Iggy_Drougge wrote:
The disk is marked as write protected using a hole in the corner of the plastic cover. The drive senses the hole using two protruding plastic pins right behind the opening, to the right. If the disk has an open hole (it's write protected), the pins can go a bit further up than if the write protect lock is closed. The plastic pins are seated in a plastic holder, inside which they rest on top of a V-shaped metal part which flexes. If the pins reach the closed write protect hole, the V is bent together, causing contact for an electrical signal. In your case, the metal V is dirty and doesn't establish any contact.
The component you are describing is called a switch. In most cases the switch isn't dirty at all. Instead, the silver plated switch contacts develop a thin coating of oxidation.
It's not necessary to disassemble the switch to remove oxidation from the contacts.
This technique does it effectively with, or without contact cleaner.
