Retail Windows usb drives
Since the release of Windows 10, Microsoft has sold usb drives with an installer preloaded.[1] They are deeply write protected, and have no official way to be formatted and reused for anything other than the manufacturing year’s Windows installer.
Retail Windows usb drives
| Basic Information | |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2015 |
| Product Type | Hardware and software |
| In Production | Yes |
| Official Website | https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/windows-11-home/dg7gmgf0krt0 |
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.
Microsoft has undoubtedly sold millions of non-rewritable Windows USB drives, creating needless e-waste.
Shortly after purchasing these drives, people turned to forums seeking help, unable to write to them no matter what they tried.[2]
References
- ↑ Shilov, Anton (5 Sep 2015). "Microsoft begins to sell Windows 10 on USB flash drives". KitGuru. Retrieved 27 Mar 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Weisshar, Keith (8 Aug 2015). "Windows 10 Retail USB Drive". Windows Ten Forums. Retrieved 27 Mar 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)