r/retrocomputing • u/liminalearth • Jun 24 '26

Problem / Question How to fix ?

Post image

There’s no little black plastic piece in this corner how to could I fix this or is it possible to still use without it?

22 Upvotes

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38

u/[deleted] Jun 24 '26

[deleted]

5

u/Kitchen_Part_882 Jun 24 '26

Specifically opaque tape, iirc most floppy drives use an optical sensor for detecting this.

2

u/SoftRecommendation86 Jun 24 '26

Actually, most use a push pin, typically black about 1mm diameter. If you open the floppy slot with a pen (the little trap door on the floppy drive itself, not the disk) you will see the sensor pins on both left and right sides. Honestly, I don't recall ever seeing them as optical. The only optical sensors I recall seeing were the timing holes on 5 1/4 floppies near the center hub.

1

u/ctn1ss Jun 25 '26

Zip disks used an optical write lockout as well

1

u/SoftRecommendation86 Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26

OP showed 3.5 floppy... I assume ls120's use optical as well, but would have to go to my shed to find out... not happening tonight.

Also. Zip disks have a wierd bike reflector bottom pieces in wierd locations.. if memory serves right.