Re: Demagnetizing the r/w head on disk drive??

[rcain3@mindspring.com (The Silicon Knight)]

In article <359C1F38.DA764304@tridel.net>, jon@tridel.net says...
> stephen e buggie wrote:
> 
> > I have several tools called HEAD DEMAGNETIZERS ---- these remove residual
> > magnetism from the r/p head in a cassette player.
> >
> > When a 5.25" disk drive is opened up, should the r/p head be demagnetized?
> > Have not yet done it; but I seek others' opinions.
> >
> 
> In my whole life using floppy drives (I've had my apple II drive since 1983)
> I have never had to demagnetize them and they work pretty well up to now.  I
> would think twice about doing that, specially if they are still perfectly
> working.
> 
> 
It's my understanding that writing to the disk demagnetizes it, so you 
shouldn't have to use a Head Demagnetizer.  Cassette players and VCR's 
that build up residual magnetism are usually used for playback only.  I 
too have some 20 year old disk drives that have never been demagnetized, 
and they work fine.