Re: Apple //e keeps Killing Floppy Drives!

[grent@comcast.net]

On Jun 5, 9:26 pm, Boot Zero <ap...@bidlink.net> wrote:
> Tried a manual head clean when the problem initially started.  I don't
> have any cleaning disks, but I took one drive apart, hitting the head
> with a q-tip and alcohol.  No dice.  The heads didn't look particularly
> dirty, but I could have missed something.
>
> The dirty disk theory has merit, however.   Some of the disks are
> showing their age.  I am going to order some blank floppies.  Is there
> still somewhere I can obtain a cleaning disk, or do I have to take the
> drive apart each time I want to clean it?
>
> As per another post, the drives aren't eating the disks, the disks are
> eating the drives, so it's not the capacitor / write bug as per the FAQ.
>
> I am going to start with a good head cleaning, and see if the speed test
> works.  Also planning on checking the power supply.  I have a new backup
> waiting for service.
>
> Also will swap out to another controller just for good measure.
>
> Thanks all for the help.
>
> -BZ
When using alcohol and a Q-tip, you have use very little alcohol.  Too
much and it acts more like a lubricant. May just move the dirt around
and not pick anything up. You have to wait until it almost evaporated
so the dirt gets pulled into the cotton. You may also have to use more
than one, spending a minute or so  Sometimes you can actualy see a
build up the shinny head if you cn get the light to hit it just right.
That actual part that does the work is small little dark strip on the
head.

> > I occasionally run across very dirty/moldy/flaky 5.25" disks, and
> > I try to read them only on one sacrificial drive that is cleaned
> > often and never used with "good" disks to avoid mold infection.
>
> > They are usually read only once or twice in order to make copies
> > onto good diskettes.
>
> > If you do happen to have a bunch of "bad" diskettes, I recommend
> > this approach so that you no longer have to contend with "bad"
> > diskettes.  There are enough problems with computers without
> > having to worry about your media.  ;-)
>
> > -michael