Suppose your filing cabinet became locked with no key and was impossible to
open. How seriously would this affect your ability to do your job? A worn out
or damaged diskette is like a broken file cabinet. Both can be replaced but the
failure of an inexpensive diskette can destroy data worth hundreds or even
thousands of dollars.
The following are practical guide lines on how to better care for your
diskettes, and more importantly how to protect your data.
RULE # 1 - Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket
Make backup copies of all your diskettes (including hard disks)
to spread your risk. We all know about backups, but how well are yours
organized? If your primary disks failed right now, could you recover all
your data? You must establish a routine backup procedure and make sure it
is followed. Here are three systems which work:
- GOOD - Daily Backup System: Make copies of all your diskettes every day,
or at least the diskettes which have changed. Start a log system which records
all activity on each program and when the last backup took place. Keep these
copies in a separate area or carry off premises in a diskette library
case.
- BETTER - Alternate Day System: Have two sets of backups for alternate
days. Color code each set and have a record in your log of which set was last
used. With this system, even if one backup set fails, you have another with at
worst two day old information. At least one set should be carried off
premises every day. Use a diskette library case for each set and mark
the tag with a colored highlighter.
- BEST - Alternate Day and Weekly Backup: This system adds one more
safeguard to the one described above. An extra backup is made on the same day
each week and remains off premises until the next week. A third color can be
assigned to this set.
RULE #2 - Establish A Retirement Program
When you consider the low cost of good diskettes, it is foolish to use
diskettes until they fail. Retire them after a specific period to less
strenuous service, ... before they retire you. Your primary diskettes are used
more often and therefore, receive more wear. Plan to replace them every 6 to 12
months. Do it sooner if they exhibit any read/write problems. Obviously
this does not apply to a hard disk system.
Every time you put new diskettes into service, mark the date on the label so
you know how old they are. If you have multiple backup sets as described in
Rule No. 1, make the oldest one your weekly backup and take the old weeklies
out of service. Be sure to relabel diskettes clearly, and recopy the date when
first put into service.
RULE #3 - Put Yourself In Your Diskette's Shoes.
Learn what diskettes don't like and protect them from it.
Dust, Dirt, Grime:
- Always keep diskettes away from dirty environments.
- Always place them in their protective sleeves.
- Always store in a diskette library case when not in use.
- Never touch the magnetic media.
The thickness of a piece of dust or the coating of grease from a finger print
is enormous to the reading mechanism of the computer. What is worse, diskettes
cannot be reliably cleaned. If a diskette looks old, it is old. Don't use it.
Magnetism, Static, Electrical Fields:
- Never place diskettes on top of objects which give off strong
magnetic fields. These include computer monitors (deflection coils),
radios (magnetic speakers), printers (magnetic print heads),
or even telephones with speaker features.
- Never store diskettes near electrical wiring.
- Always store diskettes in a diskette library case when traveling.
- Never put diskettes through airport security machines.
Temperature:
- Always keep diskettes as close to room temperature as possible. They
do not like extremes of temperatures. If you are comfortable, they will be
too.
- Never leave diskettes in your car. Very high temperatures and direct
sunlight will deform the plastic jacket into a shape which your drive may not
accept.
- Never put diskettes in checked airline baggage. Cargo holds can be extremely
cold.
Moisture:
- Always keep diskettes dry. Water will not harm diskettes per se, but
chemical deposits left after evaporation could cause read/write errors.
- Always store diskettes in moisture resistant diskette libraries. Wooden
libraries could absorb moisture in humid environments.
Abstracted from The Data Care Guide, Amherst International
Technical Briefs
Tips, Tricks, and Other Computing Help Files