Just rescued my write-protected USB flash drive

I bought my Apacer Handy Steno HT202 256MB around 2 years ago. But in the last 2-3 days, I cannot make any modification to the file on it. Windows XP keeps telling me the same message about write-protected things. I am pretty sure that there is no thing such as write-protected switch or hold switch on my model.

After a long research over the internet, I found that many people experienced this same problem too. Some of them resurrect their devices by reformatting it in Linux. Some of them do a low-level format using a program named OnBelay. But neither of above methods work for me. Linux told me the same message as in Windows XP (the drive is write-protected blah blah). And OnBelay told me that my model does not support low-level formatting.

So I decided to go out and buy a new one. I bought Apacer Handy Steno HA202 1GB (Apacer again?). I just like its "never losing the cap" design :) USB flash drives are incredibly cheap these days.

When I arrived home, I decided to write to Apacer's tech support about my issue. Not really hope that they could fix my problem because I heard from many places before that tech supports in big companies are useless.

It takes not so long for them to answer my email (less than 10 hours). I am really impressed! And the support give me a link to download a program which can do a low-level format on my HT202. I hurriedly download and try it. My HT202's light flashes for a few minutes. All my data is erased. I try copying a file on to it and it works !!!!

Hope this can help people who is experiencing the same problem :)
Big thanks to Apacer's tech support team!!!

ps I am not sure if I can redistribute the low-level format program here so you, who have the same problem, should write to tech support team yourself. Apacer's web site address is http://www.apacer.com

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