Reuse the Flash Drive Media

[sbrusco]

Hi All,

I generally keep the media for the previous release when the new release comes, and destroy the media for the release two releases old. I now find it hard to destrop the flash drives PDS and BDS come on, just because i would like to reuse them. I understand they are write protected and for good reason but it would break my heart if i had to take a hammer to them just to protect my company's EULA with Autodesk.

Is there any way to remove the write protection so i can make use of this otherwise useful tool?

TIA

Sal

[sbrusco]

I know about OCD. I have CDO, which is very similar except that the letters are in alphabetical order, as they should be.

[danielw88]

I've been saving these memory sticks since 2012 in the hopes that i will one day get around to wiping them for other use. 

[sbrusco · Accepted solution]

Hi -niels-

Thanks for the link. It led me to this link which i used to format the autodesk flash drives.

http://irevit.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/what-revit-wants-repurposing-autodesk.html

HTH everyone.

Sal

[ampster40]

I wonder if the write protection is to help protect their IP?

Let's say we did have the ability to write to those USB pens...someone copies off the installation files and modifies them with ill-intent and then reloads or copies it back onto the USB pen.

Sure, they may not want us to reuse them (why I wouldn't know) but I bet the main reason is to protect Adesk.

[dgorsman]

That was my thinking.  Even simpler, somebody gibbles the content then sells it - the purchaser will now complain loudly that AutoDesk products are garbage.  Given how quickly a bad experience can blow up, regardless of whether AutoDesk is at fault or not, even a minor roadblock is a good idea.

[TravisNave]

Has anybody been successful with the USB 3.0 media from the 2015 and newer keys? 

Thanks.

[JamesLovell]

I managed to do a 2015 key last year but I'm unable to do it on the 2016 Key i have.

[TravisNave]

Did you use anything different or just the same software that always
worked? Just wondering if there is a new trick to some of these newer keys.

[JamesLovell]

I think i used Phison MPALL v3.63.00 but i cant find any other useful info.... it was a 32GB APDS stick

Maybe i used the attached .ini file.... not 100% though, was dated as modified 24/04/2015 on my computer.

[da-rickmeister]

Aloha all,

I just received my building design suite premium USB key and went through the process of formatting it a few minutes ago.

Off the top of my head, while the MPALL programs run in Windows 10, they don't actually "work" (at least they didn't for me, Win 10 Pro x64 here). Using a Windows 7 laptop, running MPALL_F1_0702_v363_00.exe did NOT work with my new key, however using a newer version (MPALL_F1_7F00_DL07_v503_0A.exe) DID work, and I manually went through and adjusted the settings to disable the R/W Protection (it's fairly easy).

The USB key IC type was "PS2251-03".

Hope this helps anyone else looking to repurpose the included USB drive.

EDIT: I had a Toshiba based USB drive.

[TravisNave]

@da-rickmeister,

Which release year of the Building Design Suite did you format? 

[da-rickmeister]

2017.

And how do I change the name from "support" to something else?

[TravisNave]

You might be able to change your name under your Accounts.

Also, would you be so kind as to upload your .ini file that you used to
format your 2017 key?

Thanks.

[reglos.regine36686]

is there any detailed instruction for repurposing IDSU 2015?

the one in irevit.com is quite confusing.

all i could do is reformat the flash drive using formatter, then after i unplug and replug it in my pc, it becomes write-protected again

[reglos.regine36686]

i tried every method in the blog post at whatrevitwants.blogspot.com, even those at the comments section, but to no avail.

all mpall versions couldn't detect my 32gb bdsp 2015.

here is a screenshot of some info about the drive

any info on how i can repurpose this drive would be really appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Hi guys, I had the same issue with my autodesk 2015 usb3.0 drive. Got it to work with this burner and firmware. Hope it help! https://www.pentestingshop.com/recover-a-usb-stick/

[Anonymous]

hayır olmadı .sizin bilginiz varsa yardım edermisiniz.

[Anonymous]

Reglos.regine, I had the same problem, the USB was not detected when I plugged into a USB3.0 port but detected on a USB2.0 port.
I do not remember exactly how I did it, but try to plug it into a USB 2.0 port, and then (if the key is detected) plug it into a USB3.0 port just before starting the process.
It worked that way for me

The Whatrevitwants blog has been removed and I have one more key left to unlock, does anyone know where to find the procedure?

[Anonymous]

sir / madam, 

i have autodesk usb drive fully loaded of autodesk software and provided by autodesk company, now i want to format it for general purpose pen drive , but it shows write protected, please help me.

regards

ranjan

astaberry@gmail.com

[karthur1]

It does appear that the page with the instructions has been taken down for some reason. Luckily, I had have a hard copy of those instructions.

See attached.

Kirk