Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!nbires!hao!husc6!bu-cs!spike
From: spike@bu-cs.BU.EDU (Spike)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Re: A Question on Write protection
Message-ID: <20256@bu-cs.BU.EDU>
Date: 28 Feb 88 23:02:47 GMT
References: <1068@pasteur.Berkeley.Edu>
Reply-To: spike@bu-it.bu.edu (Joe Ilacqua)
Followup-To: comp.sys.apple
Organization: Boston University Distributed Systems Group
Lines: 29
Summary: What you can do in software do in hardware

In article <1068@pasteur.Berkeley.Edu> cc-05@cory.Berkeley.EDU.UUCP (Joe Good) writes:

> My question is this: Can you write on a write protected disk on an
<Apple, and if so, how? I tried reprogramming the DOS that sensed the
>write protect, and the drive attempted to write on the disk, but
<couldn't.


	An the answer is...  Hardware.  The write protect is done by
the hardward and thus patching DOS will not help.  In Disk ][s you can
open the drive and loosen the screw (or was it a hex nut?) that holds
the 'feeler' of the write protect sensor.  The 'feeler' should drop
down a bit so that it will be under the disk and therefor disabled.
Just push it up and tighten it when you are done.


	In newer drives (and the //c) a light sensor is used so this
will not work.  You can, however do a little wiring and make a switch
so you can have Normal, Write Always, Read Only mode.  Send me mail if
you want more details.


	"Last night I had that dream again. I dreamt I had to take a
		test, in a Dairy Queen, on another planet."
 UUCP:	...!harvard!bu-cs!bu-it!spike  ARPANET: spike@bu-it.bu.edu
   CSNET: spike%bu-it@bu-cs   BITNET: engemnc@bostonu "VPS sucks"

-- 
->Spike