1. Never leave diskettes in the disk drive, as data can leak out of the disk and
corrode the inner mechanics of the drive. Diskettes should be rolled up and stored in
pencil holders.
2. Diskettes should be cleaned and waxed once a week. Microscopic metal particles can
be removed by waving a powerful magnet over the surface of the disk. Any stubborn metallic
shavings can be removed with scouring powder and soap. When waxing the diskettes, make
sure the surface is even. This will allow the diskette to spin faster, resulting in better
access time.
3. Do not fold diskettes unless they do not fit into the drive. "Big"
diskettes may be folded and used in "little" disk drives.
4. Never insert a diskette into the drive upside down. The data can fall off the
surface of the disk and jam the intricate mechanics of the drive.
5. Diskettes cannot be backed up by running them through the xerox machine. If your
data is going to need to be backed up, simply insert two diskettes into the drive.
Whenever you update a document, the data will be written on both diskettes.
6. Diskettes should not be inserted or removed from the drive while the red light is
flashing. Doing so could result in smeared or possibly unreadable text. Occasionally the
red light remains flashing in what is known as a "hung" or "hooked"
state. If your system is "hooking" you will probably need to insert a few coins
before being allowed access to the slot.
7. If your diskette is full and you need more storage space, remove the disk from the
drive and shake vigorously for 2 minutes. This will pack the data enough (Data
Compression) to allow for more storage. Be sure to cover all the openings with scotch tape
to prevent loss data.
8. Access time can be greatly improved by cutting more holes in the diskette jacket.
This will provide more simultaneous access points to the disk.
9. Diskettes may be used as coasters for beverage glasses, provided that they are
properly waxed beforehand. Be sure to wipe the diskettes dry before using. (see item 2
above)
10. Never use scissors and glue to manually edit documents. The data is stored much too
small for the naked eye, and you may end up with data from some other document stuck in
the middle of your document. Razor blades and scotch tape may be used, however, provided
the user is equipped with an electron microscope.
11. Periodically spray diskettes with insecticide to prevent system bugs from
spreading.
