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How To: Make a USB Read Only

There are two ways to make a USB stick read only. One method will make the USB read-only in anything it is connected to, so you could say this is a universal way of making a flash drive write protected.

The other way is a PC specific solution where some registry edits are required to any computer the USB flash drive is connected to.

When we say 100% permanent, this means the USB stick is read only (write protected) on all devices, whether it be computers like a Mac, Windows PC, Linux box or non-processor based products like a car stereo. This permanent solution also means the status of the drive cannot be changed. The other method flags a USB device to be read only in relationship to the PC it is connected to so that whenever that USB stick is connected to that computer, it makes the USB read only and blocks all write commands to the device.

Most times an IT manager or content owner wants the USB stick to be read only so the files cannot be deleted or formatted off the drive. Another reason for making a USB read only is for the original files to remain the same and blocks the ability for files to be changed or manipulated. Finally, it’s smart to have USBs read only so that virus’ don’t jump onto the drive and possibly spread to other computers.

Let us start with the less permanent way because it’s easier to do and doesn’t require any specific hardware.

You will need a Windows7 machine or higher. The Windows7 machine will have DiskPart utility which allows us to perform all sorts of cool things to flash drives, like setting write protection.

  • Connect the USB to your Windows computer.
  • To begin, go to your Windows Start and in the Search Field type cmd
command prompt to make USB read only

This will run your Command prompt.

  • Next, you will want to get to the C root of the Command prompt and if you are signed in as a user you can simply type cd\ this will get you back to the root of the C drive.
  • Type DISKPART
  • Type LIST DISK

Now you will need to find the USB stick connected to your PC. Most likely it’s DISK 1

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Video: USB Inkjet Printer for USB Swivel Drives by Nexcopy

USB Flash Drive Printer

UPDATE: The Nexcopy USB Flash Drive Printer has been updated to a 40 up print unit. Nexcopy reached out and informed our team the USB7P printer has been replaced with the LOGO-EZ PRINTER. The new design includes a 100% customized print tray to secure hold the USB flash drives in place during print. Price starts around $3,500

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The following information is related to a depreciated version of the USB Flash Drive Printer from Nexcopy. For current information please visit their product page (link at bottom of article)

Nexcopy introduces the USB Clip Printer – a full color, inkjet printer that brings vibrant custom logos and graphics to any standard USB swivel drive and its all available from your desktop.

The USB7P was engineered to address full color printing to USB flash drives at an affordable price. The idea is simple. Using the body of the standards swivel drive you swap the metal clip from your supplier for the inkjet printable clip from Nexcopy. Now, with an inkjet printable clip you can print full color images, on both sides of the clip, from any jpeg image. The results are fantastic. The print is durable and the print is highly

water resistant. Nexcopy has really pieced together a great solution whereby the user can buy memory from their favorite supplier while still having in-house, full color printing.

The USB7P is a full color inkjet printer based on HP technology. With HP™s proven technology the USB7P can print over 11 million colors with very accurate PMS color matching. The USB7P can print seven USB clips of the same image or seven unique images. Full color printing is done in about 35 seconds. Black logo printing is less than 20 seconds. With the intuitive and user friendly PC based software you will be printing crisp, high quality images in no time.

The process is simple. It begins with installing the USB7P software, drivers and preparing the printer to accept a project by making sure it’s properly connected and aligned for the 7 slot clip printer tray.

Using either bitmap or jpeg images you can quickly and easily import and align your images to the seven inkjet printable clips.

The USB7P uses an on-board camera to easily size and align your image to the size and position of the clips. This exclusive camera feature makes the pre-print process a breeze.

Again, it takes less than 35 seconds to print a complete set of 7 clips. As they emerge from the printer, the clips are instantly dry and highly water-resistant, making it a perfect solution for quick-turn USB branding jobs.

Since the clips can be printed on both sides, flip the clips around in the clip printer tray and return to the software for easily printing on the reverse side. No drying time is necessary.

