[Coco] Disk Cleanup

[Bill Pierce]

Thank you very much Mr. Gault, all of the suggestions will be kept in mind. I've found since I originally posted that it seems most of the damage has been to the sleeves and the disk is spotless. There are a still quite a few that are questionable and some that there is no doubt that I will be cleaning.


Bill Pierce
ooogalapasooo at aol.com




-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Gault <robert.gault at att.net>
To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts <coco at maltedmedia.com>
Sent: Sat, Dec 10, 2011 6:16 pm
Subject: Re: [Coco] Disk Cleanup


Bill Pierce wrote:

 Ok guys, got a good one for ya...
 snip
 And can a disk be removed from it's plastic case and put in a temporary case 
or a one time read?

 Bill Pierce
 ooogalapasooo at aol.com
There are two criteria important for reading disks of the 5 1/4" type. 1) Is the 
magnetic media intact and still magnetized. 2) Does the disk freely turn inside 
he case?
Clearly if the disk has become demagnetized, the data is gone. Disks don't last 
orever but aside from that, heating or abrading the surface will cause loss of 
agnetic info.
eating frequently happens when disks are squashed together and the edges of the 
case get flattened. When you try to read such a disk, the friction of the liner 
n the magnetic media can and does kill the disk.
f there is dirt of any kind on the surface of the disk, the magnetic media can 
e scraped off as the disk rotates. You could also damage your drive's heads.
I have been able to pop the heat seals on 5 1/4" cases, remove the disk, spread 
he edges, reinsert the disk, and read it. Spreading the edges reverses the 
ffects of squashing and you can see that the disk spins faster.
reak only the seals on the center edge, the side away from the head window. 
end that back to pull out the magnetic media. Handle the magnetic media as 
ittle as possible. Make absolutely certain not to flip the magnetic media 
ver!! It MUST go back into the case having the same orientation as it came 
ut!!
If most of your disks are contaminated, find at least one that is clean and use 
hat as a temporary case for all the other magnetic media. I don't know of a 
afe solvent for washing a disk but you could make a test with a known good 
isk. Try water to rinse off any dirt or mud. Blot and air dry the disk and 
nsert it into a case. If it will read/write, you are set.
You can read/write a disk with the center edge popped as often as you like. You 
on't need to glue or tape the edge in place as the door mechanism will hold it 
orrectly.
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