Floppy disks are a form of magnetic storage medium. To prevent damage to them you need to observe some precautions.

Damage to your disks will result in the loss of data.

Labelling your disks

Use standard computer disk labels. Note that some labels wrap across the top while others fit entirely on the front of the disk. Seal all edges down firmly. A loose corner might stick to the inside of the disk drive, preventing you from removing it.

Put the label in the right spot. Don't cover the holes in the corners of 3½" floppies. Don't stick to the metal slide.

Write on the label!! If your disks are not kept strictly at home, every label should include your name, contact number and something about what's on the disk.

Inserting your disk

The computers in the GATCF (General Access and Teaching Computer Facilities) all have floppy drives in them. These should are always located at the front of the PC/MAC.

Ensure that you insert the disk the right way up. The label goes on top, the round metal part is on the bottom. The edge with the metal slide goes in first.

Removing your disk

Do not remove your disk while is in use i.e. being written to or read from. When your disk is in use, the light near the opening of your drive will be on. Wait for this light to go out before you remove your disk. If you don’t, it is possible that the data on your disk will be corrupted.

Backing up your disk

Despite the best of care, sometimes the data on your disk will be corrupted and consequently will be unreadable. To prevent this potential loss of data, be sure to keep more than one copy of your data.

For information on how to do this  http://www.library.jcu.edu.au/InfoHelp/Guides/fileman/index.shtml
 

Write protect your disk

To prevent your files from being overwritten (accidentally) with new ones or deleted, you can write protect your disk. To write protect, your floppy disk open the write protect slide. The write protect slide is a little button in the top left hand corner of the disk, when it is open your disk is write protected and you cannot write (save) to it.

Stuck disk

If you disk gets stuck in a floppy drive, then call InfoHelp (ext 5500) and leave your name, contact number, the room and computer number and tell them that your disk is stuck in the drive. They will arrange for a technician to remove it as soon as possible. The disk should then be available to be picked up at the Reference desk the following day.

Related Information

For more information on disk related issues: