[OT] sw killing hw [was Re: [ILUG] MySQL & outer joins...]

[Justin Mason]

> > Oh dear...  Back to 'crappy software can damage your hardware'.
> > Was is the C64 or the BBC Micro that could produce smoke with 
> > just the wrong sequence of instructins?
> 
> The Beeb had a software controlled relay for starting and stopping suitable
> tape recorders on the casette port. You could turn it on or off with *MOTOR
> 1 or *MOTOR 0.

As Kate said, there was an app for the Amiga that could play tunes using
the floppy drive motor.  I've also heard of a similar one for some UNIX,
that played the hard drive heads -- and even one that ran the heads back
and forth just right to make a certain model of HD "walk" across the
floor!

Needless to say, this was from when HDs were washing-machine-size
gigantic, ie. before my time ;)

I remember quite a handy HD hack on the C64 which rattled the heads back
and forth in such a way as to align them correctly, altho' as far as I
could tell, it just made the alignment worse on my C64's drive. Nice idea
though...

BTW to clear up the Commodore PET story -- yes, it's true, there was a CRT
register which could fry the video controller apparently.  Check the PET
FAQ, section "WHAT IS THE 'KILLER POKE' AND SHOULD I WORRY ABOUT IT?", at
http://www.jps.net/foxnhare/petfaq.html .

--j.