Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!petunia!news
From: jdudeck@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU (John R. Dudeck)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: mouldy floppy diskettes
Keywords: mould, cleaning, diskette
Message-ID: <2807e27e.5941@petunia.CalPoly.EDU>
Date: 14 Apr 91 05:02:54 GMT
References: <1991Apr11.104807.20341@bhpcpd.kembla.oz.au> <1991Apr12.152022.3459@shaman.com>
Organization: Cal Poly State Univ,CSC Dept,San Luis Obispo,CA 93407
Lines: 20



>>Please advise the best way to clean mouldy floppy diskettes.
>>The mould appears as dark stains on the visible portion of 
>>the plastics. The drive makes loud grinding noises when attempting
>>but failing to read the disk.

From my experiences in the tropics, mold attacks the binder used in the
magnetic surface, and when it comes in contact with the head, the
material comes off and sticks to the head.  It may be possible to clean
the floppy enough to read it once.  Chances are in any case you will
have to clean your floppy drive head.  My rule is to not ever stick a
diskette in to a drive if you can see mold or fungus on the diskette.
Same is true for cassettes in a cassette player, reel-to-reel tapes,
etc.

-- 
John Dudeck                                        "Communication systems are
jdudeck@Polyslo.CalPoly.Edu                              inherently complex".
ESL: 62013975 Tel: 805-545-9549                                 -- Ron Oliver