Source: Nexcopy Inc., Newsroom

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Nexcopy Introduces USB Flash Drive Printer

USB Flash Drive Printer

UPDATE: The Nexcopy USB Flash Drive Printer has been updated to a 40 up print unit. Nexcopy reached out and informed our team the USB7P printer has been replaced with the LOGO-EZ PRINTER. The new design includes a 100% customized print tray to secure hold the USB flash drives in place during print. Price starts around $3,500

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Press Release:

Lake Forest, CA — Jun 11, 2014 — Nexcopy Inc., launches an all new inkjet printer for printing to USB flash drives. The USB Flash Drive Printer is capable of printing full color logos on USB clips used with the popular USB swivel styled drive. The USB Flash Drive Printer is targeted for small business, marketing firms and promotional companies where quick turn, full color printing is beneficial for customer service and product sales.

Using the Nexcopy seven slot USB Flash Drive Printer and Nexcopy inkjet printable clips, quickly and easily print full color logos in about 35 seconds.

  • Print from common jpeg and bmp files
  • Print 7 identical images or 7 different images with Nexcopy print software
  • USB clips are print ready on top and bottom
  • USB clips are available in a smooth, white, matte finish
  • Ideal for one-off samples or short and medium size print jobs
  • Printed images are instantly dry, highly water resistant and durable from scratching
  • Inkjet printable USB clips compatible with nearly all swivel USB drive styles

“The USB Flash Drive Printer is an exciting product for Nexcopy to release,” says Greg Morris, President of Nexcopy Inc. “The USB7P opens doors for branding to flash drives the industry has never seen before. The printer has an aggressive price point which provides marketing firms and promotional companies a real in-house option for full color printing to USB flash memory.”

printable USB clips

USB Flash Drive Printer

The USB7P is based off Hewlett Packard inkjet print technology. Hewlett Packard print technology is known for exceptional print quality and ability to closely match pantone colors when images are sent to print. Testing has shown the USB Flash Drive Printer can print seven full color images in about 35 seconds. Print speed can improve with the quickest time being around 15 seconds for seven clips while printing a black only logo.

The USB Flash Drive Printer gives small business a cost advantage because with an in-house print solution, there is no shipping fees associated with sending USB media to a print house. No screen costs or setup fees to pay and the per-print run cost is significantly lower than from a print shop.” Morris continues, “The USB7P is extremely easy to use. Our Resellers have pulled company logos off their client’s website, printed the image to a USB clip and it looks fantastic. The customer received their sample the following day and the client booked a large flash drive order. These are the types of examples we hope business consider when thinking about the purchase of our USB Flash Drive Printer.”

The USB7P weighs 11 pounds/5kgs with physical size of: 18 x 11.5 x 10.5 (inches) or 452 x 286 x 267 (mm). The clip printer ships with an external power block and power cord for both 110 and 220 power. The printer is based off HP print technology and uses a CMY ink cartridge and black ink cartridge. One of each cartridge and 20 clips ship with purchase of the printer. The USB7P will hold seven USB clips and print seven of the same image or seven different images at the same time. The USB7P has an MSRP of $1,799. “USB Flash Drive Printer” is a trademark of Nexcopy Inc.

Images for Nexcopy’s USB Flash Drive Printer USB7P:

Product Page: https://www.nexcopy.com/usb-clip-printer/
Printer image: https://www.nexcopy.com/downloads/usb7p.jpg
USB clip samples: https://www.nexcopy.com/downloads/usb7p_tray.jpg
USB7P data sheet: https://www.nexcopy.com/downloads/USB7P.pdf

Nexcopy’s complete line of USB Duplicators, CF Duplicators, SD Duplicators and microSD Duplicators are available through a world-wide network of authorized resellers.

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About Nexcopy Incorporated:

Nexcopy Incorporated specializes in developing and manufacturing the finest and most feature rich flash memory duplicators in the market. Pioneering the solid-state memory duplication market, Nexcopy supplies Central and South America, Europe, India, Asia, Pacific Rim and serves the U.S. market through its U.S. headquarters at: 13 Orchard Road Suite 102, Lake Forest, CA 92630.

