Windows Cannot Run Disk Checking on This Volume Because it is Write Protected

When your drive or volume is damaged or marked as Read Only, you will receive the error message “Windows cannot Run Disk Checking on this Volume Because it is Write Protected.”

Windows’ CHKDSK command-line tool enables you to check the integrity of your system files and search for bad sectors in your volume. Running the utility may occasionally cause you to receive a warning that the drive is either corrupted or write-protected.

If one of your drives is write protected, this means you won’t be able to edit the contents of the drive which includes editing the files or removing them. In plain English, write protected denotes that the volume is read-only. A good example is the write protection that occasionally affects USB drives, which prevents you from copying the contents of the drive to your computer or vice versa.

What Prevents Windows From Performing a Disc Check on this Volume Considering that it is a Write Protected Error?

It wouldn’t be inaccurate to say that everyone occasionally makes this error, which is typically brought on by —

• Your drive has write protection. The error will unavoidably appear due to restricted permissions if your drive is read-only.
• Drive damage. Your drive may occasionally become corrupted or damaged as a result of a bad system file that is stored on it.

You can use the remedies listed below to resolve your problem.

Solution 1: Use the Command Prompt to fix CHKDSK

It has been reported that the error was fixed by using a different chkdsk command, so let’s start with that. This was suggested by Microsoft Support, so it is unquestionably worthwhile to try. The action you must take is:

1. By pressing Winkey + X and choosing Command Prompt (Admin) from the list, you can launch an elevated command prompt.
2. When it appears, enter the following:
3. If drive D: is the problematic one, swap it out.

These are the meanings of the parameters:

The /f parameter looks for and attempts to fix any errors on your drive.

Your drive will be scanned for bad sectors and fixed using the /r parameter.

The /x parameter unmounts your drive, so even if it’s currently in use, it won’t be until the search is finished.

It is significant to note that some users claimed that their issue persisted even after attempting this; in that case, you must implement the other solutions listed below.

Solution 2: Alter the Attribute VIA the Registry.

Use the Windows Registry to try and remove the write protection if the Microsoft solution doesn’t work for you. Please make sure to carefully follow the instructions as mistakes in the Windows Registry can lead to serious problems. What you should do is:

1. Open Run by pressing Winkey + R.
2. Start regedit.
3. Paste the following into the address/location bar after the Windows Registry has opened:
4. Change the value of the “WriteProtect” key there from 1 to 0 by double-clicking it.

Here is a different approach to try if you can’t locate the StorageDevicePolicies folder in your Windows Registry:

1. Copy and paste the url below into the address bar:

HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SYSTEM\ CurrentControlSet\Control

2. Right-click in the middle pane and choose New > Key.
3. A new folder with the name “StorageDevicePolicies” will be created. Don’t type the name incorrectly, please.
4. After that, select the newly created folder and choose DWORD (32-bit) Value from the context menu of the middle pane.
5. Give it the name WriteProtect and a value of 0.

Solution 3: Utilizing DiskPart

Use the command-line tool DiskPart to divide your drive into partitions. It can also be used to modify a drive’s attributes, which is what we’ll do in this case. This is how to apply it:

1. Launch the Start Menu by typing “diskpart,” then click “Open.”
2. When the utility has loaded, enter:

Volume

3. List. Once your hard drive’s volumes are listed, enter the following:

Choose Volume #

4. You must substitute the drive alphabet for #.
5. After that, enter the information below:

Features Disk explicit readonly

6. Watch for it to finish.

Solution 4: Checking Your Drive for Corruption

Scan your drive for corrupted files, which are one of the causes of the error as a last resort, to resolve it. This is how you do it:

1. Launch “This PC.”
2. Click the Properties menu from the context menu of the broken drive.
3. Go to the Tools tab now.
4. When you get there, select “Check.”
5. If a UAC dialogue box appears and asks you a question, choose Yes.
6. Hold off until the scan is finished.