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 diskettes, make sure application is even.
This will allow the diskettes to spin faster, resulting in
better access time.
3. Do not fold diskettes unless they do not fit in the drive.
"Big" diskettes may be folded and used in "little" disk
drives.
4. Never insert a disk 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 needs to be backed up, simply
insert two diskettes together into the drive whenever you
update a document; the data will be recorded on both
diskettes.
6. Diskettes should not be inserted into 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 continues to flash in what is known as a "hung" or
"hooked" state. If your system is "hooking" you, you will
probably need to insert several dollars before being allowed
to access the disk drive.
7. If your diskette is full and you need more storage space,
remove the disk from the drive and shake vigorously for two
minutes. This will pack the data ("data compression") enough
to allow for more storage. Be sure to cover all the openings
with scotch tape to prevent loss of data.