Hard Disk Serial Number Changer Not Working? Here's How to Solve It
Hard Disk Serial Number Changer Unable to Write Disk Drive
Have you ever encountered an error message saying "Unable to Write Disk Drive" when trying to change the serial number of your hard disk using Hard Disk Serial Number Changer? If so, you are not alone. Many users have reported this problem and wondered how to fix it. In this article, we will explain what a hard disk serial number is, why you may need to change it, what causes this error, and how to solve it with four effective methods.
Hard Disk Serial Number Changer Unable Write Disk Drive
What is a hard disk serial number and why it may need to be changed
A hard disk serial number is a unique identifier that is assigned to a hard disk by the manufacturer. It is different from the volume serial number, which is created by Windows when formatting a partition. The hard disk serial number is stored in the firmware of the disk and cannot be changed by normal means.
However, there are some situations where you may want to change the hard disk serial number, such as:
You have replaced your old hard disk with a new one, but some software programs installed on your computer use the hard disk serial number for activation or verification. To avoid software association issues, you can change the new disk's serial number to match your old one.
You want to protect your privacy or security by hiding or changing your hard disk serial number from unauthorized access or tracking.
You want to bypass some restrictions or limitations imposed by some software or games based on your hard disk serial number.
To change the hard disk serial number, you can use a program called Hard Disk Serial Number Changer, which is a free and portable tool that allows you to modify the serial number of any hard drive without reformatting it.
What is Hard Disk Serial Number Changer and how it works
Hard Disk Serial Number Changer is a simple application that can change the serial number of any hard drive with just a few clicks. It does not require installation or special permissions. You can download it from here and run it as an administrator.
The program has a user-friendly interface that shows you all the available drives on your computer. You can select the drive that you want to change, enter a new serial number in the format XXXX-XXXX, and click Change. The program will then write the new serial number to your drive's firmware. You will need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
However, sometimes you may encounter an error message saying "Unable to Write Disk Drive" when using this program. This means that the program cannot access or modify your drive's firmware due to some reasons. This can be very frustrating and annoying, especially if you need to change your hard disk serial number urgently.
What are the possible causes of the error "Unable to Write Disk Drive"There are several possible causes of the error "Unable to Write Disk Drive" when using Hard Disk Serial Number Changer. Some of them are:
You are not running the program as an administrator. This may prevent the program from accessing or modifying your drive's firmware.
Your drive has some errors or bad sectors that prevent the program from writing the new serial number.
Your drive is write-protected or locked by some software or hardware. This may block the program from changing the serial number.
Your drive is formatted with a file system that is not supported by the program. The program only works with FAT, FAT32, and NTFS file systems.
Your drive is encrypted or has a password. This may interfere with the program's operation.
Fortunately, there are some solutions that can help you fix this error and change your hard disk serial number successfully. In the following sections, we will show you four methods that you can try.
Method 1: Run Hard Disk Serial Number Changer as administrator
The first and simplest method that you can try is to run Hard Disk Serial Number Changer as an administrator. This will give the program the necessary permissions to access and modify your drive's firmware. To do this, follow these steps:
Right-click on the Hard Disk Serial Number Changer.exe file and select Properties.
Go to the Compatibility tab and check the box next to Run this program as an administrator.
Click Apply and OK to save the changes.
Double-click on the Hard Disk Serial Number Changer.exe file to launch the program.
Select the drive that you want to change, enter a new serial number, and click Change.
Restart your computer and check if the error is gone.
If this method does not work, try the next one.
Method 2: Check the disk for errors and bad sectors
The second method that you can try is to check your disk for errors and bad sectors that may prevent Hard Disk Serial Number Changer from writing the new serial number. You can use Windows built-in tools or a third-party tool to scan and repair your disk. Here are two ways to do this:
Using CHKDSK and SFC commands
CHKDSK and SFC are two commands that can check and fix various disk errors in Windows. To use them, follow these steps:
Press Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Type cmd and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys to open Command Prompt as an administrator.
Type chkdsk X: /f /r and press Enter, where X is the letter of your drive. This will scan your drive for errors and bad sectors and attempt to fix them.
Wait for the process to complete. It may take some time depending on the size and condition of your drive.
Type sfc /scannow and press Enter. This will scan your system files for corruption and repair them if possible.
Wait for the process to complete. It may also take some time depending on your system configuration.
Close Command Prompt and restart your computer.
Run Hard Disk Serial Number Changer again and see if the error is resolved.
Using a third-party tool
If you prefer a more user-friendly way to check and fix your disk, you can use a third-party tool that can do the job for you. There are many tools available online that can help you with this task, such as EaseUS Partition Master, MiniTool Partition Wizard, CrystalDiskInfo, etc. You can choose one that suits your needs and follow its instructions to scan and repair your disk. Here is an example of how to use EaseUS Partition Master:
Download and install EaseUS Partition Master from here.
