Fun with degaussers

From: CLASSICCMP_at_trailing-edge.com <(CLASSICCMP_at_trailing-edge.com)>
Date: Sat May 1 20:50:22 1999

>> Take a stack of 1 or more but not more than 5 disks and
>> place them on a flat surface.
>>
>> Run a demagnetizer horizontally and vertically over the disks
>> starting beyond the edge of the disk, crossing the disk, and then
>> passing over the opposite edge.
>>
>> Hold the Demagnetizer about 1/4" above the disks and move it
>> around clockwise and anti-clockwise several times, then while
>> moving it in circles, slowly lift it up until it is about 12"
>> above the disks and turn it off.
>>
>> The whole operation should take about 20 - 30 seconds.

>This sounds like voodoo to me. There must be some point when you are
>lifting the demagnetizer away that the effects from the device are
>beneficial.

The "lift it slowly away and then turn off" is an important point.
This makes sure that the media really is demagnetized. If you turn
it off while near the media, you can leave the media in a highly
magnetized state.

That said, 12 (or even 6) is way too many errors for a floppy disk.
Cleaning the heads, re-aligning, or buying new media (there are lots
of places that still sell 8" floppies) may be the real solution.

>while swirling? Are you sure its not just one of those, or a combination
>of two that really make the disk better? Is this truly making the disk
>better or did the disk drive become amused watching you do all this and
>then just decide to work because you made it laugh?

You can have fun with large degaussers. For those with analog watches
that aren't prized too highly, you can do some really neat tricks, such
as making the run 60 times too fast (i.e. an hour every 60 seconds) or
even making them run backwards!

Tim.
Received on Sat May 01 1999 - 20:50:22 BST