1. My diskette has errors on it and
my data cannot be accessed. Why?
2. Will the X-Ray
machine at airports damage my Floppy Disks?
3. What
is the difference between a DD and an HD diskette?
4. What is the expected life of
a 3.5" HD/DD diskette?
5. Why will a 2MB diskette only
hold 1.44MB of data?
6. What is the best way to handle, store, and label Diskettes?
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1. My diskette has errors on it
and my data cannot be accessed. Why?
Diskette data can be damaged by a variety of factors
such as:
A. Debris
on the drive head when the file was written or read.
B. High temperature
or humidity during storage or writing.
C. Malfunctioning
software when the file was written or read.
D. Power fluctuations
when the file was written.
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2. Will the X-ray machine at airports
damage my Floppy Disks?
The X-ray machines at airports in the US will not harm data stored on a diskette;
outside the US it is unknown. The metal detectors at airports have the possibility
of altering the information stored on your floppies due to the magnetic field
generated by the system. You should either allow them to pass through the baggage
x-ray system or have them inspected by hand.
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3. What is the difference between
a DD and an HD diskette?
Double-density diskettes (DD) are generally used in
word processors and older computer systems and have a total formatted capacity
of 720KB. High-density diskettes (HD) are used in newer computer systems and
hold a total formatted capacity of 1.44MB—double the capacity of a DD diskette.
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4. What is the expected life of a 3.5" HD/DD
diskette?
The life expectancy of a 3.5" HD/DD diskette is
highly dependent on the storage conditions. Under controlled temperatures, humidity
and dust conditions the diskette should last forever. Storing an area where
temperatures are fairly constant (60 to 80 degrees F.), humidity that is controlled
and in a storage box so dust doesn't collect on them should not be a problem.
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5. Why will a 2MB diskette only hold 1.44MB of data?
Out of the box, an unformatted diskette has a capacity
of 2MB. However, when you format the disk, you use some of that space to create
a FAT (File Allocation Table) on the diskette. This is the area that is reserved
to store file names and also to store information about where on the diskette
the information is stored. Without the FAT, you would not be able to retrieve
your saved data.
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6. What is the best way to handle, store,
and label Diskettes?
Diskettes are more vulnerable to the environment and what we do to them
than CDs. This means they need extra attention and care to keep your data safe.
Handling and Care
1. DO hold
disks on the outer edge.
2. DO store
disks upright. The pressure exerted by stacking disks can force the plastic
shell against the media surface.
3. DO avoid
temperature extremes. Disks should be stored between 32° F - 150° F.
Prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures can undermine the chemical composition
of the media, leading to data loss.
4. DO mark
labels before you stick them on disks. The force of a pen can damage the media
surface.
5. DO make
two copies of important data. The data on a disk can represent many of work.
If the data is critical, make a second copy.
6. DO NOT
force a disk into a drive.
7. DO NOT
bend disks. This
can result in disk failure and permanent data loss.
8. DO NOT
open and close the shutter. Opening the shutter
exposes the disk to several environmental contaminants causing read/write errors.
9. DO NOT
touch the media
inside the shell. This can result in errors and data loss.
10. DO NOT
expose to moisture
or liquid, which can contaminate the disk surface,
causing read/write errors.
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