Write protection

  • Thread starter Thread starter CJT
  • Start date Start date
C

CJT

Is there a way to modify an IDE cable to write protect a
drive that doesn't already have a jumper to do so?

In other words, is there a single line that I can cut
and/or connect to ground or +5 that will force the drive
never to write?

Even better, is there a widget available that can be placed
inline to accomplish this?
 
Is there a way to modify an IDE cable to write protect
a drive that doesn't already have a jumper to do so?
Nope.

In other words, is there a single line that I can cut and/or
connect to ground or +5 that will force the drive never to write?
Click to expand...

Nope. More legalistically, not if you want it to read too.
Even better, is there a widget available
that can be placed inline to accomplish this?
Click to expand...

Nope, fresh out of widgets.
 
I don't know if this will work for your situation, but as an
alternative, you could use a CD-ROM instead of a hard drive. CD-ROMs
are read-only and cheap. You could also use a programmable read-only
memory card, like the ones available here:

http://www.acqu.com/usa/intr-vdk.htm

You buy blank EEPROM chips, plug them into the card, and then program
them. Once programmed, the chips cannot be re-written. They look
like a disk drive to the system.
 
Previously CJT said:
Is there a way to modify an IDE cable to write protect a
drive that doesn't already have a jumper to do so?
Click to expand...
In other words, is there a single line that I can cut
and/or connect to ground or +5 that will force the drive
never to write?
Click to expand...

No. The problem is that the IDE disk is essentially a small,
very simple storagt server and thet the bus is used for binary
coded commands also, i.e. no single rd/-wr line like on
MFM/RLL/ESDI hdds or on floppies.
Even better, is there a widget available that can be placed
inline to accomplish this?
Click to expand...

Not that I know of, but with a fast FPGA it should be doable.
Would be expensive, I think.

Arno
 
Arno said:
No. The problem is that the IDE disk is essentially a small,
very simple storagt server and thet the bus is used for binary
coded commands also, i.e. no single rd/-wr line like on
MFM/RLL/ESDI hdds or on floppies.


Not that I know of, but with a fast FPGA it should be doable.
Would be expensive, I think.
Click to expand...

In terms of distribution cost it would be cheaper to rewrite the firmware
for the drive to disallow writes. In terms of programming cost, though,
since the code would have to be reverse engineered, it would likely be
expensive and likely only work with a single brand and model of drive.
 
Back
Top