[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: Help!
a2aviator@gmail.com wrote:
This has been documented to work many times in similar situations.
I take them to the sink- write a number on the hub if you can, with a
Sharpie. It will survive. Then make a note on a separate log of what
the contents are if you are doing them in bulk.
You're braver than I--I always work on them one at a time. ;-)
But staring with cleanly washed hands, Palmolive or Dawn, whatever. No
hand oil :) Slit the sleeves, put the disk in warm water, squirt some
dish soap on it and lay it in one palm, use two or three finger tips on
the surface and just like Karate Kid, wax-on, wax-off. Don't push to
crease anything. But these things survive, and to rinse it, run it
under warm water and and will nearly dry itself with the 'Rain-X'
effect. Place it on a fresh paper towel and do the next one. When
you're ready, just open up a new disk and remove the flap totally so
you have sleeve you can re-use. Place the circular part in and fire up
Locksmith Fast Copy. Mold and crud will not stick to the floppy for
long. They are quite sturdy and can be handled pretty roughly. just do
not crease it. But if you by accident, using a pin head you can usually
get out the crease enough by rubbing on the side opposite the data with
the disk in the palm of your hand. Doing it just enough to flatten it
so the head does not skip off it.
I do my cleaning one side at a time on a flat piece of glass, so
there's no possiblity of creasing--but your method is no doubt quicker!
I also use scissors to cut off the "top" 1/32" or 1/16" of the sleeve--
the top fold--to create an open sleeve to slip disks in or out.
I've also found that I can use a wooden toothpick (no possibly ferrous
metal!) to flatten "dimples" or tiny creases in disks. Often, even
an imperfect job of "flattening" is sufficient to allow a good read.
the data resides on the side of the disk that faces away from the
label, provided it's a single sided disk and the label is facing up
when inserted. Data on both sides?. Choose which side you want 100% of
and which you're willing to settle for less...
Cleaning on a sheet of glass, you just turn the disk over and clean
the other side, too.
I find that Windex (!) is a great disk cleaning agent, and it dries
almost instantly after wiping with tissue.
-michael
NadaNet networking for Apple II computers!
Home page: http://members.aol.com/MJMahon/
"The wastebasket is our most important design
tool--and it's seriously underused."