Re: Apple ][c Questions

[mjmahon@aol.com (MJMahon)]

David Empson (dempson@actrix.gen.nz) wrote:

<snip, snip>

> In most cases, I've found that disks I've double notched in this manner
> have been less reliable than ones with which I only used one side.  This
> may vary between brands.
>
> My rule was (I don't use 5.25" disks any more): if I want to keep it,
> use one side only, or make sure I have a backup on such a disk.  For
> day-to-day stuff that can be lost, a double-notched disk is OK.

Or, if the disk is _precisely_ a backup, which is very seldom used
by definition.

There is no need to fear "gunk" on the disk if you are relatively tidy.
I have never had a double-notched disk fail...  Come to think of it,
except for mechanical or magnetic damage (including writing trash
on it), I've never had _any_ of hundreds of 5.25" disks fail!  ;-)
If they write and verify on a good drive, I've never found one to
"lose data" as a result of some invisible phenomenon.

Like David, I find I don't use them much anymore.

-michael         "Obsolete power corrupts obsoletely!"   ;-]