I have a Sony Vaio 4gb USB key and for some reason i can not open it or format it, i have tried to download a program to format, but it keeps telling me that the key is protected. please help me

Connect External USB keyboard and Mouse and use for a while.
If all keep working problem is likely with connectors or Motherboard

bootable USB guide, here we assume that you are using either Vista or Windows 7 to create a bootable USB.
1. Insert your USB (4GB+ preferable) stick to the system and backup all the data from the USB as we are going to format the USB to make it as bootable.
2. Open elevated Command Prompt. To do this, type in CMD in Start menu search field and hit Ctrl + Shift + Enter. Alternatively, navigate to Start > All programs >Accessories > right click on Command Prompt and select run as administrator.
3. When the Command Prompt opens, enter the following command:
DISKPART and hit enter.
LIST DISK and hit enter.
Once you enter the LIST DISK command, it will show the disk number of your USB drive. In the below image my USB drive disk no is Disk 1.
4. In this step you need to enter all the below commands one by one and hit enter. As these commands are self explanatory, you can easily guess what these commands do.
SELECT DISK 1 (Replace DISK 1 with your disk number)
CLEAN
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
SELECT PARTITION 1
ACTIVE
FORMAT FS=NTFS
(Format process may take few seconds)
ASSIGN
EXIT
Don't close the command prompt as we need to execute one more command at the next step. Just minimize it.
5. Insert your Windows DVD in the optical drive and note down the drive letter of the optical drive and USB media. Here I use "D" as my optical (DVD) drive letter and "H" as my USB drive letter.
6. Go back to command prompt and execute the following commands:
D:CD BOOT and hit enter. Where "D" is your DVD drive letter.
CD BOOT and hit enter to see the below message.
BOOTSECT.EXE/NT60 H:
(Where "H" is your USB drive letter)
7. Copy Windows DVD contents to USB.
You are done with your bootable USB. You can now use this bootable USB as bootable DVD on any computer that comes with USB boot feature (most of the current motherboards support this feature).
Note that this bootable USB guide will not work if you are trying to make a bootable USB on XP computer.
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/16822/boot-from-a-usb-drive-even-if-your-bios-wont-let-you/
boot from a usb drive
Clean Install Windows on a Sony Vaio

Even if a Windows operating system is already installed on your Sony Vaio, it is possible to clean install the same version again or clean install an upgraded version of the Windows operating system over the current operating system.
A clean install of a Windows operating system overwrites the Sony Vaio's current operating system and cleans the hard drive by automatically deleting all of the applications, files and settings that are stored on the Vaio.

Create recovery discs for your Sony Vaio using the Vaio's built-in VAIO Recovery Wizard.
Access Vaio Recovery Wizard by going to the "Start" menu and clicking "Help and Support." Follow the screens in the VAIO Recovery Wizard to make recovery CDs for your computer.
Transfer files and programs that you want to save onto an external storage device, such as an external hard drive or a CD.
To transfer the files and programs to an external hard drive, plug the external hard drive into a USB port on the computer and drag and drop files from the computer into the external drive window.
To transfer the files and programs to CD, open a CD-burning software and choose the "Data Disc" option, upload all of the files into the program and "Burn" or "Write" them to the disc.


Place the Windows installation CD or DVD into the disc drive of your Sony Vaio.
If the computer is already on, reboot the computer.
If not, turn the computer on to boot the installation disc.

Follow the onscreen prompts to go through the installation wizard for the Windows operating system.
Enter the product key from the Windows operating system packaging, accept the terms of the operating system license and, if prompted to choose a type of partition for the Sony Vaio, select "NTFS."
Click the "Install Now" button on the last page of the installation wizard.
The operating system installs to the Sony Vaio.

Wait for the installation of the operating system to complete, which can take up to two hours on some systems.
Once the installation is finished, reboot the Sony Vaio and the computer should boot up to the operating system screen.

Make sure you have nothing that has the drive open. close all windows. Click start, then My Computer. Do not click on the flash drive.. but right-click on the drive.. then select format from that menu. If you are browsing a drive windows has a fit if you do anything like that with it open.

hi i cantt format my psp sony memory stick produo 8 gb

not open and shows 0 memory

Look if there are a LOCK button and slide it to unlock position.

The Flash Drive is already defective. Purchase a new one.

usualy it hapen when your new card is not formated yet...
you must formated before using..

try on the mobile phone... but don't format your data will be lost... try format on computer using norton partition magic.. that program will not delete your data.. then save your data to pc or laptop using card reader... then format using windows...

Possibly you have a programme running in the background that is causing the freezes, could be a screensaver. i think at sometime microsoft will issue an update that will fix this problem.

Hi guys. I'm a Technical Support Agent for the Sony VAIO.
Please open the C: Drive > Programs x86 Folder > Sony > satsurvey or survey, then, delete the vaiosatsurvey.exe File from there. It should successfully resolve the issue. Hope it helps. I took remote sessions and resolbved many issues.
R30