Retail Windows usb drives: Difference between revisions

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==Controversy==

These drives are artificially unwritable, preventing expected reuse from a USB flash drive. There is no indication on the '''Windows 11 22H2 USB drive box exterior''' that it is not rewritable.

While Microsoft’s website prices a regular windows 11 key the same as a usb drive and key some jurisdictions add environmental taxes to electronics so consumers in some areas are paying extra expecting a useful usb drive but not getting the full functionality.

Microsoft has undoubtedly sold millions of non-rewritable Windows USB drives, creating needless e-waste.

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==An untrustworthy solution==

By late 2016 <ref>http://www.techunboxed.com/2016/09/how-to-disable-write-protection-on-dell.html</ref> equally locked down oem windows recovery usb drives were noted to be using Phison controllers which a proprietary program for Windows called Phison MPALL can low level format into a writeable state. Same goes for the retail installer drives (subject to change. An incompatibly new Phison part can be made and put in the drives or a different manufacturer’s drives can be used.)

By late 2016,<ref>http://www.techunboxed.com/2016/09/how-to-disable-write-protection-on-dell.html</ref> equally locked down oem windows recovery usb drives were noted to be using Phison controllers which a proprietary program for Windows called Phison MPALL can low level format into a writeable state. Same goes for the retail installer drives (subject to change. An incompatibly new Phison part can be made and put in the drives or a different manufacturer’s drives can be used.)

Since '''Phison’s website does not distribute nor mention the program at all''' there’s no way to know for sure that an unofficially redistributed version doesn’t have malware packed in or even if Phison made the software. Try to be very careful using MPALL at your own risk on a device with no sensitive data, and no passwords saved including Microsoft accounts (fresh install with a local account workaround) and fresh install windows again / wipe the main drive when finished with MPALL because some malware scan sites claim it installs a driver <ref>https://any.run/report/9670e21a30a78af57e5c4b4a702da1e8e8bf587cbc66a837b9e172f3b1a1182b/3fee59f4-c6ab-4cd1-88cc-bf433869f4b5</ref>

Since '''Phison’s website does not distribute nor mention the program at all''' there’s no way to know for sure that an unofficially redistributed version doesn’t have malware packed in or even if Phison made the software. Try to be very careful using MPALL at your own risk on a device with no sensitive data, and no passwords saved including Microsoft accounts (fresh install with a local account workaround) and fresh install windows again / wipe the main drive when finished with MPALL because some malware scan sites claim it installs a driver.<ref>https://any.run/report/9670e21a30a78af57e5c4b4a702da1e8e8bf587cbc66a837b9e172f3b1a1182b/3fee59f4-c6ab-4cd1-88cc-bf433869f4b5</ref>

It’s unofficial nature’s trust concerns aside Phison MPALL can brick the usb drive if GetInfo.exe’s (should be included with MPALL’s unofficial redistributions) part data doesn’t match what’s inputted into the low level formatting settings but it can also stall and fail for no apparent reason of user error (sometimes recoverable by un and re plugging the drive and pressing the update button to refresh the drive list before trying again with the same settings.) Each attempt can take more than an hour and a half. Don’t close MPALL or power off windows (be sure the windows idle power settings allow such a wait) during the low level formatting.

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 ==Controversy==
 These drives are artificially unwritable, preventing expected reuse from a USB flash drive. There is no indication on the '''Windows 11 22H2 USB drive box exterior''' that it is not rewritable.
-While Microsoft’s website prices a regular windows 11 key the same as a usb drive and key some jurisdictions add environmental taxes to electronics so consumers in some areas are paying extra expecting a useful usb drive but not getting the full functionality.
 Microsoft has undoubtedly sold millions of non-rewritable Windows USB drives, creating needless e-waste.
@@ Line 19: / Line 17: @@
 ==An untrustworthy solution==
-By late 2016 <ref>http://www.techunboxed.com/2016/09/how-to-disable-write-protection-on-dell.html</ref> equally locked down oem windows recovery usb drives were noted to be using Phison controllers which a proprietary program for Windows called Phison MPALL can low level format into a writeable state. Same goes for the retail installer drives (subject to change. An incompatibly new Phison part can be made and put in the drives or a different manufacturer’s drives can be used.)
+By late 2016,<ref>http://www.techunboxed.com/2016/09/how-to-disable-write-protection-on-dell.html</ref> equally locked down oem windows recovery usb drives were noted to be using Phison controllers which a proprietary program for Windows called Phison MPALL can low level format into a writeable state. Same goes for the retail installer drives (subject to change. An incompatibly new Phison part can be made and put in the drives or a different manufacturer’s drives can be used.)
-Since '''Phison’s website does not distribute nor mention the program at all''' there’s no way to know for sure that an unofficially redistributed version doesn’t have malware packed in or even if Phison made the software. Try to be very careful using MPALL at your own risk on a device with no sensitive data, and no passwords saved including Microsoft accounts (fresh install with a local account workaround) and fresh install windows again / wipe the main drive when finished with MPALL because some malware scan sites claim it installs a driver <ref>https://any.run/report/9670e21a30a78af57e5c4b4a702da1e8e8bf587cbc66a837b9e172f3b1a1182b/3fee59f4-c6ab-4cd1-88cc-bf433869f4b5</ref>
+Since '''Phison’s website does not distribute nor mention the program at all''' there’s no way to know for sure that an unofficially redistributed version doesn’t have malware packed in or even if Phison made the software. Try to be very careful using MPALL at your own risk on a device with no sensitive data, and no passwords saved including Microsoft accounts (fresh install with a local account workaround) and fresh install windows again / wipe the main drive when finished with MPALL because some malware scan sites claim it installs a driver.<ref>https://any.run/report/9670e21a30a78af57e5c4b4a702da1e8e8bf587cbc66a837b9e172f3b1a1182b/3fee59f4-c6ab-4cd1-88cc-bf433869f4b5</ref>
 It’s unofficial nature’s trust concerns aside Phison MPALL can brick the usb drive if GetInfo.exe’s (should be included with MPALL’s unofficial redistributions) part data doesn’t match what’s inputted into the low level formatting settings but it can also stall and fail for no apparent reason of user error (sometimes recoverable by un and re plugging the drive and pressing the update button to refresh the drive list before trying again with the same settings.) Each attempt can take more than an hour and a half. Don’t close MPALL or power off windows (be sure the windows idle power settings allow such a wait) during the low level formatting.