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Computer Help and Support

Mnpaul

(3,655 posts)

7. SD cards are not actually hardware protected

Reply to eppur_se_muova (Reply #6)

Sat Apr 4, 2015, 03:38 PM

Apr 2015

SD Cards, while they have a write-protect switch, are actually no good for this purpose because it’s not actually hardware write protection – at best the card reader sends a signal to the operating system that the drive should be treated as read-only. The write-protect switch on the cards is read by a sensor that’s part of the card reader, and the card reader then passes along to the operating system whether the card is read-only.
http://www.fencepost.net/2010/03/usb-flash-drives-with-hardware-write-protection/

The same page does have a list of hardware protected USB drives

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USB flash drives -- can they be physically 'locked' to be non-rewritable ? [View all] eppur_se_muova Apr 2015 OP

Some have sliding locks on them that make them write protected. liberal N proud Apr 2015 #1

Thanks, I have not seen those yet. eppur_se_muova Apr 2015 #5

You can get an SD card (those have a write-protection switch) PoliticAverse Apr 2015 #2

I have some MicroSD cards - I don't see anything like a switch on them. eppur_se_muova Apr 2015 #6

SD cards are not actually hardware protected Mnpaul Apr 2015 #7

Now THAT'S what I was looking for ! Thanks a bunch ! nt eppur_se_muova Apr 2015 #8

To make a USB removable drive read-only, in Windows... ChromeFoundry Apr 2015 #3

I already know about that. I want a HARDWARE disable ... eppur_se_muova Apr 2015 #4

Unless it has a switch, cannot be done ChromeFoundry Apr 2015 #9

Maybe something like cstanleytech Apr 2015 #10

Yep, that's it. Apparently switches used to be more common when flash drives first came out ... eppur_se_muova Apr 2015 #11