Magnetic media

Consider all forms of magnetic media unsalvageable except possibly floppy diskettes. Routine backups give the best probability of saving data on magnetic media. Never store the backups in the same location as the originals or they may be destroyed by the same disaster. Back up software programs as well as data disks.

Diskettes should be removed from their jackets, washed, and dried. Cut the edge of the jacket with nonmagnetic scissors and remove the diskette with gloved hands. Wash the diskette in several water baths (photo trays) of distilled water and dry it with a lint-free towel. When the crisis is over, insert the diskette into a new jacket (cannibalized from a new diskette) and copy it using a disk drive. Clean the drive heads frequently as you copy diskettes.

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