libman@phad.hsc.usc.edu (Marlena Libman) (10/27/89)
I'm interested in opinions on using a head cleaning diskette. If you have used one, was it the presaturated type or the kind with solution that you apply yourself? Any drawbacks? I have an IBM PS/2 Model 70 (with built-in 3-1/2" drive) and an external 5-1/4" drive. Thanks for the advice.
press@venice.SEDD.TRW.COM (Barry Press) (10/27/89)
In article <20817@usc.edu> libman@phad.hsc.usc.edu () writes: > >I'm interested in opinions on using a head cleaning diskette. I've had several repair techs (and reps from floppy drive companies circa 1980) say that the best thing to do with a working floppy is to leave it alone - to use head cleaners only when it stops working. The reasoning they gave was that the cleaners are fairly abrasive and not real good for the head. I have no idea if current vintage cleaners have the same problem or not. On the other hand, in some 10 years of using floppy disks on micros, I've yet to find a problem that a head cleaner fixed, and have not used one since about 1982. Nor do I seem to have floppy problems. (Of course, I mainly use them for weekly backups and little else...) -- Barry Press Internet: press@venice.sedd.trw.com
madd@world.std.com (jim frost) (10/27/89)
In article <107@venice.SEDD.TRW.COM> press@venice.sedd.trw.com (Barry Press) writes: |In article <20817@usc.edu> libman@phad.hsc.usc.edu () writes: |>I'm interested in opinions on using a head cleaning diskette. | |I've had several repair techs [...] |say that the best thing to do with a working floppy is to leave it |alone - to use head cleaners only when it stops working. [...] |the cleaners are fairly abrasive [...] |for the head. | |On the other hand, in some 10 years of using floppy disks on micros, I've |yet to find a problem that a head cleaner fixed, This is true, using a cleaner very often is probably a bad idea. I, on the other hand, *have* had a head cleaner correct problems on a couple of occasions, but the drive was marginal in all of them and needed to be replaced shortly after. I, too, recommend not using them unless you are having problems with the drive, at which time I'd use it as the first attempt at correcting the problem (at least temporarily). jim frost software tool & die "The World" Public Access Unix for the '90s madd@std.com +1 617-739-WRLD 24hrs {3,12,24}00bps