Nexcopy Incorporated
Mr. Greg Morris
+1 949 481 6478
contact @ nexcopy.com
https://www.nexcopy.com

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Nexcopy Adds New Standalone SD Duplicators With SD Card Sanitization Features

SD duplicator, stand-alone Press Release:  Lake Forest, CA – November 5, 2013 – Nexcopy Inc., a leading manufacturer and developer of flash memory duplicators, introduces two new standalone SD Duplicator models to Nexcopy’s line of flash memory duplicators and sanitizers.  The 1-15 and 1-31 target systems offer unparalleled copy speeds to Secure Digital media with additional functions for device sanitization. Sanitization features available by the new Nexcopy SD Duplicators include full binary overwrite feature in both single pass and triple pass random write sequencing.  The proprietary triple pass overwrite method developed by Nexcopy insures all data of a secure digital card cannot be recovered or restored through forensic process. These new standalone SD duplicators by Nexcopy can sanitize multiple devices simultaneously saving IT professionals valuable time in flash memory management.  Core functions of these new systems include the binary copy process used in the popular Nexcopy USB duplicators systems.  Binary copy modes include the ability to copy bootable SD media, FAT, FAT32, NTFS, ext2, ext3, ext4 and any other file format system, proprietary or public. “Pivoting from our core binary copy firmware, Nexcopy expands our technology to include Continue Reading

(Infograph) History of Portable Storage Devices

The history of portable storage is an interesting one and starts earlier then you probably think.  Starting in 1928 the punch card is what started it all.  Like the punch music you probably remember on your grandmothers piano where the piano played automatically from the punch roll.

(Infograph) History of Portable Storage Devices

History of Portable Storage (Infograph) An infographic by the team at History of Portable Storage (Infograph)

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Protecting IP on USB

The above InfoGraph was provided by Nexcopy Company and highlights the current and services available for protecting intellectual property on USB flash media, or USB Copy Protection.  The concept behind this USB copy protection solution is the ability to share digital files on a flash drive with others, but restrict their ability to pass along that information. With the above solution a user can protect different file types which are the most popular multimedia files such as PDF, MP3, QuickTime, MP4, M4V, html, flash and some other listed.  This post is not intended as advertising, but a share of products and services about USB copy protection available on the market today. Continue Reading

CF Duplicator by Nexcopy, Press Release

PRESS RELEASE:

CF Duplicator, NexcopyLAKE FOREST, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nexcopy Inc., a leading manufacturer in USB Duplicator solutions, announces their all new CF Duplicator system for data loading to Compact Flash cards.

  • CF Duplicator with all new design
  • Deep CF sockets with guides for easy insert and removal
  • CF Duplicator available in 15, 30 and 45 target systems
  • Powerful duplicator software with many advanced features
  • Unique data may be copied to each card

Nexcopy is announcing the all new design of our CF Duplicator solutions. These robust and reliable CF duplicator systems are available in 15 socket, 30 socket and 45 socket configurations.

The new CF Duplicators by Nexcopy are designed with functionality and ergonomics in mind. With top loading CF sockets in combination with deep rail guides to easily insert and remove CF media the new system will virtually eliminate bent pins from high volume duplication of CF media.

“Coupling the power of Nexcopy’s Drive Manager software and the new CF duplicator design our system can handle any configuration requirement by contract manufacturers or fulfillment houses,” reports Greg Morris, President of Nexcopy. “The system is PC based and provides tools such as duplication from IMG files, unique data streaming to each socket, network connectivity and rich Graphical User Interface for performance feedback and log reporting.”

CompactFlash (CF) cards are primarily used for storing digital data in a wide range of devices, especially those that require high-capacity and high-performance storage solutions. While their popularity has somewhat waned with the emergence of other storage formats like SD cards and SSDs, CF cards are still utilized in various applications, including:

Video Cameras and Camcorders: CF cards are commonly used in professional video cameras and camcorders for recording high-quality video footage. Their fast data transfer rates and reliability make them ideal for capturing high-definition video in demanding production environments.

Embedded Systems and Industrial Applications: CF cards are frequently used in embedded systems, industrial computers, and electronic devices that require rugged and reliable storage solutions. Their durability, high storage capacities, and resistance to shock, vibration, and extreme temperatures make them suitable for use in harsh operating environments.

Data Storage and Transfer: CF cards are also used for general-purpose data storage and transfer in various devices, including computers, laptops, digital audio recorders, and handheld devices. They can be used to store documents, music, videos, software, and other digital files.

Gaming Consoles and Arcade Machines: CF cards have been used in some gaming consoles, arcade machines, and gaming peripherals for storing game data, firmware updates, and other content. While not as common as other storage formats like SD cards or internal storage, CF cards have found niche applications in certain gaming systems.

Medical Devices and Equipment: CF cards are sometimes used in medical devices and equipment, such as medical imaging devices, patient monitoring systems, and diagnostic equipment. Their reliability, compatibility, and storage capacity make them suitable for storing medical data and images.

