The care and feeding of diskettes, CDs, and and other media

Times are changing and so are computer media. In the past, diskettes were the media of choice for storing and transporting computer data. These days, there are many ways to store and transport data, and the diskette is rapidly going the way of the dodo. In fact, it has not been possible to read or write to a diskette with a Macintosh for years without purchasing a third-party external drive. Other PC manufacturers are showing signs of going the same direction.

In addition to proper usage of diskettes, this article will touch on the proper way to care for some of these other media, specifically, CDs, DVDs, and Zip disks.

Diskettes

If you take care of your diskettes (or "floppy disks"), your diskettes will take care of you.

You should make sure that you are using the right kind of diskette for your computer and that you are formatting it properly. In particular, you should never format a double-density disk as high-density. A high-density and a double-density diskette look almost identical; the only visible differences are the letters "HD" in one corner of the disk and an extra hole in another, but the high-density diskette can store approximately twice as much information as the double-density diskette. (On the Macintosh, this is not an issue, since a Macintosh will not format a diskette for the wrong capacity.)

Some brands of diskettes are more reliable than others. When you buy a box of unformatted disks, it is a good idea to format all of the disks at once. If any disks fail to format or are formatted with bad sectors marked off, you should return the disk (or the whole box) to wherever you purchased it or to the manufacturer. (Nearly all diskette manufacturers offer warranties that their products are free from defects.) Generally, bulk or generic diskettes tend to be somewhat less reliable than name brands, but this is not always the case. It is a good idea to find a diskette supplier that you are happy with and stick with that supplier.

Diskettes need to be handled with care. Here are some tips that can help prevent disks from being damaged:

• Magnets. Keep diskettes away from magnets and magnetic fields. Magnetic fields strong enough to erase data on diskettes can come from telephones with bell ringers, computer monitors, loudspeakers, some types of light fixtures, magnetized card-keys, and metal paper clips that have been stored in magnetized holders.
• Labels. Do not press hard when writing on the labels of diskettes. It is best to write on the label before sticking it on the diskette. Do not use an eraser on a floppy disk label, since the debris from an eraser can end up inside of the disk and cause errors. It is also not a good idea to stack multiple labels on a disk.
• Storage. Diskettes should be stored vertically in dust-proof containers away from extremes in temperature, excess humidity, and direct sunlight. Objects should never be placed on top of disks, and disks should not be held together with rubber bands or paper clips.
• Dirt. Do not open the metal shutter on 3.5-inch disks and keep disks away from dirt and dust.

In general, use common sense when handling diskettes.

CDs and DVDs

Nearly every computer produced in the current market has the capability to write to a compact disc (CD) . Many also are capable of writing to DVD. By and large, this process is almost as simple as it was to write to a diskette, although some computers may require the use of third-party software to do so. Generally, some such software comes pre-installed on a new computer. If your computer does not open appropriate software when an unformatted CD is inserted into the machine, please contact your support team for assistance.

There are many different types of CD and DVD media available, so it is important to make sure that the type you purchase is appropriate for what you are trying to accomplish. For most tasks, a simple CD-R is the correct thing. These will allow you to create both standard data CDs and audio CDs and range in size from 650MB to 800MB. They are generally usable across different computer platforms, both before and after they have been used. They can, however, only be written to once.

Compact discs are also available in the CD-RW format. Most computers should be able to use these types of disks, and unlike a CD-R, they can be re-used. However, they tend to be slower and may not be usable cross-platform.

DVDs are available in both recordable and re-writable formats, but due a lack of standardization, it is important to make sure of which of the many formats (including DVD+R, DVD+R dual layer, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RAM, and DVD-RW) your computer can use before making a purchase. Depending on the type of media, DVDs are capable of storing up to 8.5 gigabytes of data.

CDs and DVDs are in some ways both more and less fragile than diskettes. Here are some tips for proper usage:

• Magnets. This type of media is not affected by magnetism.
• Labels. Most media of this type can be safely labeled with a permanent felt-tipped marker. There are markers available specifically for this purpose. Be careful only to write on the top of the disk, not the underside where data is recorded. Do not use a hard-tipped or ball-point pen, as it can damage your disk. Software is available for printing labels, which can be applied to your disk.
• Storage. CDs and DVDs should be stored vertically in a paper sleeve or jewel case, away from extremes in temperature and direct sunlight. Objects should never be placed on top of disks, and disks should not be held together with rubber bands or paper clips. It is important to avoid scratching your disks, as repeated or deep scratches can render your disk non-functional.
• Dirt. If your media should become dusty or dirty, they can be cleaned. Use water, possibly with a drop of liquid dishsoap, and a soft, lint-free cloth, wiping from the center of the disk outwards. Do not wipe your disk in a circular motion. Do not use alcohol, abrasive, or ammonia-based cleansers, even those which are "made for plastics." Be sure your disk is dry before putting it back in your computer.

Zip disks

Although use of Zip and other cartridge type disks is becoming increasingly rare, they are worth a brief mention here, as they combine the higher capacity of CDs with the physical durability of diskettes.

Predominantly, Iomega Zip drives are external devices attached to your computer via a serial, SCSI, or USB cable. There are a few machines still in use which have internally mounted Zip drives, but production of these computers has long since been discontinued. While there are other brands on the market, the Zip seems to be in the widest usage at this time. Cartridges for it are available in 100MB, 250MB, and 750MB sizes, depending on the type of device you own.

• Magnets. This type of media is susceptible to damage by magnetic fields. Magnetic fields strong enough to erase data on Zip disks can come from telephones with bell ringers, computer monitors, loudspeakers, some types of light fixtures, magnetized card-keys, and metal paper clips that have been stored in magnetized holders.
• Labels. Do not press hard when writing on the labels of Zip disks. Do not use an eraser on a disk label, since the debris from an eraser can end up inside of the disk and cause errors. It is also not a good idea to stack multiple labels on a disk.
• Storage. Zip disks should be stored vertically in dust-proof containers away from extremes in temperature, excess humidity, and direct sunlight. Objects should never be placed on top of disks, and disks should not be held together with rubber bands or paper clips.
• Dirt. Do not open the metal shutter on Zip disks and keep disks away from dirt and dust.