OT: USB stick with write protect switch?

[drew einhorn]

On Sat, Oct 10, 2009 at 10:59 AM, Amedee Van Gasse (on Ubuntu mailing
lists) <amedee-ubuntu at amedee.be> wrote:
> On Sat, October 10, 2009 18:29, Frans Ketelaars wrote:
>> On Sat, 10 Oct 2009 09:13:44 -0600, drew einhorn wrote:
>>
>>> The convenience of booting from a USB stick is great!
>>>
>>> It would be even better to be able to flip a switch on the stick and
>>> making it a read only device!
>>>
>>> Anybody know of a source?
>>
>> This one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820141488
>> has a write protection switch .
>
> Can anyone confirm that these "hardware" R/O switches always work in all
> circumstances and that there is no way whatsoever that software can ignore
> the write protect?
>
> Because I have read once that it was possible but I forgot to bookmark the
> source.
>

Hmm.  I had not thought of that issue.  From a hardware perspective I'm sure
it is possible to design it either way.  It could just set a read only
bit somewhere
and depend on a driver to respect it.  Or, it could disconnect a
signal necessary
for writing.

-- 
Drew Einhorn