Data Recovery and Forensics: CF cards are sometimes used in data recovery and forensic applications, where they may be used to recover data from damaged or corrupted storage media, analyze digital evidence, or perform forensic investigations.

All CF duplicators by Nexcopy can copy from an archive IMG file, from a physical master device and include binary bit by bit verification functions. These systems are ideal for bootable CF cards. The new CF Duplicators by Nexcopy Incorporated are available for immediate purchase with a starting price of $1,299 US dollars.

Source:   Business Wire.

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USB Copy Protection by Nexcopy

Nexcopy has released a USB Copy Protection solution for those who need to share files, but without giving the “receiver” full ability to copy and re-distribute. The great thing about a USB flash drive is file sharing.  They are great for copy and saving and taking files on the road.  This same convenience factor also makes it very difficult to have Digital Rights Management as well.  With Nexcopy’s USB Copy Protection, it’s not difficult any longer! First, lets explain the difference between write protection and USB copy protection.  Some thing it’s the same, but it’s not. USB write protection [also called data lock] means the files cannot be deleted off the drive…it also means files cannot be added to the drive.  But you can still copy the files off the drive to your desktop or hard drive. USB copy protection provides the same functionality as write protection, but in addition, does not allow Continue Reading

How To: Read and Write CID on SD cards

How To:  Read CID on SD card

How To Read CID on SD card

If you are looking to read the CID number of an SD card, or extract the CID off an SD card then you’ve find this article very helpful.  Some also call this “reading the PSN off the SD card” or reading the product serial number off the SD card.

UPDATE (Feb 16, 2023):

We learned the company which manufactures this product now offers the ability to write the CID value as well as write protect the Secure Digital media.

Most phones and much of the software on phones will lock in to the CID number of a SD card.  The CID number is a unique card identifier number that is unique to the card itself.  The CID number is valuable because software developers and hardware developers can lock software to the unique number of the device thus eliminating the ability to pass along licensed software.

Reading the CID number from an SD card is not an easy task.  It requires specific access codes to the index table of the memory card, and unless you know how to use the SD chipset of your card reader, chances are you wont get the number…or least the correct and accurate number.

What is the CID number of an SD card?

The CID register is 16 bytes long and contains a unique card identification number. It is programmed during card manufacturing and cannot be changed by SD Card hosts.  The CID number is a compilation of information about the card, such as manufacturer, date manufactured, checksum total, GB size and more.  Below is a table outlining all the items which make up the SD CID number.

So with all this said, how do you read the CID number from an SD card?  As we’ve mentioned it isn’t easy and it’s [more or less] hardware based.  If you do enough searching on the internet you’ll find some home-brew code to read the CID numbers, but that’s only if you have the SD card or microSD card connected via an IDE bus to your host computer.  This isn’t easy for everyone.  There is clear evidence that using a USB to SD card reader will not get you the information you require, or at least accurate and correct information.  Meaning most times the CID number generated is actually the serial number of the card reader itself, not the CID number of a specific SD card.

In addition, what if you are required to read the CID number off SD media in bulk?  A single, one-at-a-time solution is not practical.

In my search to read the CID number from SD media, I cam across Nexcopy – a manufacturer of USB duplicator equipment and other flash memory equipment.  Several models they carry are SD duplicators and microSD duplicators.  With the secure digital duplicators part of their feature set includes reading CID numbers from SD media.  The equipment can ready 20 cards at a time, 40 cards at a time, or 60 cards at a time, depending on the model.  The duplicators will read the CID number and exported to a .csv file for import into other business functions.  This configuration makes it quick and easy to obtain the CID number.  Granted, the equipment is not designed for single use operation, but rather reading the CID of SD media in bulk quantity.  Here is a screenshot of Nexcopy’s software reading 20 CID numbers:

I didn’t contact Nexcopy Incorporated for pricing of the equipment, but doing a quick search for the equipment shows me a price of about $1k for the smallest 20 target system and $3k for the largest, 60 target system.

With all this said, there is still no clear-cut method to read CID numbers off SD cards for the home-user, but maybe this article will at least explain why you haven’t found a good solution as of yet.

The CID (Card Identification) number is a unique identifier that is assigned to each Secure Digital (SD) card. The CID number is a 16-byte value that is used by the SD card host device to identify the SD card and to determine its capabilities.

