meta data for this page
  •  

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
Next revision		Previous revision
adv:cleaning [2022/11/23 10:12] – Added information about 3½" floppies; added References section flanadv:cleaning [2023/06/25 14:35] (current) – Add the success story of 7jp4-guy since it may make it easier for people to make a decision flan
Line 54: Line 54:
 One of the biggest problems with disks that have a lot of build-up is that not only is the disk surface contaminated, but the liner is, too. In this case, merely spinning the disk in the drive can wear away the magnetic media, resulting permanent data loss. One of the biggest problems with disks that have a lot of build-up is that not only is the disk surface contaminated, but the liner is, too. In this case, merely spinning the disk in the drive can wear away the magnetic media, resulting permanent data loss.
  
-=== Weak binder (Shedding) ===+=== Weak binder (shedding) ===
  
 With time or the over-use of solvents, the binder can break down causing the magnetic oxide layer to flake away, resulting in permanent data loss. Trying to clean a disk with weak binder will probably destroy it. With time or the over-use of solvents, the binder can break down causing the magnetic oxide layer to flake away, resulting in permanent data loss. Trying to clean a disk with weak binder will probably destroy it.
Line 68: Line 68:
 Before trying to clean a disk, one needs to ask, "What is the most important thing about this disk?"  Before trying to clean a disk, one needs to ask, "What is the most important thing about this disk?" 
  
-If the answer is that the data on the disk is the most important thing, then, depending on how dirty it is, the best course of action may be to disassemble the disk, clean it, then mount it in a new jacket with a clean liner. This+If the answer is that the data on the disk is the most important thing, then, depending on how dirty it is, the best course of action may be to disassemble the disk, clean it, then mount it in a new jacket with a clean liner.
  
 If the answer is that keeping the disk physically intact is the most important thing, then you may not want to even try cleaning it. If the answer is that keeping the disk physically intact is the most important thing, then you may not want to even try cleaning it.
Line 90: Line 90:
 ==== Water ===== ==== Water =====
  
-Water is gentler on the magnetic media than other solvents.+Water is gentler on the magnetic media than other solvents. When disks are affected by mold, water is often sufficient to clean the media.
  
 TODO(flan): Example detergents and surfactants TODO(flan): Example detergents and surfactants
Line 99: Line 99:
  
 > When in doubt, look at the surface under magnification. If you do that with an alcohol based cleaner, you will never use it again. > When in doubt, look at the surface under magnification. If you do that with an alcohol based cleaner, you will never use it again.
 +
 +===== Success Stories =====
 +
 +==== 7jp4-guy ====
 +
 +[[https://discord.com/channels/901677188162658315/901677188607279136/1041160374419992656|7jp4-guy said]]:
 +
 +> OK. So I just did something that I am not sure if I should regret or not. I am working on a lot of LOAD'N'GO! disks for Apple II which are unpreserved and are badly damaged with mildew. I have tried cleaning the disks in the jacket using alcohol and repeatedly reading them. This has not been very successful to say the least. I ended up damaging the media in Frogger (one of the ones that is previously preserved so I did it first.) Next up was MAGIC MOVER which I don't think is preserved. After some thought, I decided to take a big risk and to damage it a bit in the hopes of saving the data. What I did was slit open the jacket, remove the media itself, wash it in water and then place it in a new jacket. The results were absolutely astonishing - both sides of the disk read on the first try without error.
 +
 +But this came at the cost of damaging the jacket, which is fine if you are really after the data. As david.rysk said:
 +
 +> Preserving the data is more important than the jacket, after all the physical artifact is kinda useless without the data.
 +
 +The flip side is that if the disk has been imaged, keeping the physical artifact intact might be preferable without trying to read the data (because that may destroy it).
  
 ====== Known Bad Brands ====== ====== Known Bad Brands ======