??? )

Toshiba does make a U3 smart drive although I can not tell if yours is one of them. According to the link below the Sandisk removal tools also works on Toshiba drives. When you plug in the drive look at the output of the dmesg command to see if a /dev/srx is created. If so then it would be reasonable to assume it is a U3 device.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5997605_remo...ash-drive.html

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