USB drive shows as CD

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fearandloathing

504 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#2271675 8-Jul-2019 10:27

What are the files? Some USB sticks contain software for managing the USB key. These partitions typically show as a CD-ROM drive.

peejayw

1841 posts

Uber Geek

#2271714 8-Jul-2019 10:33

They are commercial PDF's. I imagine they have been set up like this to avoid accidental wiping.

I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now.

tripper1000

1617 posts

Uber Geek

#2271767 8-Jul-2019 11:37

Asking a potentially silly question, but has the USB drive given you any messages about imminent failure?

I've seen USB sticks go into a read-only mode when they are failing/worn out. This is so you can recover your files, but prevents you from being silly and putting files on an unsound drive. it also prevents inducing further write-wear. I just can't remember if they start looking like a CD when they do this.

peejayw

1841 posts

Uber Geek

#2271769 8-Jul-2019 11:41

No, nothing like that. All the drives are the same so I am pretty sure its a way to prevent accidental deletion, I am guessing by setting a read-only bit somewhere.

I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now.

phantomdb

583 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#2271936 8-Jul-2019 16:50

Maybe of interest, https://bjheins.wordpress.com/2015/06/17/how-to-remove-cdfs-partition-from-usb-thumb-drive/

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peejayw

1841 posts

Uber Geek

#2271957 8-Jul-2019 17:58

Thanks for that, disappeared down a bit of a rabbit hole so I have decided to hand the drive back to its owner, just getting too complicated for my brain.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions tho.

I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now.

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