FDS gives me Error 03 while attempting to save

[boye]

Hello.

This is my first post.
I have had my FDS for a while now, and ever since I got it, whenever I try to save, the FDS just gives me Error 03. (The motor does not even spin up.)
Thanks for any help you can give me! 

[80sFREAK]

LOL Second line in the local search

Err.03: Disk is write-protected.

[boye]

LOL Second line in the local search

Err.03: Disk is write-protected.

It happens with both of my disks, so it's probably the system.
Is there any more technical assistance you can give me?
(And yes, I know what Error 03 means.)

[80sFREAK]

I have no idea, if your disks still have "disk protection tongues". Lets start from this point.

[boye]

I have no idea, if your disks still have "disk protection tongues". Lets start from this point.

Disk protection tounges?
My two disks are both official yellow disks (the kind without the shutter) if that helps.

[P]

Are any of those little plastic tabs ("tongues") covering the holes in the corner of the disk (as you can see in the picture) snapped off on your disks? If so the disk is probably write protected. In that case you can probably put a peace of tape over the hole to make it writeable again.

[boye]

Do you mean the hole next to the spindle?
Can I use normal Scotch tape to patch it up?

[P]

No not that. That's apparently for clamping the spindle.


I'm talking about these tabs in the corners. I'd guess it's one tab of each disk side (I have never tried breaking one off, but it's the same for other media).

The disk drive tries to insert a bar or something into these holes, and if they are blocked physically by the tab (or by tape) the write protection is inactive, and the drive can write to the disk like normal. But if there is a hole write protection is active and writing to the disk (which is required to save in games) will be impossible.

And yes you can probably use any tape as long as it's physically blocked.

[zmaster18]

This issue is sometimes not able to be fixed by tape. Some disks, even when these tabs are still intact, just won't re-write due to the disk being faulty.

I had a disk with the tab punched out and I tried pressing the corresponding switch in the drive with my finger and it still wouldn't write. It's quite a mysterious switch

I recommend just getting a new disk, some disks will just get faulty and will be unable to be re-written.

[boye]

No not that. That's apparently for clamping the spindle.

I'm talking about these tabs in the corners. I'd guess it's one tab of each disk side (I have never tried breaking one off, but it's the same for other media).

The disk drive tries to insert a bar or something into these holes, and if they are blocked physically by the tab (or by tape) the write protection is inactive, and the drive can write to the disk like normal. But if there is a hole write protection is active and writing to the disk (which is required to save in games) will be impossible.

And yes you can probably use any tape as long as it's physically blocked.

Thanks, P. I will try that.  

Also, is there any way to completely bypass the write protection scheme altogether?
Update: Sadly, it doesen't work on either of my disks..  
It immediately switches to the error when I attempt to save or flip the disk over to save, if that helps.
Update: Both of my disks do not have any visible signs of snapping off.

[80sFREAK]

Thanks, P, for the "fixed" image
zmaster18, there is no mystery, but switches in the drive sometimes could play tricks. For example do not flip, when cold. Also there might be some oxidation in the "write protection switch".

[boye]

zmaster18, there is no mystery, but switches in the drive sometimes could play tricks. For example do not flip, when cold. Also there might be some oxidation in the "write protection switch".

Huh. Well, thanks for posting that!  
Also, how does the write protection work?
Is there some sort of lever?

[P]

Yeah there's supposedly a physical switch (that Zmaster pressed with his finger by dissembling the disk drive). It probably drops down in the hole if there are no tabs (or tape) there to block it. You may want to check it so it doesn't get stuck or has oxidation on the pins on the board like 80sFREAK said.

And no I don't think you can bypass the write protection without modifying the drive. The tabs are breakable so that you can protect the data of important disks forever (same as on video/audio/data cassette tapes for example). Though for FDS games, I guess there is really no reason to write protect disks if you want them to be playable. Maybe if you have a sealed disk that you want to dump and not risking anyone booting it up and consequently writing to it.

Thanks, P, for the "fixed" image

No problem! Mad photoshop skills! (Just kidding I used paint.)

[boye]

bump

Thanks for all your help! Sadly, it still would not work, even with cardboard in the slots. Thankfully, the cardboard did not fall into the Disk System. 

[boye]

bump
I'm thinking about cleaning the switch sometime.
Or maybe a smack should work.  
EDIT: It was fixed by taping the switch down. For whatever reason, the switch was not being pushed down by the disk, even though it was not write protected.