Launch the program and select the drive that you want to check.
Right-click on it and select Check File System.
Select Try to fix errors if found option and click Start.
The program will scan your drive for errors and fix them automatically.
When it finishes, click Finish and close the program.
Restart your computer and run Hard Disk Serial Number Changer again to see if it works.
Method 3: Format the disk and change the serial numberMethod 3: Format the disk and change the serial number
The third method that you can try is to format the disk and change the serial number after formatting. This will erase all the data on the disk and create a new file system that may be compatible with Hard Disk Serial Number Changer. However, this method is risky and should be used as a last resort. Before you do this, make sure you back up all the important data on the disk to another location. To format the disk and change the serial number, you can use Windows Disk Management or a third-party tool. Here are two ways to do this:
Using Disk Management
Disk Management is a Windows utility that can help you manage your disks and partitions. To use it to format the disk and change the serial number, follow these steps:
Press Windows + X keys and select Disk Management from the menu.
Find the disk that you want to format and right-click on it.
Select Format from the context menu.
Choose a file system (FAT, FAT32, or NTFS) that is supported by Hard Disk Serial Number Changer and click OK.
Wait for the formatting process to complete. It may take some time depending on the size and condition of your disk.
After formatting, right-click on the disk again and select Change Drive Letter and Paths.
Click Change and enter a new drive letter for your disk. This will also change the volume serial number of your disk.
Click OK and close Disk Management.
Run Hard Disk Serial Number Changer as an administrator and select your disk.
Enter a new hard disk serial number and click Change.
Restart your computer and check if the error is fixed.
Using a third-party tool
If you prefer a more user-friendly way to format the disk and change the serial number, you can use a third-party tool that can do both tasks for you. There are many tools available online that can help you with this task, such as EaseUS Partition Master, MiniTool Partition Wizard, AOMEI Partition Assistant, etc. You can choose one that suits your needs and follow its instructions to format the disk and change the serial number. Here is an example of how to use EaseUS Partition Master:
Download and install EaseUS Partition Master from here.
Launch the program and select the disk that you want to format.
Right-click on it and select Format.
Choose a file system (FAT, FAT32, or NTFS) that is supported by Hard Disk Serial Number Changer and click OK.
Click Execute Operation and Apply to start the formatting process.
Wait for the process to complete. It may take some time depending on the size and condition of your disk.
After formatting, right-click on the disk again and select Advanced > Change Serial Number.
Enter a new hard disk serial number in the format XXXX-XXXX and click OK.
Click Execute Operation and Apply to start changing the serial number.
Wait for the process to complete. It may also take some time depending on your disk.
Close the program and restart your computer.
Check if Hard Disk Serial Number Changer can write to your disk without any error.
Method 4: Replace the disk with a new one
The fourth and final method that you can try is to replace your disk with a new one. This will eliminate any hardware or firmware issues that may cause Hard Disk Serial Number Changer to fail. However, this method is also costly and time-consuming. You will need to buy a new disk, clone your old disk to it, change its serial number, and install it in your computer. Alternatively, you can install a new disk, transfer your data to it, change its serial number, and remove your old disk. To replace your disk with a new one, you can use Windows built-in tools or a third-party tool. Here are two ways to do this:
Using Windows built-in tools
Windows has some built-in tools that can help you clone or transfer your data from one disk to another. To use them, follow these steps:
If you want to clone your old disk to a new one:
Connect your new disk to your computer via USB or SATA cable.
Press Windows + I keys to open the Settings app.
Go to Update & Security > Backup and click on Go to Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
Click on Create a system image on the left pane.
Select your new disk as the destination and click Next.
Select the drives that you want to include in the system image and click Next.
Click Start backup and wait for the process to complete. It may take some time depending on the size and condition of your disk.
After the backup is done, shut down your computer and disconnect your old disk.
Connect your new disk to the original SATA port of your old disk.
Turn on your computer and press F12 or another key to enter the boot menu.
Select your new disk as the boot device and press Enter.
Your computer will boot from the system image on your new disk.
Run Hard Disk Serial Number Changer as an administrator and select your new disk.
Enter a new hard disk serial number and click Change.
Restart your computer and check if the error is gone.
If you want to install a new disk and transfer your data to it:
Connect your new disk to your computer via USB or SATA cable.
Press Windows + X keys and select Disk Management from the menu.
Initialize, partition, and format your new disk as desired.
Assign a drive letter to your new disk.
Open File Explorer and select the files and folders that you want to transfer from your old disk to your new one.
Copy and paste or drag and drop them to your new disk.