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Review: Nexcopy 3.0 USB Duplicator

Review: Nexcopy 3.0 USB Duplicator

EverythingUSB posted a review of the Nexcopy 3.0 USB Duplicator with a bunch of “thumbs up” marks.  Lets take a closer look. As far as USB duplicators go, the Nexcopy SSUSB160PC is actually pretty stylish. Its form certainly flows from its function, but Nexcopy has made it to look in a German engineered car sort of way. Because of this form from function design, it is rather rectangular with flat boxy sides. However, Nexcopy did add in some flare where they could. For example, having the top slope downwards from back to front does give it a more aggressive styling. This dash of styling does makes it even more functional as sticking in the 16 flash drives into the 16 USB 3.0 ports on that self same top is actually easier when they are slightly offset in the vertical plane. It’s also a lot easier to check all 32 status lights for the 16 ports (red for bad, green for good). Where the Nexcopy USB 3.0 duplicator is a serious tool meant for serious work, there is no plastic fascia to be found anywhere. It is made from metal and metal only. Once again, Nexcopy did manage to sneak in some pizazz by having the front’s company logo be CnC’ed milled out. This allows air to be sucked in from the front (as well as the sides through copious amounts of air holes), flow over the internals and then be exhausted out the back of the case via the rear fan. This is a great example of form and function done properly. I first made an image file of my minted Windows 7 64-bit installation flash drive using the included basic software. (As a note, professional version or upgraded version of the software includes the ability to write protect drives, partition drives or set them as USB CD-ROM devices.) When that was completed, I setup a new batch job; pointed the software at the location of the newly created .IMG file on my hard drive; and then took Continue Reading

Nexcopy First To Market With SuperSpeed USB Duplicator

It’s clear USB 3.0 is coming.  It’s an unstoppable train which is building momentum with each new day and each new product launch.  Millions of PC and peripherals will ship this year with the USB 3.0 SuperSpeed bus interface.  With that said, it’s no wonder the timing of the Nexcopy SuperSpeed USB duplicator couldn’t be at a better moment.  Now it’s possible for users to manage these new peripherals without using legacy 2.0 products. The SSUSB160PC is a 16 target USB duplicator which works off the USB 3.0 technology.  What you need to remember is that a USB 2.0 stick won’t jump to the 3.0 speed just because it’s a new interface.  Fortunately, the 3.0 system will easily handle 3.0 hard drives, which seem to be the most prevalent in the market, as well as 3.0 flash drives which are just starting to show as mainstream. The SSUSB160PC is a slick looking product with a light weight aluminum body making it ideal for on-site duplication and data loading.  The USB duplicator has a built in 120 watt power supply and will copy at your devices maximum transfer rate.  For some ideas, it’s reported by Nexcopy that 32GBs of data can copy in about 6 minutes. We’ve reported on other products from Nexcopy Corporation – maybe it time I request an evaluation unit…some glamor shots after the jump… Continue Reading

Nexcopy’s Standalone USB Duplicator at 30MB Per Second

We’ve reported about Nexcopy several times before, ranging from their USB duplicators to SD and Compact Flash duplicators, and today we are here to tell you about the Nexcopy standalone USB duplicator.

Nexcopy, Standalone USB duplicator

With flash drives getting bigger in capacity and cheaper in price, it’s natural to think data loads are getting bigger too.  Several years ago, it was common to put a PowerPoint or PDF of a trade show swag USB, but today, with the popularity of YouTube and the ease to make video, the promotional content is getting much bigger.  The Nexcopy standalone USB duplicator copies at a maximum speed of 30MB per second, that’s about 1800MB per minute.  Granted you wont get that data transfer from a typical trade show flash drive, but with more advanced USB sticks it’s definitely possible. The Nexcopy standalone USB duplicator family comes in two sizes.  There is a 16 port system and a 32 port system.  Each system loses one port for the master device and I figure this is why the Nexcopy part numbers are USB115SA and USB131SA…as that’s 1 master to X number of blanks. We couldn’t find a price on the Nexcopy website as the products are only sold through authorized dealers.  Release date of the new USB duplicator systems is the first week of September 2010. To find out more about the standalone USB duplicators, visit the Nexcopy site. Source:  EverythingUSB.com. Continue Reading

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