help! how to recover water logged floppies?

From: Erik S. Klein <classiccmp_at_vintage-computer.com>
Date: Sun Apr 20 13:39:00 2003

When I did this all of the disk jackets were still wet. I used a clean,
lint free drying cloth from my collection of car-care products (I don't
remember what they were called, exactly, but they are basically a
synthetic lint-free chamois) and blotted each disk carefully. Once they
were blotted as thoroughly as possible I let them air dry for an hour or
two (as I extracted and removed the other wet media) and then checked
for water spots. I buffed those very gently with the same cloth which
was then slightly damp.

I then slid the media into a fresh jacket and everything was fine to do
a quick disk copy. If I remember correctly I used one of the more error
tolerant aftermarket disk copy programs (CopyIIPC or something like it)
just in case.

Once I was done with the whole pile I'm pretty sure I used a head
cleaner to make sure I didn't damage the drive. Of course, I then put
the naked media in that same drive so how careful was I really? :)

   Erik

-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-admin_at_classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-admin_at_classiccmp.org]
On Behalf Of Chandra Bajpai
Sent: Sunday, April 20, 2003 10:56 AM
To: cctalk_at_classiccmp.org
Subject: RE: help! how to recover water logged floppies?

How do you clean the media itself? Will a clean paper towel work or is
some other procedure required?

Thanks,
Chandra


-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-admin_at_classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-admin_at_classiccmp.org]
On Behalf Of Erik S. Klein
Sent: Sunday, April 20, 2003 12:30 PM
To: cctalk_at_classiccmp.org
Subject: RE: help! how to recover water logged floppies?

The suggestion to remove the disks from the damaged sleeves, clean the
media carefully and then place them in a "new" sleeve for data recovery
is good.

I did the same with some PC disks a dozen years ago or more and had no
difficulties with any of the media.

When I was done I tried a little experiment and placed the media alone
in the drive without a sleeve. It worked that was as well, although I
wouldn't recommend it for more then entertainment value. I can imagine
the flex on the disk isn't good for it. . .

Good luck!

-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-admin_at_classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-admin_at_classiccmp.org]
On Behalf Of Chandra Bajpai
Sent: Sunday, April 20, 2003 6:07 AM
To: cctalk_at_classiccmp.org
Subject: help! how to recover water logged floppies?

I had a small accident in my basement a couple of days ago and in
cleaning everything out I discovered an old box of 5.25 TRS-80/Heathkit
floppies with all my old stuff on them were damp with water. I let them
air dry overnight, but some of them still don't spin freely.
 
What can I do to recover these disks - I hate to lose them. What sort of
damage does water cause to floppies?
 
Thanks,
Chandra
Received on Sun Apr 20 2003 - 13:39:00 BST