Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!emory!rsiatl!nanovx!msa3b!kevin From: kevin@msa3b.UUCP (Kevin P. Kleinfelter) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware Subject: Re: Making a floppy drive ignore high density hole Message-ID: <1335@msa3b.UUCP> Date: 20 Jul 90 13:55:10 GMT References: <11547@ingr.com> <1990Jul19.021714.10040@world.std.com> <803@digi.lonestar.org> Organization: Management Science America, Inc., Atlanta, GA Lines: 90 mfrohman@digi.lonestar.org (Matthew Frohman) writes: >I have a pair of those floppy drives which insists on detecting for me, >if there is a hole in my floppy disk. I would like to install a toggle >switch to enable/disable the detector. Ideally, I would like it to have >3 positions: HD, LD, or auto detect, but I don't know if that is possible. >Simply having 2 position (detect, no detect) would be sufficient. I need >this because I have disks formatted at 720K for my laptop that my PC insists >are HD, since they have a hole in them, so I cannot write info to that disk >on my PC without scrambling the FAT. I have done this. It is relatively easy, if you know how to use a soldering iron. There are actually two different methods, depending on the drive. As one method is much easier, and does not require soldering, you should first determine which method will work for you. Based on what you have said above, your situation will probably require "Method B". Get an HD diskette. You just need one for this test. Buy it or borrow it. Insert it in your desktop PC's floppy. Format it to 720K via format a: /N:9 /T:80 If this does not work, you must use "Method B" (described below). If this DOES work, then copy several text files to the disk. Then take the disk to your laptop and "type" those files. If it does not work, you must use "Method B". If it does work, copy several text files from the laptop TO this disk, and verify that you can read them on the desktop. ======================================================================= METHOD A: For use where the HD drive can treat an HD disk like an LD. This method CANNOT be used on systems that won't accept "format a: /N:9 /T:80" on an HD disk. 1. Remove the disk drive. 2. Locate the HD microswitch. This is a small switch with a little plastic piece that sticks up through the HD hole. If you are looking at the front of the drive, it is the switch on the RIGHT. (Don't mess with the switch on the left or all your disk just became write protected!) 3. There should be 2 wires running to this (most drives have 2 wires, but there could be a drive with one or connections directly soldered to a PCB). Cut either wire. Tape or otherwise put the wire end out of the way of the moving parts of the drive. 4. Reassemble. 5. Your machine now thinks that all disks are HD. I hope that your machine is willing to treat an HD disk as an LD disk if you tell it to do so. ======================================================================= ======================================================================= METHOD B: For use where the the system can't handle "format a: /T:80 /N:9". 1. Remove the disk drive. 2. Locate the HD microswitch. This is a small switch with a little plastic piece that sticks up through the HD hole. If you are looking at the front of the drive, it is the switch on the RIGHT. (Don't mess with the switch on the left or all your disk just became write protected!) 3. There should be 2 wires running to this (most drives have 2 wires, but there could be a drive with one or connections directly soldered to a PCB). Unsolder both wires from the switch. 4. Poke a hole through the front of the drive bezel, in a location where it will be out of harms way, but where both wires will reach. Use a drill or any other appropriate implement of destruction. 5. Insert a SPST switch in the hole, and solder the wires from the microswitch to this switch. 6. Reassemble. 7. With the switch in one position, you have an HD drive. In the other position, you have an LD drive. Experiment to determine which is which. ======================================================================= DISCLAIMER: I did both methods. It worked for me, but I cannot accept responsibility for melting your machine into oblivion. -- Kevin Kleinfelter @ Management Science America, Inc (404) 239-2347 gatech!nanovx!msa3b!kevin "Don't hold your finger on the button if the motor ain't goin' roundy-roundy."