Read only Hi, I have an Olympus DM-20 and I have problems with it because is locked. Everytime I try to record I receive the read only message and the hold button in down.

To format you need to hold the display/menu button down for a minute then a menu appears scroll down using FF till you get format then hit play and you will be gided from there
not difficult but impossible to guess
thanks to other guys

Thanks so much- I have been trying to unlock my Olympus DM20 for ages and you have finally solved it! Bit of a mystery why it happens.. 

Hi all,
my DM-20 was also locked, after using it for 1 year (I could only play FILES). From Google I found this site. My PC let me copy the files, but not erase them...fine. Than I FORMAT the DM-20 by pressing the MENU button for 1 second, etc... See page 92 of the DM20-instruction-manual.pdf
It seems that some people cannot select FORMAT from the MENU. I do not know about this problem. I did not have this problem. It worked for me. Thanks

I have this same problem but when i tried to transfer the files it wouldnt let me and said they were protected. i now cant use this dictaphone and need some help to solve the problem! many thanks.

Hello,

I have just sorted out the same problem.

If you have any recordings on the machine, please transfer them to the PC and then FORMAT the recorder. In the MENU you will have the option for FORMAT.