Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!xanth!rlb
From: rlb@cs.odu.edu (Robert Lee Bailey)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: 3.5" 1.44/720K drive question
Keywords: 3.5" drive, 1.44M, 720K
Message-ID: <8168@xanth.cs.odu.edu>
Date: 21 Mar 89 04:52:42 GMT
Reply-To: rlb@cs.odu.edu (Robert Lee Bailey)
Organization: Old Dominion University, Norfolk Va.
Lines: 27

which detects the presence or absence of  a hole to determine whether
the media is 1.44M or 720K.  Has anyone successfully modified their
hardware and/or software to defeat this feature?  (I use the term
"FEATURE" with tongue in cheek!)  I want to use cheap 3.5" diskettes
at 1.44M, but, this asinine gimmick forces us to format to 720K.

I know that some of you out there will say that using cheap disks in
this manner is dangerous to the health of my data.  To that I say:
BAH! HUMBUG!  I have SUCCESSFULLY used such disks on a PS/2 Model 50
for about a year now with ABSOLUTELY NO LOSS OF DATA regardless of
how long the data has been there.  The PS/2 drives apparently do not
have the detection circuitry, but most clone drives do.  It would seem
that the manufacturers of diskette media are in cahoots with the
manufacturers of 3.5" disk drives in order to try to force users to buy
a hole for more than twice the price of no hole. (off soapbox)

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has come up with a successful
work-around other than drilling (the chips WILL destroy the media
and/or the drive itself) or melting (I don't like the smell) a hole
in the strategic location?  If not, does anyone have any technical
info that details the pins and logic states for the detecting the
hole?  I am not opposed to installing a toggle switch to enable or
disable the circuit.  I just don't have the necessary info to do so.

Help, info, or possible SOURCES of info would be appreciated.

		Bob Bailey