V. Procedures for Floppy Diskettes

1. Priorities for Floppy Diskettes
2. Handling precautions for Floppy Diskettes
3. Salvage and Recovery Procedures for Floppy Diskettes

V.1. Priorities for Floppy Diskettes

• If back-up files exist, use them as the new originals and make new back-ups. Discard damaged diskettes

• Do not use heat to dry diskettes
• Do not freeze
• Do not touch the surface of a diskette

Damp but clean diskettes
• Dry using a hair dryer on the "air" setting (no heat)
• Holding the jacket slightly apart, circulate air through it until both sides of the diskette and the jacket lining are thoroughly dry
• Copy the data onto a new diskette

  Wet diskettes

• Remove diskettes from their jackets, being careful not to touch the diskette surface
  Removing 3 1/2 " diskettes from their jackets
  • If the jacket has screws, remove them
  • Hold the diskette with the metal door side down
  • Remove the door, letting the spring fall outward
  • Open the jacket at the side using a microspatula

    Removing 5 1/4" diskettes from their jackets

  • Move the diskette to one side of the jacket
  • Carefully cut the opposite side of the jacket (diskette is 1/16" from edge)

• Wash diskettes in a tray of distilled water
• Blot dry with a soft, lint-free cloth OR air dry if they can be propped up or hung by their holes so that their surfaces do not come in contact with anything
• Use a jacket from an undamaged diskette to copy the dried diskettes:
  • Open the jacket and remove the diskette
  • Insert the dried diskette and tape it shut so it won't get caught in the drive
  • Copy the diskette
  • Discard diskettes, after checking that copying was successful
  • Use the jacket again for copying each affected diskette
  • Clean the computer's floppy drive heads

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