USB read-write issue

Asked by David Hartung

Because I work on several different machines, I have my personal data files set up on a usb "jump drive". This morning the drive appears to have become read-only.

I am using 16.04 LTS on a new (less than two week old) Lenovo-Z50-75.

when I check the drive's properties, it shows that I have access to read and write, but when I check the "disks" utility it shows the drive to be read-only. This may be a lack of my familiarity with the Ubuntu gui system, but I cannot figure out how to change this. Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks!

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David Hartung (david-lemagroup) said :
#1

By the way, this Jump drive now shows as read-only when used on more than one machine.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#2

What file system is being used on the drive ?
When you want to unplug it physically, do you use the safe remove feature in the OS beforehand?

Thanks

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David Hartung (david-lemagroup) said :
#3

The file system is MSDOS.

Normally when I unplug the drive, I either use the eject button or the safely remove button. This morning when I checked my email, Thunderbird locked up (the client files are on the jump drive). I tried to force close Thunderbird, and even though the icon disappeared, Ubuntu said that Thunderbird was still open. I then rebooted the entire machine, leaving the jump drive in the USB slot.

When the machine finished booting (which took longer than normal), I found that the jump drive was in read only mode.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#4

Do you plug the device into Windows systems?

If so, you can run a chkdsk on the file system to make sure the file system is considered

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David Hartung (david-lemagroup) said :
#5

Sorry, I have no operating windows computer in the house.

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Bashing-om (bashing-om) said :
#6

David; Hello

If the problem with the USB drive is only a "dirty bit" set then the linux command:
sudo ntfsfix /dev/sdXY
( where X is the drive number - a,b.c, ect .. and Y is the partition number -
- sudo blkid to know the device ID
- sdc1 as an example
May prove effective .
If the file system is really messed up then it is a job for Windows .

-we can try-

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#7

What is the output of:

parted -l

I can give a command to check the file system in Linux

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Launchpad Janitor (janitor) said :
#8

This question was expired because it remained in the 'Needs information' state without activity for the last 15 days.