!pr1
Write Guard Disk Modification Kit

Mark IV Designs (Mark Hansen) has come up with a neat way to override the write protect switch in a disk drive.  Sometimes you want to write on the back side of a disk, in spite of all good breeding. Yet it is a nuisance to have to cut a notch in the other edge of the disk.  We finally bought a hole punch, but it is still a nuisance.  Other times you want to write protect a disk, but not put one of those little sticky things over the existing notch.  What to do?

Instructions for adding an external toggle switch in series or in parallel with the internal sensor are easy to come by, but who wants to drill holes and solder?  The Write Guard kit from Mark IV Desings accomplishes all you could wish for without any drilling, cutting, or soldering.

You get a small (1x2x3 inches) box with three-position toggle switch and LED.  A short flat cable runs out the back, and you plug that into a socket inside the disk drive (after removing the 74125 from that socket).  A piece of velcro attaches the plastic box to either side of your drive.  The switch selects normal, always protected, or always unprotected.  The LED lights whenever the disk is not protected.  One chip on the disk controller card also is replaced with a chip from the kit.

If this kit sounds like something you have been waiting for, you can order one from us at $40.
