Predator Helios Neo 16 (PHN16-72) - All USB Ports Forcing Write-Protection on Drives [Hardware Issue?]

AradhyaX

Hey ,

I'm hoping to get some advice on a very persistent issue with my new Predator Helios Neo 16 (PHN16-72 model) running Windows 10 Home.

The Problem: Any USB pendrive I connect to the laptop immediately becomes write-protected , but only on my device.

• I can read files from the drive, but I cannot write any new files to it, delete existing files, or format the drive.
• This happens with multiple different pendrives from different brands.
• All of these drives work perfectly fine when plugged into any other laptop or computer.
• The issue is definitively isolated to my Predator laptop.

Troubleshooting Steps Performed:I believe I have exhausted all possible software solutions. Here is a complete list of what I've already tried:

1. Diskpart Utility: Used attributes disk clear readonly command in Command Prompt.
2. Windows Registry: Checked the StorageDevicePolicies key in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and ensured WriteProtect is set to 0.
3. BIOS Update: Updated the BIOS to the latest version available on the Acer support site (v1.17).
4. Driver Reinstallation: Uninstalled and reinstalled all USB controllers and drivers through the Device Manager.
5. Security Software: Checked Windows Defender's "Controlled folder access" and confirmed no third-party antivirus is blocking it.
6. New User Account: Created a completely new local administrator account, but the problem persisted there as well.
7. Complete Windows Reset: Performed a "Reset this PC" using the "Keep my files" option, effectively reinstalling Windows 10. The issue remained even on a fresh OS installation.

Since the problem survives a full Windows reinstall and affects all user accounts, I am forced to conclude this is a hardware failure, most likely with the motherboard's USB controller.

Before I move forward with a warranty service claim, has anyone in the community ever encountered an issue like this on a Helios Neo 16 or similar model? Are there any other diagnostic steps I might have missed?

Thank you for your time and any help you can provide.

Puraw

Hi AradhyaX

Your Helios Neo 16 (PHN16‑72) is a Windows 11‑only platform. The BIOS v1.17 you already installed is explicitly designed for Windows 11 24H2, and Acer does not validate or support Windows 10 on this generation. Attempting to force Windows 10 onto the system can break Embedded Controller (EC) communication and Intel Management Engine (ME) firmware alignment, which directly leads to the kind of USB controller malfunctions and drive write‑protection you are seeing.

• PHN16‑72 official support page: https://www.acer.com/us-en/support/product-support/Predator_PHN16-72
• BIOS v1.17 release notes confirm Windows 11 support only.
• Intel ME and EC firmware are tightly coupled with the OS generation; mismatched firmware from a Windows 10 install can cause persistent I/O errors.

The correct path is to remain on Windows 11 24H2 with BIOS v1.17. If the USB write‑protection persists even under the supported OS, that points to a hardware‑level controller fault, and you should proceed with warranty service.