Unlock the Hidden Solutions: Troubleshooting the “Cannot Run CHKDSK Write Protected” Error
Causes of the “Windows Cannot Run Disk Checking on This Volume Because It Is Write Protected” Error
If you encounter the “Windows Cannot Run Disk Checking on This Volume Because It Is Write Protected” error, here are 5 solutions to help you resolve the issue:
1. Disable Write Protection: Remove the write protection from your hard drive or USB by adjusting the write protection tab or using Diskpart utility. Follow the steps: Open CMD as an administrator, type “diskpart” and press Enter, then enter “list disk” to display all drives, select the desired drive with “select disk [number],” and finally, type “attributes disk clear readonly” to disable write protection.
2. Run CHKDSK from Safe Mode: Boot your computer into Safe Mode and run CHKDSK from the command prompt to check and fix file system errors. Here’s how: Restart your computer, press F8 repeatedly until the Advanced Boot Options menu appears, select Safe Mode with Command Prompt, and then enter “chkdsk [drive letter]: /f” to initiate the scan.
3. Unlock the Drive: If the error message mentions that the current drive cannot be locked, it might be in use by another process. Fix this issue: Open CMD as an administrator, type “chkdsk [drive letter]: /f /x” to force dismount the drive, and then press Y to schedule a disk check on the next system restart.
4. Check for File System Errors: Use the CHKDSK utility with the /f parameter to check and fix file system errors on your drive. Execute the following steps: Open CMD as an administrator, type “chkdsk [drive letter]: /f” and press Enter. If prompted to schedule a disk check on the next restart, type Y and hit Enter.
5. Disable Write Protection in the Registry: Modify the registry to remove any write protection attributes that might be causing the error. Here’s how: Press Windows key + R, type “regedit” and press Enter, navigate to “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlStorageDevicePolicies,” double-click on “WriteProtect” in the right pane, set the value to 0, and click OK.
Remember to back up your important data before attempting any troubleshooting steps.
Removing Write Protection with 1-Click Write Protection Removal Software
If you’re encountering the “Cannot Run CHKDSK Write Protected” error, don’t worry – we have five solutions for you. One effective method is using 1-Click Write Protection Removal Software.
To remove write protection with this software, follow these steps:
1. Download and install the 1-Click Write Protection Removal Software from a reliable source.
2. Launch the software and select the drive that is write-protected.
3. Click on the “Remove Write Protection” button.
4. Wait for the software to remove the write protection from your drive.
5. Once the process is complete, close the software and restart your computer.
By using this software, you can quickly and easily remove write protection on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 system. Now you can run CHKDSK without any issues and fix any hard drive errors.
Removing Write Protection via CMD
To remove write protection via CMD and resolve the “Cannot Run CHKDSK Write Protected” error, follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + X and select “Command Prompt (Admin)” to open the command prompt as an administrator.
2. In the command prompt, type “diskpart” and press Enter to open the Diskpart utility.
3. Type “list disk” and press Enter to view a list of available disks.
4. Identify the disk that is write-protected and note its disk number.
5. Type “select disk [disk number]” (replace [disk number] with the actual disk number) and press Enter to select the write-protected disk.
6. Type “attributes disk clear readonly” and press Enter to remove the write protection attribute from the disk.
7. Close the command prompt and restart your computer.
After following these steps, the write protection should be removed from the disk, allowing you to run CHKDSK without encountering the write protection error.
Removing Write Protection via Diskpart
To remove write protection on your hard disk and resolve the “Cannot Run CHKDSK Write Protected” error, you can use the Diskpart command in Windows. Here are 5 solutions to help you fix this problem:
1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Type diskpart and press Enter to open the Diskpart utility.
3. Type list volume and press Enter to view a list of available drives.
4. Identify the drive with the write protection problem and note its volume number.
5. Type select volume X (replace X with the volume number) and press Enter.
6. Type attributes disk clear readonly and press Enter to remove the write protection attribute.
7. Close Command Prompt and try running CHKDSK again.
If the issue persists, try other methods or consult Microsoft support for further assistance. Remember to backup your data before making any changes to your drives.
Clearing Read-Only in Registry Editor
If you’re encountering the “Cannot Run CHKDSK Write Protected” error, it could be due to the read-only setting in the Registry Editor. Here are 5 solutions to clear this read-only status and resolve the issue:
1. Open the Registry Editor by pressing Windows Key + R, typing “regedit,” and hitting Enter.
2. Navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSession Manager.
3. Look for the “BootExecute” value on the right pane and double-click it.
4. Remove any “autocheck autochk *” entries and click OK.
5. Restart your computer and try running CHKDSK again.
If the error persists, ensure that your disk isn’t write-protected physically or through software. Additionally, make sure no other processes are locking the drive. Hopefully, one of these methods will help you resolve the “Cannot Run CHKDSK Write Protected” error and allow you to run CHKDSK successfully.
Darrell Friedman is a seasoned technology writer for helptechportal.com, with a keen interest in cybersecurity and privacy. Holding a degree in Information Systems and Security, Darrell’s expertise allows him to provide readers with valuable insights on protecting their digital lives. When not writing about tech, Darrell enjoys hiking, photography, and building custom PCs.