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- PROPER CARE OF FLOPPIES
-
- 1. Never leave diskettes in the disk drive, as 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.
-
- 2. Diskettes should be cleaned and waxed once a week. Microscopic
- metal particles can be removed by waving a powerful magnet over
- the surface of the disk. Any stubborn metallic shavings can be
- removed with scouring powder and soap. When waxing the
- diskettes, make sure the surface is even. This will allow the
- diskette to spin faster, resulting in better access time.
-
- 3. Do not fold diskettes unless they do not fit into the drive.
- "Big" diskettes may be folded and used in "little" disk drives.
-
- 4. 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.
-
- 5. Diskettes cannot be backed up by running them through the xerox
- machine. If your data is going to need to be backed up, simply
- insert two diskettes into the drive. Whenever you update a
- document, the data will be written on both diskettes.
-
- 6. Diskettes should not be inserted or removed from the drive while
- the red light is 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 access to the slot.
-
- 7. If your diskette is full and you need more storage space, remove
- the disk from the drive and shake vigorously for 2 minutes. This
- will pack the data enough (Data Compression) to allow for more
- storage. Be sure to cover all the openings with scotch tape to
- prevent loss data.
-
- 8. Data access time can be greatly improved by cutting more holes in
- the diskette jacket. This will provide more simultaneous access
- points to the disk.
-
- 9. Diskettes may be used as coasters for beverage glasses, provided
- that they are properly waxed beforehand. Be sure to wipe the
- diskettes dry before using. (see item 2 above)
-
- 10. Never use scissors and glue to manually edit documents. The data
- is stored much too small for the naked eye, and you may end up
- with data from some other document stuck in the middle of your
- document. Razor blades and scotch tape may be used, however,
- provided the user is equipped with an electron microscope.
-
- 11. Periodically spray diskettes with secticide to prevent system
- bugs from spreading.