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 the diskettes, make sure the
surface is even. This will allow the diskette to spin
faster, resulting in better access time.
3. Do not fold diskettes unless they do not fit into the
drive. "Big" diskettes may be folded and used in "little"
disk drives.
4. Never insert a diskette 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 is going to need to be backed
up, simply insert two diskettes into the drive. Whenever
you update a document, the data will be written on both
diskettes.
6. Diskettes should not be inserted 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 remains flashing in what is known as a "hung" or
"hooked" state. If your system is "hooking" you will
probably need to insert a few coins before being allowed
access to the slot.
7. If your diskette is full and you need more storage space,
remove the disk from the drive and shake vigorously for 2
minutes. This will pack the data enough (Data
Compression) to allow for more storage. Be sure to cover
all the openings with scotch tape to prevent loss data.
8. Data access time can be greatly improved by cutting more
holes in the diskette jacket. This will provide more
simultaneous access points to the disk.
9. Diskettes may be used as coasters for beverage glasses,
provided that they are properly waxed beforehand. Be sure
to wipe the diskettes dry before using. (see item 2
above)
10. Never use scissors and glue to manually edit documents.
The data is stored much too small for the naked eye, and
you may end up with data from some other document stuck in
the middle of your document. Razor blades and scotch tape
may be used, however, provided the user is equipped with
an electron microscope.
11. Periodically spray diskettes with insecticide to prevent
system bugs from spreading.