Wait for the transfer process to complete. It may take some time depending on the size and condition of your disk.
After the transfer is done, shut down your computer and disconnect your old disk.
Connect your new disk to the original SATA port of your old disk.
Turn on your computer and press F12 or another key to enter the boot menu.
Select your new disk as the boot device and press Enter.
Your computer will boot from your new disk with all your data transferred.
Run Hard Disk Serial Number Changer as an administrator and select your new disk.
Enter a new hard disk serial number and click Change.
Restart your computer and check if the error is fixed.
Using a third-party tool
If you prefer a more user-friendly way to clone or transfer your data from one disk to another, you can use a third-party tool that can do both tasks for you. There are many tools available online that can help you with this task, such as EaseUS Todo Backup, Macrium Reflect, Acronis True Image, etc. You can choose one that suits your needs and follow its instructions to clone or transfer your data. Here is an example of how to use EaseUS Todo Backup:
If you want to clone your old disk to a new one:
Download and install EaseUS Todo Backup from here.
Launch the program and select Clone from the left pane.
Select your old disk as the source disk and click Next.
Select your new disk as the destination disk and click Next.
Adjust the partition layout of your new disk as desired and click Proceed.
The program will start cloning your old disk to your new one. It may take some time depending on the size and condition of your disk.
After the cloning is done, shut down your computer and disconnect your old disk.
Connect your new disk to the original SATA port of your old disk.
Turn on your computer and press F12 or another key to enter the boot menu.
Select your new disk as the boot device and press Enter.
Your computer will boot from the cloned image on your new disk.
Run Hard Disk Serial Number Changer as an administrator and select your new disk.
Enter a new hard disk serial number and click Change.
Restart your computer and check if the error is gone.
If you want to install a new disk and transfer your data to it:
Download and install EaseUS Todo Backup from here.
Launch the program and select Backup from the left pane.
Select Disk/Partition Backup from the options.
Select the partitions that you want to back up from your old disk and click Next.
Select your new disk as the destination and click Proceed.
The program will start backing up your data from your old disk to your new one. It may take some time depending on the size and condition of your disk.
After the backup is done, shut down your computer and disconnect your old disk.
Connect your new disk to the original SATA port of your old disk.
Turn on your computer and press F12 or another key to enter the boot menu.
Select your new disk as the boot device and press Enter.
Your computer will boot from your new disk with all your data backed up.
Run Hard Disk Serial Number Changer as an administrator and select your new disk.
Enter a new hard disk serial number and click Change.
Restart your computer and check if the error is fixed.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explained what a hard disk serial number is, why you may need to change it, what causes the error "Unable to Write Disk Drive" when using Hard Disk Serial Number Changer, and how to solve it with four effective methods. We hope that this article has helped you fix this error and change your hard disk serial number successfully. Here are some tips that you can follow to avoid this error in the future:
Always run Hard Disk Serial Number Changer as an administrator to ensure that it has enough permissions to access and modify your drive's firmware.
Regularly check your disk for errors and bad sectors and fix them as soon as possible to prevent any data loss or corruption.
Avoid using any software or hardware that may write-protect or lock your drive without your knowledge or consent.
Make sure that your drive is formatted with a file system that is supported by Hard Disk Serial Number Changer (FAT, FAT32, or NTFS).
Do not encrypt or password-protect your drive unless you really need to. This may interfere with Hard Disk Serial Number Changer's operation.
FAQs
What is the difference between hard disk serial number and volume serial number?
A hard disk serial number is a unique identifier that is assigned to a hard disk by the manufacturer. It is stored in the firmware of the disk and cannot be changed by normal means. A volume serial number is a random number that is created by Windows when formatting a partition. It is stored in the boot sector of the partition and can be changed by some tools or commands.
How can I find out the serial number of my hard disk?
You can use various methods to find out the serial number of your hard disk, such as:
Using Windows Command Prompt: Type wmic diskdrive get model,name,serialnumber and press Enter. This will show you the model, name, and serial number of all the disks on your computer.
Using Windows PowerShell: Type Get-WmiObject win32_physicalmedia Format-Table Tag,SerialNumber and press Enter. This will show you the tag and serial number of all the disks on your computer.
Using Windows Device Manager: Right-click on Start and select Device Manager. Expand Disk drives and double-click on your disk. Go to Details tab and select Device Instance Path from the Property drop-down menu. You will see a string that contains the serial number of your disk.
Using Hard Disk Serial Number Changer: Run Hard Disk Serial Number Changer as an administrator and select your disk. You will see the current serial number of your disk in the format XXXX-XXXX.
Can changing the hard disk serial number affect my system or software?
Changing the hard disk serial number may have some effects on your system or software, depending on how they use or rely on it. For example:
Some software programs use the hard disk serial number for activa