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From: briand@tekig4.TEK.COM (Brian Diehm)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Using single-sided disks double-sided.
Message-ID: <1572@tekig4.TEK.COM>
Date: Fri, 12-Jun-87 15:26:35 EDT
Article-I.D.: tekig4.1572
Posted: Fri Jun 12 15:26:35 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 20-Jun-87 18:36:11 EDT
References: <5352@ut-ngp.UUCP> <1029@zog.cs.cmu.edu> <9766@duke.cs.duke.edu> <1010@apple.UUCP>
Reply-To: briand@tekig4.UUCP (Brian Diehm)
Distribution: world
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton, OR.
Lines: 35

>The gist of the situations is as follows:  It is foolish to save a couple
>of bucks per case of diskettes to use single sided instead of double sided.

This discussion has been going on for a while now, and I can't stand it any
more.

First Statement: I ALWAYS back up my data on a second floppy. (Disclaimer: I
                 don't back up my hard drive often enough to be safe, but that
                 is another topic :-) If I am writing a document, every save is
                 done on two different disks.

Second Statement: I have used both sides of single-sided disks since they first
                  came out 1.5 years ago.

Third Statement: I have had a few single-sided disks not format as double. I
                 do not use these.

Fourth Statement: I have not had ANY floppy failure in the last 2 years.

Given this kind of environment, why should I worry about it? If the risk of
losing data is increased, it means to me that my risk of acutally NEEDING my
backup is increased.

The statements made by the manufacturers are correct. BUT - if you don't make
backup copies, you are flirting disaster regardless of the disk certification.
The key is the discipline implied in the statement "If I am writing a document,
every save is done on two different disks."

Without that discipline, you're on thin ice. With it, you are only increasing
the risk of needing the backup, and that is a slight risk in my experience.

-- 
-Brian Diehm     (SDA - Standard Disclaimers Apply)
Tektronix, Inc.
briand@tekig4.TEK.COM   or  {decvax,cae780,uw-beaver}!tektronix!tekig4!briand