Diskette Care
- Never leave diskettes in the drive, as the data can leak out
of the disk and corrode the inner mechanics of the drive.
Diskettes should be rolled up and stored in pencil holders.
- Diskettes should be cleaned and waxed once a week.
Microscopic metal particles may be removed by waving a
powerful magnet over the surface of the disk. Any stubborn
metal shavings can be removed with scouring powder and steel
wool. When waxing a diskette, make sure the surface is even.
This will allow the diskette to spin faster, resulting in better
access time.
- Do not fold diskettes unless they do not fit into the drive.
"Big" Diskettes may be folded and used in "Little" drives.
- Never insert a diskette into the drive upside down. The
data can fall off the surface of the disk and jam the
intricate mechanics of the drive.
- Diskettes cannot be backed up by running them through a
photo copy machine. If your data is going to need to be
backed up, simply insert TWO diskettes into your drive.
Whenever you update a document, the data will be written
onto both disks. A handy tip for more legible backup
copies: Keep a container of iron filings at your desk. When
you need to make two copies, sprinkle iron filings liberally
between the diskettes before inserting them into the drive.
- Diskettes should not be removed or inserted from the drive
while the red light is on or flashing. Doing so could
result in smeared or possibly unreadable text. Occasionally, the
red light remains flashing in what is known as a "hung" or
"hooked" state. If your system is hooking, you will probably
need to insert a few coins before being allowed to access the
slot.
- If your diskette is full and needs more storage space,
remove the disk from the drive and shake vigorously for two
minutes. This will pack the data enough (data compression)
to allow for more storage. Be sure to cover all openings
with scotch tape to prevent loss of data.
- Data access time may be greatly improved by cutting more
holes in the diskette jacket. This will provide more
simultaneous access points to the disk.
- Periodically spray diskettes with insecticide to prevent
system bugs from spreading.....
Submitted By: Just 4 Laughs Humor List
May 4, 1998 13:15