Write-once read-many hard disk drive

A modified disk drive that includes means for selectively and permanently disabling the write mode of the hard disk drive by the use of programmable read only memory (PROM) circuitry is provided. One method of use employs selectively blowing a PROM fuse in the arm electronics of the hard disk drive to prevent further writing to a respective disk surface in the hard disk drive. A second method of use employs selectively blowing a PROM fuse in processor-accessible memory, to prevent further writing to a section of logical block addresses (LBAs) corresponding to a respective set of data sectors in the hard disk drive.