Re: Mouse card --- Can EPROM go Bad?

[Frank Carney <frankc@cyberhighway.net>]

The EPROM does NOT go bad.  The information written on an EPROM simply
degrades over time.  After 10 years the data will have degraded by %25.
PROMs and ROMs use a different technology and are probably going to last
longer than you or I.  You can fix a degraded EPROM by reading the data
out and writing it back to the EPROM.  This will refresh the data.  You
do not have to erase it in between when you do this either.  The data is
the same so there is no reason to erase the original.

If you want to why an EPROM degraded over time it is because you use UV
to erase it.  There is a constant amount of UV and other energy hitting
the chip even if it is covered or sealed.  So,  make backups and if you
need to reprogram the chips.  However, an EPROM has a 100 cycle
programming life that should be followed.  That means do not program it
more than 100 times.

Also, I hate it when people post ignorance.  If you know what you are
talking about, fine, but if you don't look it up or ask someone.